03/01/2025
Ramadan Mubarak!
May Allah bring endless blessings to all of us in this blessed month of Ramadan!
Since the beginning of Ramadan, the gates of Paradise are widely open, one of the keys to entering Paradise is sincere repentance and returning to Allah. Allah says in Surat Al-Isra’:
"Your Lord knows best what is within yourselves. If you are righteous, He is certainly All-Forgiving to those who constantly turn to Him in repentance." (Surah Al-Isra’, 17:25)
The key point here is that if we turn back to Allah—the Creator—and acknowledge our shortcomings, He is the Most Forgiving and Merciful. In Surat Ash-Shura, Allah says:
"He is the One Who accepts repentance from His servants and pardons their sins. And He knows whatever you do." (Surah Ash-Shura, 42:25)
Every one of us has personal shortcomings and sins—things that only we and Allah know. The Prophet ﷺ said in an authentic hadith:
“There is no believing servant except that he has a sin which he commits from time to time, or a sin that he persists in and does not abandon until he departs from this world. Indeed, the believer was created prone to trials, frequently repenting, and forgetful; but when he is reminded, he remembers.”
Narrated by: Abdullah ibn Abbas
Authenticated by: Al-Albani
Source: Sahih al-Jami' (5735)
So, before we think about our to-do list, let us first reflect on our not-to-do list! Before we focus on what to start, let us think about what to stop. This is one of the gateways to Paradise.
May Allah grant us the strength to sincerely repent, forgive our sins and shortcomings, and accept us among those who enter His mercy. Ameen.