BismillaharRahmanirRahim
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When Ramazan ends, it can feel like our spirituality comes to a halt—our energy for ibadet and our struggle for hizmet finished with our Bayram festivities.
Sheykh Lokman Efendi says it should not be like that. Muslims, especially in The Americas and Europe, are in danger of making Ramazan the only celebration and adopting wrong ideas so everyone can accept, which opens up more business opportunities. They must smooth out distinctions, focus on similarities, and emphasize fun with family and friends to accomplish this. Then avoid talking about Holy Prophet Muhammad (AS) and his traditions.
But for Muslims to support a celebration with non-Muslim holidays and sidestep the Sunnah of Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah (AS), is to deviate from his way. The Muslim Ummah has faced many challenges in 1400 years, but the mess we see today mimics the ignorance of the Pre-Islamic Meccans during the period of ignorance, jahiliyyah.
In Ahir Zaman, Muslims who want to be devoted to our Prophet (AS) and keep his Sunnah find it challenging to hold them firmly. We will need to restrain against the pull of this world and resist the appeal from the People of Dunya, making intentions and taking action to progress in the way of the Ahl Sunnah. Discipline, manners, and self-control are necessary because they demonstrate the sincerity of our belief in Allah and His Prophet (AS).
For instance, in Imam el-Qushayri’s (ra) Risala, he said,
“The common folk strive to protect their actions [from sin], while the elect endeavor to purify their [internal] states. The strictures of hunger and night vigils are simple and easy, whereas improving a man’s morals and cleansing them of evil traits is much more difficult.”
So Hajj and Kurban are next. Suppose we were to improve and treat the end of Ramazan Bayram as the beginning of Hajj, where we resumed eating and drinking, but our worship and religious service continued. In that case, we’d be at the beginning of Imam el-Qushayri’s illustration, with the more difficult parts lying ahead.
Remarkably, at the Osmanli Naksibendi Dergah, our Sheykh, and the Jemaat make everything easier.
There are spiritual meanings in these Holy Days and Nights. Preparing ourselves each time helps us take the lesson and make spiritual progress. But Ramazan Bayram and Kurban Bayram are different. Ramazan is more accessible because the main point is fasting and denying food and drink.
Furthermore, young people tend to understand the main point more easily and enjoy the festivities when fasting ends, but not so much Kurban Bayram because the central theme is more nuanced and subtle. Sheykh Lokman Efendi has said that Allah is causing the sacrifice we make by not eating and drinking during Ramazan to become more refined during Kurban; during Ramazan, we are preparing our ego to be sacrificed, and at Kurban time, we finally present that submitted ego as a sacrifice to our Lord.
Further still, we offer our sacrifice of Hajj in a dress rehearsal for Judgment Day. So now Hajj is coming, what are we preparing? Whether it’s a sacrifice or the rites of the Hajj, prepare yourself for that. Sheykh Lokman Efendi has said that going to Hajj is one thing, but Allah (SWT) accepting our intention for Hajj is something else. When Hajj is over, there will be more to do and prepare for Ashura, more things we can do to endeavor in sacrifice and spiritual service. Then we should prepare to celebrate the birth of the Holy Prophet (AS), Mevlid-i-Sherif, and more Holy Days and Nights throughout the Islamic Calendar year.
Like Islam, Dunya has its holidays; some are even state-sponsored. There are also the beginning and end of calendar months and years. But in contrast, Dunya takes our time, energy, and attention away from Allah (SWT), focusing on fun, family, and friends. Muslims must be faithful to our Prophet (AS) and keep his Sunnah as the Sahab-i-Kiram did. I have found that the best way to do this is in Tarikat, to have a Sheykh (guide) and a Jemaat (community) being in sohbet (association) together for the sake of Allah (SWT). Real happiness naturally comes this way, and it’s more satisfying.
In the Osmanli Naksibendi Tarikat, we spend time with our Master. Together, he offers step-by-step guidance on following the Prophetic Traditions as a lifestyle in a community of believers doing the same. May Allah (SWT) forgive us for all our shortcomings during Hajj for the sake of the Holy Prophet (AS) and the Holy Ones. May He accept our Kurban and be pleased with our weak insha’Allah service. May we become better? El-Fatiha. Amin. Selam aleykum.
