47. Signs Of An Accepted Ramadhaan

By Asma bint Shameem

Ramadhaan is over.

Alhamdulillaah you worked hard this Ramadhaan.

You fasted, you prayed, you read the Qur’aan, and you gave Sadaqah.

But was it all accepted by Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala?

The ulama say that although only Allaah knows for SURE if any deed is accepted or not, there ARE definitely certain SIGNS that point to whether our good deeds were accepted by Allaah or not.

So what are those signs?
Was our ibaadah, our duaa, our fasting and praying accepted by Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala?

The scholars said:

“Among the signs of acceptance (of good deeds) is that Allaah causes one hasanah (good deed) to be *followed by ANOTHER*, for the hasanah says, “My sister, my sister!”

And the sayi’ah (evil deed) also says, “My sister, my sister!” –we seek refuge with Allaah.

If Allaah has accepted a person's Ramadhaan, and he has benefitted from this period of (spiritual) training and has *remained steadfast* in obeying Allaah, then he has joined the caravan of those who have remained steadfast and responded to Allaah.

Allaah says:

“Verily, those who say: ‘Our Lord is Allah (Alone),’ and then they stand firm, on them the angels will descend (at the time of their death) (saying): ‘Fear not, nor grieve! But receive the glad tidings of Paradise which you have been promised!
We have been your friends in the life of this world and are (so) in the Hereafter. Therein you shall have (all) that your inner selves desire, and therein you shall have (all) for which you ask”[Fussilat 41:30-31]”

In other words, if we IMPROVE ourselves after the month of fasting, and develop a BETTER relationship with our Rabb, then that’s a sign that Allaah has accepted our ibaadah and our hard work didn’t go in vain.

You see, just as the purpose of establishing Salaah, is to *remember Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala*, [“…And establish Salaah to remember Me” (Ta Ha:14)], similarly the purpose of fasting is to *establish and develop Taqwa* (God-consciousness) in ourselves.

Allaah says:
“O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may become al-Muttaqoon (the pious God-conscious)” (al-Baqarah, 2:183)

So if your attitude, your conduct and manners, your lifestyle, and your relationship with your Rabb and His creation have CHANGED for the BETTER and show a *POSITIVE transformation* after Ramadhaan then that’s a sign that Allaah accepted your Ramadhaan.

Just as the effectiveness of a treatment is known when a sick person feels better, similarly, your fasting for a whole month should manifest itself as
*a POSITIVE change in you...*
*a beautiful and gentle transformation of your character, your manners....*
*a keen consciousness of the pleasure of your Rabb...*
*the ultimate desire to OBEY Him, and SUBMIT to His Commands*

And that’s PROOF that your fasting for a month has produced the desired result....which is TAQWA of Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala.

So if you’ve come closer to Allaah....
If you've become punctual about your five daily prayers...
if you’ve started wearing Hijaab...
if you’ve given up your bad deed, or your bad company....
if you’ve improved your manners...
if you’re controlling your tongue and your anger....
if you’re reading the Qur’aan regularly....
if you’re continuing your Qiyaam....
then these are all signs that your Ramadhaan is accepted.

So KEEP UP all the good work.

PUSH yourself to continue.

DON’T let the Shaytaan take you away from the remembrance of your Rabb.

And make Duaa that He keeps you STEADFAST and ACCEPTS.

Remember that “the most beloved of deeds to Allah are those which are continuous, even if they are little.”
(Saheeh Muslim)

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