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Ramadan

Ramadan for the Self-Righteous

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For most, the onset of Ramaḍān is heralded by the sighting of the moon. Here in the Middle East the sands are alive with the sound of Oudh strings in the form of un-innovative radio adverts, and it’s the mounds of Ouzi and vats of Sharbat being marketed to the masses as though a famine/drought’s about to hit, that truly signals the arrival of the Holy month. We Muslims sure do know our spirituality.

That being said, there is another sign. A surge of the sanctimonious. A pandemic of self-righteousness, if you prefer; and that too one that seemingly peaks to its most destructive during the month of Ramaḍān.

Manifestations of which include the thinly veiled ahems of “Ramaḍān *cough* Muslim” when a brother decides to start frequenting the masjid for all five of the obligatory prayers.

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The behind-the-palm whispers between veiled women when a sister decides to don ḥijāb for the month. The exchange of not-so-innocuous comments about how the masjid seems fuller during Fajr, and even the hawk-like scrutiny of another’s prayer for the sole purpose of haughtily pointing out a misstep that wasn’t even so disastrous to begin with.

For most Muslims, both actively practicing and the not-so-much, Ramaḍān is that annual reprieve through which we at the least attempt (if not successfully achieve) to mend in ourselves a shortcoming or two. And with Qurʾānic assurances that the Devil and his accomplices are chained up for a good 30 days, this is the very break our battered nafs has been waiting for to reassess and redeem.

But when punctuated, rather punctured, with the snide condescension of the holier-than-thou, it is understandably more discouraging than spiritually energising. And instead of motivating the other to fortify his/her faith, these vocalised presumptions and baseless attacks on the character only serve to drive people away.

More ironically, this self-proclaimed piety by the sagacious few is in fact a tri-trait step ladder leading only to Allāh’s displeasure.

  • Arrogance
  • Judging another
  • Gheebah/slander

Each trait is so detrimental to the faith that it is backed by numerous Qurʾānic and Prophetic admonitions.

On Arrogance and Possessing Kibr

“And do not turn your face away from men with arrogance, nor walk in insolence through the earth. Verily, Allāh does not like each arrogant boaster.” The Holy Qur’an,  Sūrah Luqmān; 18

Hadith: The Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) is even recorded to have said “One will not enter Paradise, if one has an atom’s weight of arrogance in his/her heart.” A man then asked, “One may love his clothes to look good and his shoes to look good?!” The Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) replied, “Allāh is beautiful and loves beauty, arrogance is: rejecting the truth and looking down on people.” (Imam Muslim and Tirmidhi)

On Judging Another Muslim

Qurʾān: O you who have believed, when you go forth in the cause of Allāh, investigate; and do not say to one who gives you [a greeting of] peace “You are not a believer,” aspiring for the goods of worldly life; for with Allāh are many acquisitions. You [yourselves] were like that before; then Allāh conferred His favour upon you, so investigate. Indeed Allāh is ever, with what you do, acquainted. (Sūrat’l-Nisā’; 94)

Hadith: The Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) himself is reported to have said: “I have not been ordered (by Allāh) to search the hearts of the people or cut open their bellies” (Bukhari)

Backbiting (Gheebah) & Slander (Buhtaan)

Qurʾān: “O you who believe! Avoid much suspicion, for some suspicions are a sin. Do not spy on one another, nor backbite one another. Would one of you love to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Nay, you would abhor it, [so similarly, avoid backbiting]. And fear Allāh. Indeed, Allāh is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.” [Sūrat’l-Ḥujurāt; 12]

Hadith: It has been defined precisely by the Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) as, “Your mentioning your brother with something about him that he dislikes [being spoken about].”
A companion then asked, “How about if my brother contains that [characteristic which I am mentioning]?”
He replied, “If he possesses that which you mention, then you have [indeed] backbitten against him. And, if he does not contain that which you say, then you have slandered him.” [Imam Muslim and Ahmad]

The above wisdoms/decrees are a summary of one of the primary tenets of Islam; that accountability is reserved for Allāh and Allāh alone. Where actions are judged solely by Him, and that too on the basis of its intention. Only He has access to what is in the hearts of men, and with this knowledge He is both (among other beautiful traits) Al-Hakam (The Judge) and Al-Adl (The Just).

