35. Can’t Do Much This Ramadhaan?

By Asma bint Shameem

Perhaps you’re a mother of young kids.

Or you’re a father who has to work full time to provide for his family.

Or maybe you’re sick and you’re not able to worship Allaah the way you used to.

So you *worry*.

You see all these people doing so much during Ramadhaan, staying up at night for Qiyaam, reading Qur’aan during the day, worshipping Allaah in so many ways, making the most of this blessed month.

And you want to do it too.
You *also* want to stay up at night for Qiyaam;
You *also* want to read Qur’aan all day.
You *also* want to spend Ramadhaan in the worship of Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala.
*But you CAN’T!*

You have responsibilities;
You have young kids and that itself is a full time job.
Or your job hours are such that by the time you get home in the evening, you’re exhausted!
Or your health and age is such that you barely get even the obligatory deeds done.

You feel guilty, frustrated, and sad.
You feel inadequate and deficient.

Well, I’m here to tell you...
*Don’t*.

*Don’t* feel guilty or frustrated or sad*

Our Deen is beautiful and it is easy.

Alhamdulillaah the very fact that you’re looking after your kids and doing your best to raise them is *itself ibaadah*

And that full time job you’re holding and working hard to provide for your family, is also an act of ibaadah.

And doing the best you can, under any circumstances, even sickness, is also ibaadah.

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

“Each of you is a shepherd and each of you is responsible for his flock. A man is the shepherd of his household and is responsible for his flock. A woman is the shepherd of her husband’s household and is responsible for her flock…”
(al-Bukhaari and Muslim)

Also keep in mind that *Allaah is Most Merciful, Most Generous.*

We don’t actually have to DO something, in order to get the rewards, if it’s beyond our capacity.

Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala KNOWS your situation and KNOWS what is in your heart.

He knows you WANT to do extra ibaadaat, read the Qur’aan, stay up for Taraaweeh and tahajjud.

Just because of your *good intentions*, Allaah will reward you, because you *would* have done it *if* you had the chance, but you’re not *able* to do as much.

Allaah says:

“So keep your duty to Allaah and fear Him as much as you can” [al-Taghaabun 64:16]

Thats why Muadh radhi Allaahu anhu would say:
"I sleep and I get up (to pray at night), and I seek reward for my sleep as I seek reward for my getting up." (al-Bukhaari)

So what can I do?

Just do your best and pray your five daily prayers on time, fast during the day and pay attention to what Allaah has prohibited especially your tongue.

As for anything extra, do whatever is EASY for you.

Maybe after you pray Ishaa you can pray just two or four rakaat taraaweeh. You don’t have to read 20.

Then just delay your witr until before your suhoor.

You would be waking up for suhoor any way.
So you can pray even one rakah witr at that time and that will count as tahajjud.

And you don’t have to read the entire Qur’aan if you’re not able to.
You can read even half a page of the Qur’aan or a couple of Aayaat every day and still gain rewards.

You can also do dhikr during the day when you are able.

And you can play the recording of the Qur’aan whenever you get a chance.

Listening* to the Qur’aan is ALSO a beautiful act of ibaadah.

You can also make duaa, send peace and blessings on the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam, do a lot of Istighfaar while you’re busy.

Spending charity in the path of Allaah is also ibaadah.

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

“Take up good deeds only as much as you are able, for the best deeds are those done regularly even if they are few.” (Ibn Maajah 4240; saheeh by al-Albaani)

So Alhamdulillaah there are many ways in our Deen where you can *earn a great deal of reward* with *little actions*.

When a person forms a definite intention to do good deed, something prevents him from doing that, he will still be rewarded for it.

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

“No (believing) person gets sick, but (his deeds) will be recorded for him in accordance with what he used to do when he was well.” (al-Bukhaari)

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

"Whoever goes to his bed intending to get up and pray at night, then his eyes overwhelm him and (he sleeps) until morning, *the (reward for) that which he intended will be written for him*, and his sleep is a *charity* for him given by his Lord, Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala.” (al-Nasaa’i, 1787; Ibn Maajah, 1344; saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Targheeb, 601)

And the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam also said:

"Whoever sincerely asks Allaah for martyrdom will attain the status of the martyrs *even if he dies in his bed.”* (Muslim, 1909)

Subhaan Allaah!

There are many other ahaadeeth that show us that we will get the reward of good deeds, IF we sincerely wanted to do them but we’re prevented for some reason.

Such is the Mercy of Allaah!

So have faith in Allaah, do your best and leave the rest to Him.

In the end, remember the most important point....

Our deeds are NOT the reason for entry into Jannah.

*It's Allaah's Mercy*.

The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said:

“No one’s deeds will ever admit him to Paradise.”
They said, 
“Not even you, O Messenger of Allaah?”
He said, 
“No, not even me, unless Allaah showers me with His Mercy. 
So try to be near to perfection.” (al-Bukhaari, Muslim)

So do your best.

And have trust in Allaah and know that He's the One Who accepts our good deeds and multiplies them as He likes.

He can take that “small” deed of yours and make it into a mountain if He so wishes. 

May Allaah accept from all of us and forgive us Ameen.