Do not tear the garment of Taqwa

In Surah Nahl, verse 92, Allah Ta’ala makes mention of a woman in Makkah Mukarramah who would spend her entire day weaving her yarn. At the end of the day she would undo all her effort. This was due to some disorder which she suffered from. So the Noble Qur’an uses her example to deter one who makes a pledge to do good and then at the end of that toil undoes that effort.

Weaving a yarn is no ordinary work – it requires patience, control, commitment and effort. Apply this to a person who made a concerted effort in Ramadan to be regular on Salaah, wake up for Sehri, fast, give charity, avoid sin and do everything good – then when the blessed month of Ramadan passes, the person returns to his old ways by missing Salaah, committing sin, and doing things that will bring about the undoing of his effort in Ramadan.

Just as the woman who toiled to weave her yarn and then undid it would be regarded to be foolish, equally foolish if not more, is a person who accumulates good actions and the ability to do them, then sets about to ruin his effort. Shaytan and nafs have been weakened in Ramadan and they return after Ramadan like a wounded animal – more dangerous and ferocious than before. To be negligent and off guard in this time is self-destructive, as the onslaught of the opponent is relentless, especially after the spiritual upliftment of Ramadan.

The month of Shawwal is for us to consolidate the momentum and strength built up in Ramadan and persevere to maintain the gain.