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Prophet Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, once said: “When the month of Ramadan begins, the gates of the heaven are opened; the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained.” (Sahih Bukhari and Muslim)

Asalamu’alaikum!

As we all know, Ramadan is here! Of course, we all are super excited and are getting into the Ramadan spirit. As exciting as it is, we have to keep one thing in mind, the gates of Jahannum are closed.

The reason why I bring this up, is because there are some things that this may teach us about ourselves. In other words, the gates of hell are closed and shaitan is being locked up for the whole month of Ramadan! This means that shaitan can not give us any waswasah, or whispers of desires and distractions.

We have to take a look at ourselves to better understand this. A lot of people waste their Ramadan watching those highly addictive Ramadan specials on T.V. or the latest movies, listening to music, gossiping on their phones, watching useless things on social media, or just wasting their time in general.

When we walk into the mosques at Iftar, we don’t see or hear people talking about Allah or Islam. Rather, we see them talking about clothes, food, or gossiping about the women and men who are absent. It is when facing these deeds, that we must remember that shaitan is locked up! Shaitan is not there to give us waswasah, so we have to realize that we are doing all this from ourselves and from our own minds and hands!

We see the Brothers after taraweeh standing outside talking about the latest game and match. But, again, the shaitan is locked up! Who inspired them to waste their day watching sports and then who told them to spread this useless knoweldge in their brains to others?

When we look at the people in their houses flicking through channels loading useless information into their minds. Who told them to download all the garbage in the world by sitting on their very own couch in their very own home?! If it was shaitan who was making them do those things before, why are they still doing those same acts now that he is gone?

We then see the teenage boy who texts the same girl every day. He claimed that shaitan was giving him very strong desires and he couldn’t help himself. Who is giving him those desires now?

So, why do people still do the same acts that they did before Ramadan in Ramadan?

It is because of their desires. Once the heart gets corrupted, the whole mind and body get corrupted. When your heart gets corrupted, instead of wanting Allah it yearns for that fitna and filth. Therefore, in everything you do, remember that Allah is there and HE is watching you. If you remember this, anything you do will be an act that Allah loves and desires, Insha’Allah. As for the matters in which you have doubt, leave them alone for the sake of Allah and let them be, this is better for us, Insha’Allah.

Remember these words from our Prophet Muhammad (SAW):

On the authority Abi Ab’dillahi al-Nu’man ibn Basheer (RA) who said:

I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say: “That which is lawful is clear and that which is unlawful is clear and between the two of them are doubtful [or ambiguous] matters about which not many people are knowledgeable. Thus, he who avoids these doubtful matters certainly clears himself in regard to his religion and his honor. But he who falls into the doubtful matters falls into that which is unlawful like the shepherd who pastures around a sanctuary, all but grazing therein. Verily every king has a sanctuary and Allah’s sanctuary is His prohibition. In the body there is a morsel of flesh which, if it be sound, all the body is sound and which, if it be diseased, all the body is diseased. This part of the body is the heart”.

[Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim]