Bismillah, in the name of Allah.

We’re now halfway through Ramadan. SubhanAllah, it always goes by so fast. This is day 15. By the time we break our fast, it will be the night of the 16th. This is a reflection of how quickly time passes. A reflection on the nature of this life. A reflection on how nothing lasts – not the good nor the bad.

Sometimes we say: “I was it was Ramadan every day!” or “I wish Ramadan went on for longer” and the like. But Allah’s Hikmah (loosely translated to mean “wisdom”) cannot be quantified or measured. Allah Knows us better than we know ourselves. Allah Knows our nature as human beings better than we’ll ever know it ourselves. Even if we had dedicated our lives from the beginning of time until the end to understanding it, we wouldn’t come close. Allah Knows what we need and how much of it we need. Allah Knows that this is enough for us.

Yet we forget. We forget what we need and yearn for. We forget what our priorities are. We forget that we need Ramadan. We forget that we need Allah. We are, after all, insaan (human being). Insaan in the Arabic comes from the word nisyaan, which means forgetfulness. By our very nature we are forgetful and we need consistent reminders. Why do you think Ramadan comes around once a year? Why do you think we have to show up at the mosque once a week? Reminders benefit the believers. And as human beings, as insaan, there is nothing we need more than a reminder.

Allah created us all long before we knew we even existed. Every past, present and future soul has testified to His Oneness and Lordship. But every soul has forgotten until they’re reminded. The world sucks us in through our desires and through our nurture – whatever they look like. And the only way to get out of this loop of forgetfulness is through constant reminders.

We know that Allah provides, yet we forget and rely on our pay cheque. We know that Allah heals, yet we rely on pharmaceuticals. We know that Allah guides, yet we rely on self-help books. We know that Allah is the source of all comfort and peace, yet we rely on recreational methods or worse, addictions. We need reminders.

As we step into the second half of Ramadan, here’s a reminder (to myself first) that we still have the opportunity to make the most out of what’s left. It’s not about how we start but how we end. Indeed actions are judged by their ending. We have two weeks left to level up and squeeze the juice out of this month. By now the fasting has become easier and the routine has been set. The adjustment period is over and we can go in full force.

In two weeks we can achieve wonders. I know someone, for example, who wants to design a course – they can get a lot done in two weeks. I know someone who wants to get into the habit of writing every day, they can develop the habit in two weeks. I know someone who wants to lose weight – they can lose plenty of weight in two weeks. And they would establish a consistent routine they can maintain after Ramadan. We can still let go of bad habits and establish new ones. We can still start something and make incredible progress or finish something we already started.

The advice I got from my mentor was to pick one thing to focus on this Ramadan. But before that, let’s take a step back real quick and re-establish our foundation.

1. First, we must have certainty. Certainty that Allah is The Provider. Certainty that Allah is The Source of everything. Certainty that nothing happens without Allah’s Permission. Certainty that everything, and I mean everything leads back to Allah.
2. Second, we must correct our intentions. What are we doing this for? What are we doing anything for? We have to realign our intentions and ensure that they are for the right reasons. And because everything leads back to Allah as established above, our intentions should always lead back to Him.
3. And third, we must remain vigilant. We must remind ourselves that Allah is with us. Allah Sees, Allah Hears, Allah Knows. And any step we take with Allah is a step in the right direction – even if we can’t see it. We must establish constant reminder systems that work for us and we must remain vigilant. Act as if you can see Allah, and if that’s too difficult, then know that Allah Sees us in every moment with no interruption.

Now that we have re-established the foundational elements, let’s pick one thing to focus on this Ramadan. In this case, let’s take establishing a healthy routine as an example. Let’s say we want to burn fat, increase our stamina, our strength, and to be more active in general.

First, we establish certainty in our hearts that all strength comes from Allah and that He is The Source of our stamina and our health. And no matter what happens it all leads back to Him.

Second, we set our intention to attain His Rida (Rida can be loosely translated to mean “pleasure”) and to take care of the amanah (trust) that is our bodies. We intend to become stronger and fitter to be able to worship Him for longer. We intend to take care of our families and to be more active with our kids. We intend to be more attractive for our spouses and to be confident. We intend to be a strong believer and any other intention we may have. We can combine many intentions for a single action or goal.

Third, we remain vigilant. We constantly remind ourselves why we are doing this. We realign our intentions anytime they begin to loosen. We remind ourselves that Allah is The Source. We remind ourselves that Allah Sees, and that any step we take with Him is a step in the right direction.

Now we have 14 days left to establish this routine or to start that project or to complete another project or whatever it is we decide to focus on. It’s not how we start, it’s how we end. This is why we ask Allah for a good end, because the end is the final seal over our lives. If we look back on any experience or relationship in the past, our most vivid memories would be of how it ended – good or bad.

I remind myself and you that we still have time. We cannot let our ego decide our fate. It will try to bring us down, it will tell us some nonsense like “you wasted the first half, there isn’t enough time left in the second half, why even bother?” or some nonsense. And if you don’t believe me, be honest and look within. You’ll find the ego spewing all sorts of nonsense to keep us where we are. I know that mine tells me that any effort is pointless and that nothing much can be achieved in two weeks. That will be true only if I let my ego control me. Otherwise, I know that I still have 2 weeks to do something incredible with Allah on my side and a kick to my ego’s face.

At the same time, my dear brother and sister, remember to hasten. Time is the ultimate currency that we can never make back. Pick one thing, put it into motion and move onto the next. Establish yourself in one area this Ramadan so that next Ramadan (may we all live long enough to see it) you may establish yourself in another. And before you know it, 10 years have gone by and you’ve exponentially increased your value.

I ask Allah to guide us to what attains His Rida.

I ask Allah to give us the strength and focus to make the most out of the remaining time we have left this Ramadan.

I ask Allah to increase our faith and certainty in Him.

I ask Allah to allow us to rectify our intentions consistently.

I ask Allah to gently nudge us and remind us to be vigilant at all times.

I ask Allah to grant us success in this life and the next.

Peace and blessings upon Muhammad and our final supplication is that all praise is due to Allah, Lord of the Worlds