“O you who believe! Let not a group scoff at another group, it may be that the latter are better than the former; nor let (some) women scoff at other women, it may be that the latter are better than the former, not defame one another , nor insult one another by nicknames. How bad is it, to insult one’s brother after having Faith. And whosoever does not repent, then such are indeed Zalimun (wrong-doers, etc.) [Sūrat’l-Ḥujurāt; 11]

For all we know that one prayer in the masjid by the ‘Ramaḍān Muslim’ is worth more to Allāh than the entire congregation of regulars combined. Who’s to say that that sister’s intention behind covering up isn’t stronger than those having decided to do so before her? Who are we to condemn another to Hell?

An acquaintance once mentioned an instance where on entering her workplace prayer room, she found the woman who appeared to have just finished her ṣalāh removing her covering cloth to reveal a mini skirt and a rather snug top. In mid mental ‘tch tch’ said acquaintance was then hit with the realisation that in having already finished her worship, this woman was in fact quicker to answer the call to prayer than she. Who was she then to judge?

Having said that, da’wah is of course encouraged for every Muslim. But it should be intended and achieved without an infusion of one-upmanship.

“Call to the way of your Lord with wisdom and goodly exhortation, and have disputations with them in the best manner; surely your Lord best knows those who go astray from His path, and He knows best those who follow the right way.” (Sūrat’l-Naḥl; 125)

With a month so blessed and yet so fleeting, time is better served assessing one’s own shortcomings, than having all the good one has acquired eradicated on account of a loose tongue. And if any judgement is to be passed at all it is best reserved for the self.

May Allāh help us witness our own shortcomings before another’s. May He protect us from the evils of arrogance, any inkling of condescension and from speaking ill of other Muslims, but instead help us perfect our da’wah to have the best of intentions. Ameen.

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The Prophet (SAW) has taught us the best of deeds are those that done consistently, even if they are small. Click here to support MuslimMatters with a monthly donation of $2 per month. Set it and collect blessings from Allah (swt) for the khayr you're supporting without thinking about it.

10 Comments

10 Comments

  1. HK

    August 13, 2012 at 10:07 AM

    great article. If we could all follow this, it would be a perfect world. We tend to be very judgmental of others. If we could just shift the focus of the judgment to ourselves instead of others, we could be all better muslims.

  2. Asmeeni

    August 13, 2012 at 11:27 AM

    Mashallah very well written and thoughtful article.

  3. Yasmin

    August 13, 2012 at 12:26 PM

    Jazakallah khair for this great reminder!

  4. melanie

    August 13, 2012 at 1:56 PM

    It is so much easier to see the faults of others than your own faults

  5. shiney

    August 14, 2012 at 2:16 AM

    what an important topic you addressed sister! it was a wonderful reminder.

  6. Lady_S

    August 14, 2012 at 6:41 AM

    Shukran for this article. we should constantly remind ourselves of this so that we may lead humble lives that please our Creator.
    Insha Allah, Aamin.

  7. Adeel

    August 14, 2012 at 9:01 AM

    Excellent read. May Allah increase you in good

  8. Zohra

    November 10, 2012 at 2:37 AM

    Assalam the article was excellent . Sis or bro cn u help me? I’m confused about wearing jean on a dress stopping at z knee is it haraam? Thx in advance

  9. Pingback: Ramadan for the Self-Righteous « The Kaftan Writer

  10. Kirana

    July 17, 2013 at 10:54 AM

    I would say that the proper da’wah is when you’re doing it motivated by a concern and care for the *recipient* and it’s not about feeling good or ticking off a responsibility box for *yourself*. The latter invariably involves arrogance since it has a presumption that your state relative to the recipient is higher. The former case is neutral about knowing either your own or the recipient’s state, merely that you wish to share something you think is useful to fulfil a need you perceive in another. Note that by saying this it does not mean I am myself able to do the correct way. But I think I’ve got to the point where I can at least refrain from “pretend da’wah” when I know I don’t actually know about the other person’s situation or intentions to be able to feel what his or her need is, and whether what I can offer will be useful or worsen the situation. I would either find out, or shut up. Even managing to achieve this, I have several times found myself shown wrong, when I think negatively about someone based on limited observation (but saying nothing) and then they turn around and display a positive quality that balances them out, and which I myself lack. Those are quite humbling moments, and I am thankful to Allah that He helps me maintain a self-awareness that allows me to notice such things at all.

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