Beware the Ides of Ramadan

This past week, we had a very important analyst that came and visited us here at Saturna; but beside being an analyst, he was also a PhD in Shakesperean Literature and in his spare time had done a lot of research on him

During a conversation at dinner, I recalled in one of the plays of Shakespeare called Julies Ceasar; in one scene, a soothsayer comes up to Julius Ceasar and says “Beware the Ides of March” which in the play is a foreshadowing of his death that he pays no heed to; Ide in the context is referring to Middle, and thus “beware of March 15th”

I thought about this because we are now going through the middle of the month of Ramadan and it is appropriate to use the words “Beware the Ides of Ramadan”; of course I am not saying that we will die during this month, it is during this middle of the month that Muslims begin to get more tired, more sleepy, more frustrated, because of their service to Allah that is being performed during this month;

Another example one can use is that of a marathon; as a runner begins the race, he is excited and has energy and is ready to run; during the middle portion, he begins to feel pain, gets tired, is thirsty, and just wants to give up, mental and physically, but if he can hold out for a bit longer, then there is a tipping point, after which point he reaches a state of bliss; in this state, he feels very light, no pain, and feels he can run forever

The month of Ramadan is no different for us; as we begin, we are excited about many things: good food, fasting being accepted by Allah, seeing many Muslims around us; but it is during this time of the month that we begin to really feel Ramadan; the good food becomes a chore to make, you begin to doubt whether or not Allah will accept your fast or not, and you feel like staying home and sleeping rather than getting together with Muslims for iftar; but it is also during this time that we as Muslims have a tipping point as well; and it is right around the corner; and we need to be steadfast and have sabr:

Allah mentions in the Qur’an “Fasbir sabran jameel” – have patience with a beautiful patience and “Innallaha ma’as sabireen” -- Verily Allah is with those who are paitent

Allah also mentions in the Qur’an: “kulli nafsin dhaa’ikatil mowt….” (21:35) – Every soul shall taste death, and We will try you with evil and good, and to Us is your return;

So we need to be patient during this time when we don’t want to stay for taraweeh, when we don’t want to wake up for suhur; and give yourself an extra push to do these things; this is also another reason why I think, Allah left Laylatul Qadr in the last 10 nights of Ramadan; it is only through going the entire month of fasting, and then staying up at night when you are tired from a whole month of that that Allah will forgive you your sins; if the night which is worth a 1000 months was early in the month it would be too easy and if too easy, then where is the reward? Allah mentions how he made us believers, and he will test us in our wealth, family, and in ourselves;

We need to be strong during these “ides of Ramadan” and I can guarantee that if we push ourselves just a bit more, we will reach the tipping point feel as though we can fast the entire year, and next Friday, we will all be wondering, how did the month go by so fast?

And I want to close this first khutba with a hadith of the Prophet regarding trials and hardships, and how for the believers, they are both a blessing:

Abu Yahya Suhaib b. Sinan said that Rasulullah saw said : “Wondrous are the believer’s affairs. For him there is good in all his affairs, and this is so only for the believer. When something pleasing happens to him, he is grateful, and that is good for him; and when something displeasing happens to him, he is enduring (sabr), and that is good for him” ( Muslim )