When basketball player Lebron James goes through intensive training for the next NBA season, he is expected to rise. His shots should get more precise and accurate, his rebounds and assists should increase, and he should have better stamina. Overall, training should make him a better player.
Ramadan is our yearly spiritual training for the next 11-month season. With that said, ask yourself: How has Ramadan made me rise? Have my prayers become more accurate in sincerity and precise in timing? How many people have I assisted back up on their feet? How many people have I helped guide to our beautiful faith? When someone hurts me, do I rebound with hate or with something better? Have I gained enough stamina to increase my nightly worship? In short, how has Ramadan changed me to become a better person?
These are all questions we must ask ourselves as this blessed month comes to an end. If Ramadan after Ramadan, we are not becoming better people and building closer ties with Allah, then when will we? Allah (swt) says in the Quran that He did not create humans without purpose. And similarly, He has not blessed us with Ramadan without reason. It is a month of spiritual and character development. Why would the NBA spend an enormous amount of money on players to go through training? Because when you train, you benefit and gain something in return.
Make sure that your training in Ramadan gives you something in return. Increase your worship, build an ongoing relationship with Allah and His noble Book, improve your character and dealings with others, become more loving, generous, hopeful, and most importantly, less attached to this temporary worldly life.
If an NBA player continues to fall short in his game, season after season, no one will want to continue training him. Yet Allah (swt) blesses us with Ramadan continuously even if we do not become better people, and this is out of His mercy. We all have shortcomings, yet Ramadan is our yearly chance to rise above them. Let us continue to work hard and improve our inner selves so if we are given another training opportunity, we know exactly where we need improvement and strive to become better people and better servants to our Merciful Creator.
