The Garden of Knowledge

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

30 Ramadan 1447/20 March 2026

All praise is due to Allah ﷻ, the Cherisher, Sustainer, Nourisher, and Provider of all creation. May peace, blessings, and salutations be upon our Beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

Alhamdulillah, we have reached the end of the blessed month of Ramadan and now prepare to enter the month of Shawwal. Ramadan was a time of immense mercy and transformation — a period in which we strove to purify our hearts, abandon harmful habits, and cultivate beneficial actions.

One of the key lessons of Ramadan is that true success lies not in quantity, but in consistency and sincerity. As narrated by Sayyidah Aisha (رضي الله عنها), the Prophet ﷺ said:

سَدِّدُوا وَقَارِبُوا، وَاعْلَمُوا أَنْ لَنْ يُدْخِلَ أَحَدَكُمْ عَمَلُهُ الْجَنَّةَ، وَأَنَّ أَحَبَّ الأَعْمَالِ إِلَى اللَّهِ أَدْوَمُهَا وَإِنْ قَلَّ

“Do good deeds properly, sincerely, and moderately, and know that your deeds alone will not cause you to enter Paradise. And indeed, the most beloved deeds to Allah are those that are consistent, even if they are little.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari 6464)

Ramadan is not meant to be a temporary spiritual high — rather, it is a training ground that shows us what we are capable of achieving throughout the year. The positive habits we developed should not fade with the sighting of the Shawwal moon; instead, they should become part of our daily lives moving forward.

It is often said that it takes approximately 30–40 days for actions to become habits. In this sense, Ramadan serves as the perfect foundation for long-lasting change.

After Ramadan, we are faced with an important question: What next?

The answer lies in preservation and consistency. We should strive to:

• Remain connected to the Masaajid
• Maintain daily recitation of the Qur’an
• Engage in regular dhikr
• Keep the company of the righteous

Through these efforts, we continue our journey of drawing closer to Allah ﷻ and His Beloved ﷺ.

Shaykh Muhammad bin Yahya Al-Ninowy highlights the importance of muhasabah (self-reflection). He encourages us to ask ourselves daily:

• How is my heart with Allah ﷻ today?
• Am I closer to Allah ﷻ today than I was yesterday?
• Am I progressing compared to last week or last month?

This practice allows us to assess our spiritual state and make necessary adjustments if we begin to drift.

As we enter Shawwal, Allah ﷻ grants us a valuable opportunity to continue our momentum.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ ثُمَّ أَتْبَعَهُ سِتًّا مِنْ شَوَّالٍ كَانَ كَصِيَامِ الدَّهْرِ

“Whoever fasts Ramadan and then follows it with six days of Shawwal, it is as if he has fasted for an entire year.”
(Sahih Muslim 1164)

These six fasts of Shawwal serve as a powerful stepping stone, helping us maintain the discipline and spiritual connection we built during Ramadan.

Beyond this, we should continue striving in:

• Voluntary (nafl) acts of worship
• Dhikr and remembrance of Allah ﷻ
• Consistent engagement with the Qur’an

We ask Allah ﷻ to accept all our efforts, to grant us steadfastness, and to draw us ever closer to Him and His Beloved Prophet ﷺ.