Hope Until the Last Moment
The Prophet ﷺ said, “Verily, actions are by their endings.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
The last days of Ramadan are accompanied by sadness. Sadness that the blessing of Ramadan is coming to an end, sadness because we didn’t do enough, sadness that we won’t get this opportunity again until next year, if we are given life..
But the Prophet ﷺ words are powerful words of hope. He teaches us:
1) How something ends tells us much more than how it started: They are words of hope for those of us whose month has not been as planned, because even something terrible can be salvaged by a good ending. And because Allah is far more generous than anything of this world, He can magnify the value of that good ending such that it makes up for any shortcomings before that.
2) Measure time and opportunity in moments: Even if you were busy with work, family, responsibilities, illness… if there is one moment left, there is time. You have the most generous Lord who multiplies and appreciates even the meager good that you present to Him, such that one sincere moment of worship can open the door to infinite blessings.
3) There is hope until the end: Even if you didn’t start well. Even if you lost steam in the middle. There is still an opportunity. There is still so much hope. Your opening could come in the last du’a before sunset on the last day of Ramadan. And perhaps the delay in you feeling connected is so that you do not take it for granted, but you put the effort in doing what He loves until the end.
4) You going to Allah at the end despite a shaky beginning shows your love for and hope in Allah: Thinking well of Allah is an act of worship of the heart. It is having hope in Him, that He will forgive, accept, and elevate you in spite of the shortcomings because He is the Pardoner, the Generous, the Kind. Conversely, if you do not go because you think it is too late, you are expressing a low opinion of Allah. Think well of Him always.
5) Don’t ruin a good month by complacency at the end: These are also words of motivation for those who started well. There are only a few days left. We might be feeling good about ourselves or even tired. But we can celebrate and rest during Eid. And if we mess up at some point, it’s ok as long as we turn to Him! Perhaps that is what we needed to return to Allah in humility.
I pray that these last few nights of Ramadan are even more meaningful, and may Allah accept from all of us.