Whenever any companion of the Prophet 
left to Medina for jihad, for business, as a delegation for Daw’ah or as a governor of a place, the Prophet made it a point to remind him to observe taqwa (God consciousness). This advice was given to Abu dhar Ghifari 
and also to Muad bin Jabal .
When the sahaba (companions of the Prophet ) were in Medina, they were enveloped in an Islamic environment. The latter comes from the presence of good people around you who observe the taqwa of Allah 
. But when a person goes a little away from this environment, he is under the threat of being exploited or tempted by shaitan. So, whenever a sahaba left Medina, he was cautioned to observe taqwa.
Ubay Bin Ka’ab explained to Umar bin al khattab :
Taqwa means to be careful of your deen while you pass by things that can harm your deen. You have to pass by the temptations the way you pass by a thorny valley while protecting yourself and your clothes.
Ali explained Taqwa’s presence when one possesses the following:
- Fear of Allah in his heart that stops one from sins
- Regularity and punctuality in good actions that are commanded by Allah
- Preparing for one’s death
- Being satisfied with what Allah has given him.
Ibn Masood said :
Taqwa is the best blessing a person can have from Allah.
He also said, “Taqwa is essential for a person to gain Hikmah (wisdom).”
A sahaba came to the Prophet and requested for some food material for his journey which he was undertaking. The Prophet sent someone to each of his wives to get something for this man who did not have any provision for his journey. The man came back and informed that none of the Prophet’s wives had anything to give, not even a piece of date. So he asked his companions who were present there. But even they did not have any thing.
So the Prophet looked up at the sahaba and said: “I don’t have anything to give to you for your journey but I will pray for you.” And he prayed that Allah bestow taqwa upon his companion. The man was happy and he did not mind traveling without any provision since the Prophet had prayed for taqwa. He knew that if he had taqwa, it means that Allah will provide him with provision from places he could not even imagine as is mentioned in surah Talaq. 1
So, he requested the Prophet to pray more for him. The Prophet obliged and prayed: “May Allah forgive all your past and future sins.” The man was glad, so he requested the Prophet to pray for him again and this time, the Prophet prayed: “Go wherever you want to go. Allah will open up the gates of blessings of this world and hereafter.” The man left for his journey as he knew the value of taqwa.
If you are in need of provision, then observe taqwa. Taqwa does not only mean doing good deeds in large amount but it also includes stopping yourself from doing haram things. We all know the famous verse in the Quran where Allah tells us that He prescribed fasting for us so we may attain taqwa. 2 But most of us fail to achieve this goal. Let’s see the reason for this.
Spiritual Laziness in Ramadan
Some people turn their daily routine completely upside down in Ramadan. They remain asleep during the day like as if they are in hibernation mode. Well, Ramadan is not a month of hibernation (to remain away from work the whole day and think that you are busy in worshiping Allah, even though you are not). Sadly, during Ramadan, sleeping becomes excessive for many.
If you analyze carefully, most of us only keep aside an extra hour for Taraweeh (extra units of prayer in Ramadan at night) because most of the Taraweehs last for just one hour and a half. Then, we recite Qur’an for approximately one hour per juzz. So, we’ve only indulged in two hours of extra worship!
Sadly, many of us take up extra hours to get refreshed. However, Qur’anic recitation is meant to freshen us up and make us lively and enthusiastic to do more good deeds, but many of us take it as a tiring activity. This is spiritual lethargy. That is the reason why, in spite of finishing the Qur’an multiple times, many of us still remain spiritually dull. We do not get motivated to do good deeds that the Qur’an encourages us to do nor are we able to overpower temptations and sins that the Qur’an prohibits us.
Spiritual laziness is more harmful than intelligent laziness. A ‘mentally lazy’ person may be very good in Maths and other subjects but he fails to use his knowledge in his day-to-day life. Let me help you with a simple example. You have scored highest grades in Math but when you go to your grocer to buy stuff, do you match the bill with the ingredients that you have bought and do you really make it a point to check the amount? Many of us do not. Because of mental laziness, many of us lose a lot of money and opportunities in life.
Similarly, if a person is spiritually lazy, he follows Islam just ritually. He prays with others in the first row but does not realize the value of praying first row in congregation. He is just there in the front row because the mosque was empty. He doesn’t feel spiritually happy and think, “Alhamdulillah (praise be to Allah), today I will get a lot of reward”. He knows the virtues of miswak (brushing of teeth) but avoids it due to spiritual laziness. He is not impressed by the virtues of brushing along with wudhu (ablution).
Many of us ignore simple sunnahs which we can perform easily because we are not motivated enough. If such is the case, then know that something is wrong with your Imaan (faith). It is a sign of weak faith where your heart does not feel the desire to do recommended things and it unwillingly drags itself to do compulsory acts of worship.
