Ramadan may have passed, but its spirit should not fade away. Is Ramadan merely an annual ritual, or is it a turning point toward a cleaner, more sincere, and more professional life? In essence, the light of Ramadan deserves to shine throughout the entire year.
Ramadan has ended, yet its spirit should remain. In a reflective religious session filled with wisdom, Ustadz Samsul Basri, an Islamic scholar holding a strategic role in da’wah and Islamic education, invited us to contemplate the deeper meaning of Ramadan: that it is not merely a ritual month, but a starting point toward a sustainable lifestyle of piety.
“If possible, Ramadan should last forever,” he expressed. “…Not because we want to fast every day, but because Ramadan is an intensive training in living a life full of piety,” he continued.
Through a reflection on QS. Adz-Dzariyat verses 15–19, Ustadz Samsul outlined four important lessons that should serve as a compass for every Muslim: the guarantee of success for the pious, the lifestyle of piety, evaluating Ramadan in shaping a pious character, and how to maintain the spirit of Ramadan in the months that follow.
1. The Guarantee of Success in This World and the Hereafter for the Pious
Heaven is not merely a dream, but a certainty for the pious. “The pious are guaranteed not only to enter heaven but also to be protected from the النار (hellfire),” emphasized Ustadz Samsul.
He cited QS. Maryam verses 71–72 and QS. Ali Imran verse 185 to reinforce his statement: true success for Muslims is to be saved from hellfire and admitted into heaven. However, this success is not limited to the hereafter. QS. At-Talaq verses 2–4 state that the pious will be granted solutions to their problems, unexpected sustenance, and ease in all matters.
The pious are individuals who are not overwhelmed by prolonged fear or sadness. They live with optimism, believing that ease accompanies hardship. That is the true happiness in this world.
2. The Lifestyle of Piety: Inspiration from the Qur’an
Ustadz Samsul further explained that QS. Adz-Dzariyat verses 16–19 describe the lifestyle of the pious:
- They are muhsinin, those who perform good deeds with excellence.
- They reduce their sleep at night to worship.
- They seek forgiveness at dawn (sahur time).
- They allocate part of their wealth for the needy, both those who ask and those who do not.
“Just like someone who wants to become a professional athlete will imitate their idol’s lifestyle, we must do the same. If we want to succeed like the pious, then we must follow their daily habits,” he explained enthusiastically.
Doing ihsan—performing good deeds with the highest quality—becomes the foundation of a pious lifestyle. Practice ihsan toward Allah, toward fellow humans, and toward the environment. “If you help, do it wholeheartedly. If you slaughter an animal, sharpen your knife. If you clean, clean thoroughly—even the meeting room and the bathroom,” he added.
3. Ramadan as a Builder of Pious Character
According to Ustadz Samsul, Ramadan is not the end, but the beginning. “If we observe the lifestyle of piety described in QS. Adz-Dzariyat, all of it is trained during Ramadan,” he said.
Practicing ihsan toward Allah is trained through fasting. Reducing sleep is practiced through Tarawih and night prayers. Seeking forgiveness at dawn is built through the habit of sahur. Charity is also highly emphasized during Ramadan.
This means Ramadan is a training center to shape us into pious individuals. Therefore, the question is not, “How was your Ramadan?” but rather, “Has Ramadan changed you?”
4. Maintaining the Spirit of Ramadan in the Other 11 Months
The spirit of Ramadan must be preserved even after Syawal arrives. According to Ustadz Samsul, this can be achieved by understanding the essence of piety and implementing it in daily life.
The essence of piety consists of four elements:
- Al-khawf minal Jalil – Fear of Allah the Most Exalted.
- Al-amalu bit Tanzil – Acting based on revelation (the Qur’an and Sunnah).
- Ar-ridha bil qalil – Being content with what Allah has given, even if it is little.
- Al-isti’dad li yaumir rahil – Always preparing for the hereafter.
From this, several practical tips emerge:
- To control desires, increase voluntary prayers and fasting.
- To strengthen fear of Allah, seek knowledge.
- To become generous, make charity a daily habit—even as little as Rp 1,000 per day.
- To be professional, work with the intention of worship, as taught by the Prophet: “Indeed, Allah loves when someone performs a task, they do it professionally.” Another hadith states: “When a matter is entrusted to those who are not qualified, then await its destruction,” emphasizing the importance of competence and professionalism in work.
Make Ramadan a Turning Point
In closing, Ustadz Samsul reminded, “If we want our prayers—‘Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanah wa fil akhirati hasanah wa qina ‘adzabannaar’—to be answered, then we must make ourselves worthy by becoming pious servants.”
Ramadan is a month of transformation. But will that transformation last? The answer lies within ourselves.
Did we truly learn from it, or merely go through the motions? Do we only miss the atmosphere of Ramadan, or do we strive to carry its light throughout the year?
Because ultimately, Ramadan is not just about worship. It is training—to shape us into better individuals not only for a month, but for a lifetime. (DIL)Source: Jurnal Halal 173 https://halalmui.org/jurnal-halal/173/
