I remember when I used to use ”Ramadan Muslims” as a pejorative. What a puerile understanding of the religion I had. Alhamdulillah we get wiser with age.
Imam Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali rahimahullah has this passage, I believe it’s in Lata’if al-Ma’arif, where he compares Ramadan and the other months of the year to Yusuf alayhi s-salam and his brothers.
The year has 12 months and Ya’qub alayhi s-salam had 12 sons. Through the virtue of Yusuf, all his brothers were forgiven. Through the virtue of Ramadan, our shortcomings during the rest of the year are forgiven.
The fact that these “Ramadan Muslims” fix up during the month… Well, that’s the entire point. They keep coming back and He’ll keep forgiving them. It’s Allah’s Mercy and He’ll grant it to whomever He Wills.
“…Truly Allah loveth those who turn unto Him, and loveth those who have a care for cleanness.” [Al-Baqarah 2:222]
Al-Tawwabeen are those people who keep sinning and keep repenting from sin, may we be among them. It’s not a one-time thing.
And anyway, who else are we going to turn to? Who else are we going to beg for mercy? This is one of those light-bulb moments and you level-up when you internalize it.
“Say: O My slaves who have been prodigal to their own hurt! Despair not of the mercy of Allah, Who forgiveth all sins. Lo! He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.” [Az-Zumar 39:53]
The Best Advice My Teacher Gave Me
Many years ago, we were breaking the fast at my friend’s house and my teacher dropped this gem.
He said if you use every Ramadan to change just one thing about yourself, either adding something good or removing something bad, in 10 Ramadans you’ll be a completely different person.
This goes to the point I was making in A Tale of Two Converts and it doesn’t just apply to converts. People overestimate what they can do in the short term and underestimate what they can accomplish long-term.