Ramadan and Spiritual Laziness
This is where Ramadan begins to train you. Ramadan is a means for you to get out of your spiritual laziness. So in Ramadan, increase your levels by taqwa by striving to raise your spiritual index higher. While you eat less and drink less, cut down on your sleep too.
That is how we increase our stamina: Moderate food, drink and sleep. An excess of any of these will lead to an imbalance. So, make sure your food and sleep is in moderation so that you can maximize your productivity levels.
Your reward for doing any good deed is multiplied manifold, so do not let the month of Ramadan go by without you having exerted yourself. You can increase your taqwa levels by implementing the following examples:
- Strive to increase your night prayers.
- Recite more Qur’an at night and try to read the tafseer of the same.
- Reflect upon the verses and strive to get closer to Allah.
- Don’t waste time in sleeping excessively during the day. Rather, make use of your time in indulging in dhikr or helping someone out by giving charity.
- Take this opportunity to help your family members in getting closer to learning the Book of Allah
- Do good deeds together as a family to earn more rewards.
- Pick out one weak aspect in yourself and make sure you work on eliminating it by the time Ramadan finishes.
By doing so, when Laylatul Qadr (The Night of Decree) arrives, you will be ready for worshiping the entire night with sincerity and khushoo. May Allah help us do acts of worship in Ramadan that pleases Him and help us get closer to Him. Ameen.
Please share your tips on how you strive to achieve taqwa in Ramadan and how you fight the spiritual laziness during Ramdan, in the comments section below. 🙂
69 replies on “The Value of Taqwa and Spiritual Laziness in Ramadan”
Maa shaa Allaah! Baaraka Allaahu feeka! Very well put forth to explain the spiritual laziness or hibernation mode.
Jazzak Allah Khair.may Allah bless you twofold by motivating us.And please pray that Allah give us the strength to follow His will.
JAZAKALLAHU KHAIR REALLY MOTIVATING ARTICLE MAY ALLAH SWT HELP US AND ACCEPT FROM US AAMEEN
Jazaakallahu Khair
jazakumuAllahu kheir for posting all this beneficial articles …may Allah reward you abundantly…ameen
Masha Allah. Jazakallahu bikhair. Well elaborated article. May Allah help us to put it in practice.
SubhanAllah eye opener and thought provoking reminder. JazakAllah
MAy Allah Pak help us to implement on it. Aamen
This is beautiful jazakum Allah khayran
JazzakAllah khier this mean a lot to me…
Masha Allah! interesting article, very well explained. Insha Allah I aim to follow the guidelines above.
Jazakallahu khair for the useful tips and advise. I will strive to decrease my sins during this Ramadan
Excellent article!!!
Elhamdülillah
JazakAllahu khair
Jazaakallahu Khair
Jazakhallah Khair.Very helpful and spiritually motivating article…Waiting for more such write ups.
many thanks .. jazak Allah khair .. this adds to my preparation of the blessed month .. may Allah aid us all to make the most of it .. ya Rub let this Ramadan be a turning point of our lives
V useful article.I am a day sleeper during ramzan,my work routine is like I’m Dr on call on night duty,random timings of emergencies,so no proper schedule of sleep
Elhamdulilah that we have you shaikh. Elhamdulilah.☝
ALLAHUAKBAR . Thanks for sharing this article.it will help me and my family in gaining forgiveness from ALLAH(SWT)
Jazakum-llahu khir wa ja3alhu fi mizani hasanatikum
Jazakallah Khair Brother.. May Allah increase our taqwa..
I wish to learn Arabic so that I can understand Quran of my own.. Can you help me this Ramadan ?
Jazakallah khairan. Well appreciated. To earn Allah’s favor and increase our iman, we must struggle for the pleasure of our Lord. Timely.
Jazakhum lahi khairan!!!
Jazakallahu khair!!! Very well summed up article on Taqwa and way to avoid spiritual laziness or hibernation mode.
Very good read.
Jazakaullahu khairan kathira
mashallah jazakallahu kheira
Very beneficial we ask Allah to help us in worshiping him and doing what He is pleased with.
JazakAllah u Khairan. It is very helpful specially the bullet points about what to do during ramadan to attain Khushoo and Taqwa and to be ready for Laylat Al Qadr. I just took a screen shot of those points and set them as the Lock Screen Wallpaper of my Samsung Note3 phone.
Alhamdulillah. A well done article. Jazaakumu Allaahu Khair. . Will share In Shaa Allaah.
As Salamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh,
Ma Shaa Allah! May Almighty Allah reward you.
May Almighty Allah have mercy and guide us all to righteousness until our last breath, ameen!
May Almighty Allah help us persuing Q’uran and Sunnah more in this holy month of Ramadan.
