Days 11 to 20 – Developing praiseworthy character:
When the Mother of the Believers Ayisha (ra) was asked about the character of Rasulullah ﷺ, she replied, ‘the character of the Messenger of Allah was the Quran.’ [Abu Dawud]
The Quran is a guide for developing the Muslim personality. It asks us to develop certain characteristics, some of which are obligatory, and others are praiseworthy and beautify our souls. For the next ten days of Ramadan, I want to focus on ten characteristics which I want to develop to perfection, if Allah wills, with the help of Quran and hadith.
| Day # | Topic of the day | General reminder | Quran/ hadith to memorize |
| 11 | Repentance (Tawbah) | The Prophet, whom Allah had forgiven for any past, present and future sins, asked Allah’s forgiveness a hundred times a day. Where do we stand? | قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِن رَّحْمَةِ اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ.Say, ‘O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.’ [39:53] |
| 12 | Consciousness of Allah (Taqwah) | It means being aware of Allah 24/7 no matter wherever we are and whatever we’re doing. | يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَلْتَنظُرْ نَفْسٌ مَّا قَدَّمَتْ لِغَدٍ ۖ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَO you who have believed, fear Allah . And let every soul look to what it has put forth for tomorrow – and fear Allah . Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what you do. [59:18] |
| 13 | Abstinence from worldly pleasures (Zuhd) | Remember that we will be questioned about all the blessings we enjoy, and so let’s try to stay away from extravagance and become more open-handed. | وَلَا تَمُدَّنَّ عَيْنَيْكَ إِلَىٰ مَا مَتَّعْنَا بِهِ أَزْوَاجًا مِّنْهُمْ زَهْرَةَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا لِنَفْتِنَهُمْ فِيهِ ۚ وَرِزْقُ رَبِّكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَىٰ.And do not extend your eyes toward that by which We have given enjoyment to [some] categories of them, [its being but] the splendor of worldly life by which We test them. And the provision of your Lord is better and more enduring. [20:131] |
| 14 | Patience (Sabr) | Patience is needed in everything, in doing good and in avoiding evil. Fasting takes a lot of patience, especially in summer, and it teaches us patience. | قُلْ يَا عِبَادِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمْ ۚ لِلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا فِي هَٰذِهِ الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةٌ ۗ وَأَرْضُ اللَّهِ وَاسِعَةٌ ۗ إِنَّمَا يُوَفَّى الصَّابِرُونَ أَجْرَهُم بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ.Say, “O My servants who have believed, fear your Lord. For those who do good in this world is good, and the earth of Allah is spacious. Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account.” [39:10] |
| 15 | Contentment (Rida) | There is no pinnacle of wealth upon reaching which human beings become content. They always keep wanting more even if they’re billionaires. True richness is in contentment with whatever we have. | قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَنْ أَسْلَمَ وَرُزِقَ كَفَافًا وَقَنَّعَهُ اللَّهُ بِمَا آتَاهُHe has succeeded who embraces Islam, whose provision is sufficient, and who is content with what Allah has given him. [Sahih Muslim 1054] |
| 16 | Gratitude (shukr) | We begin our prayers with Alhamdulillah. It is accepting the immeasurable favours of Allah on you. | وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ ۖ وَلَئِن كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِي لَشَدِيدٌ.And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, ‘If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.’ ” [14:7] |
| 17 | Sincerity (Ikhlas) | Sincerity is a precondition for the acceptance of any worship. Without it, what remains is hypocrisy. | إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ فِي الدَّرْكِ الْأَسْفَلِ مِنَ النَّارِ وَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُمْ نَصِيرًا o إِلَّا الَّذِينَ تَابُوا وَأَصْلَحُوا وَاعْتَصَمُوا بِاللَّهِ وَأَخْلَصُوا دِينَهُمْ لِلَّهِ فَأُولَٰئِكَ مَعَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۖ وَسَوْفَ يُؤْتِ اللَّهُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا.Indeed, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire – and never will you find for them a helper – Except for those who repent, correct themselves, hold fast to Allah , and are sincere in their religion for Allah , for those will be with the believers. And Allah is going to give the believers a great reward. |
| 18 | Reliance (Tawakkul) | We always rely on something, no matter how much we try to deny it. Either we rely on Allah, or another person, or a thing or event in future, or ourselves. But everything else, if we put too much pressure, will break like twigs and won’t be able to support us. Only Allah Al Wakeel is the true stronghold. | لَوْ أَنَّكُمْ كُنْتُمْ تَوَكَّلُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ حَقَّ تَوَكُّلِهِ لَرُزِقْتُمْ كَمَا يُرْزَقُ الطَّيْرُ تَغْدُو خِمَاصًا وَتَرُوحُ بِطَانًا.“If you were to rely upon Allah with reliance due to Him, then He would provide for you just as He provides for the birds. They go out in the morning with empty stomachs but return full.” [Sunan At-Tirmidhi 2344] |
| 19 | Love of Allah | Loving Allah is not just wearing a t-shirt with ‘I love Allah’ printed on it. If we truly love Allah, we will be willing to do everything to please Him. | قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ.Say, “If you should love Allah , then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” [3:31] |
| 20 | Remembrance of Death | We have to go there someday, may be it will be tomorrow, or today, Allah knows. Let us be aware of it and prepare for it. | أَكْثِرُوا ذِكْرَ هَاذِمِ اللَّذَّاتِRemember often the destroyer of pleasures. [Sunan ibn Majah 4258] |
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