Jazakallahu Khairan for sharing such a wonderful and useful article. This time I have decided to finish the Quran atleast two times during Ramadan and increase my night prayers and dhikr. The bad thing I am always trying to eliminate is backbiting and talking excessively. I am not backbiting and most of the people are saying I am silence type but still I feel I have to reduce my talks and I should look after my own business. In Shaa Allaah
SubhanAllah
Jazakallahu khairan….the article is very insightful, May Allah give us the courage and strength to be on our feet and do more good deeds during this coming Ramadan. Thanks a lot!
MashAllah, enjoyed this article and needed some reminders. Would love to see more of its kind as we get close to Ramadan. This is my 2 one ever ! But I am alone without a mosque or muslims around me to guid me. Alhamduiliah. So the online community is extremely valuable. So thanks agian .
JazakAllahu khairan Dr. This article has highlighted the key points of the reality of our actions during Ramadan. The recommendations in this article shall be of immense assistance in improving our Taqwa during and after Ramadan InshaAllah.
Aameen! Barak Allahu feekum! Wow, this is such a great article! In fact, it’s exactly the reality of how some of us go about utilizing the holy month of Ramadan, myself included. I’m not guilty of everything but this article has revealed some things for me that I never thought of. I will definately make an honest effort Insha Allah to get the most benefit out of this Ramadan and many to come. May Allah SWT continue to reward you and your family for all your efforts and contributions to the Ummah. Allah Thumma Aameen.
Masha Allah really inspiring.
Masha Allah, what an inspiring article! May Allah help us to implement all this virtues, aamin.
Jazakallahu khair
May Allah SWT give us strenght to avoid spritual lazziness in Ramadan.. Aameen
Jazakallahu khairan. Very well said. May Allah SWT help us all in our deen, amin
Maa Shaa Allah, very nice article! i appreciate it…
May ALLAH SWT give us strenght to avoid spritual lazziness in Ramadan.. Aameen
My main shortcoming is dt, I don’t know how to avoid backbiting.Insha Allah am determined to at least reduce to a minimal level ds Ramadan amin.
Jazaakallahu khair this really help i’ve achieved more on it and insha Allah i’ll pass it to my family members and friends.
Jazaa ka Allaahu khayral Jazaa””” May Allah bless you and Grant you Janatul Firdows our sheikh Bilal really amazing article I have loved it shared it and read it well may Allaah guide us all and make us those who practice their religious duties with knowledge, Let us all take take the advice for which the article is meant for and fight with shaitan and Hibernation Mode during Ramadhan and all time thanks a lot sheikh Bilal PHilips
Alhamdullillaah, Jazakallaahu Khair, May Allah assist us in perfecting our ways and grant us the ability, strenght and wisdow to achieve a better way of life with taq’wa
Really this change my mind, insha allah now I will make a plan & follow it,jazakallahukrair. Insha allah this will be my first Ramadan that allah, (no words to tell)please ya allah accept my Ramadan. .
I am very impressed with this article. JazakAllahu Khair. For us not to be lazy we most have start preparing our self for the month of Ramadan during the month of Sha’ban. The fast are only voluntary but for extra-credit that will also go along way in reducing our laziness during the Ramadan..
[…] is also a month for making a lot of excuses and procrastinating in many ways. Not utilizing the opportunities the month brings – while feeling stressed and depressed at […]
jazakumuAllahu kheir for posting all this beneficial articles …may Allah reward you abundantly…ameen
baraka allah fik so helpfull indeed it covers the subject matter i an amazing way keep doing this you are trully helping us god bless u
MAA SHAA ALLAH. NICE. IN SHAA ALLAH I must try all tips. Pray for me….
Dear Brother Nisaar, Aslam alikum wa Rahmatullah!
I am blessed to have read your amazing article about Taqwa! I have translated your article into PERSIAN language and posted it in my blog while mentioning your address of original article. May Allah Subhanahu wa Tala reward you with Jannatul Firdaws! JazakAllah u Khair
http://kayubzai.blogspot.com/2015/06/the-value-of-taqwa-god-consciousness.html
JazakAllahKhair for these fine tips. Certainly one needs to cut down on sleep and eating and increase in dhikr and other good deeds.
My suggestions is not just wait for Ramadan, but start now itself coz ur body and mind needs some training and it may not start from day one of Ramadan so the time we have now can be used to prepare for the Ramadan.
Ya Allah..really creepy!…spiritual laziness is stopping me from following sunnah..May Allah reward u for this article..n I request u to pray for me 🙁
Jazakallah, May Allah accept your struggle for preaching Islam. Amin.It is good informative article.
Alhamdulillah for reminding us and insha’Allah we will practice the Taqwa . May we all witness the holy month of the Ramadan with good conditions so that we can able to fast and may He accepts our prayers and our fasting. May Allah reward you all
Jazakumulloohu khayran, what a nice article. My question is, where can I find the hadeeth that you mentioned about the man who wanted to go on a journey but he didn’t have the means to go?
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