After Ramadan: The Test of Steadfastness
[Arabic,إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ لِلَّهِ، نَحْمَدُهُ وَنَسْتَعِينُهُ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهُ، وَنَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شُرُورِ أَنْفُسِنَا وَسَيِّئَاتِ أَعْمَالِنَا، مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللَّهُ فَلَا مُضِلَّ لَهُ، وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلَا هَادِيَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ. ]
Indeed, all praise is for Allah. We praise Him, seek His help, and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allah from the evil within ourselves and from the consequences of our wrong actions. Whomsoever Allah guides, none can misguide; whomsoever He leaves astray, none can guide. I bear witness there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah alone without partner, and Muhammad ﷺ is His servant and Messenger.
Part One: Continuing After Ramadan - The Real Test
Brothers, Ramadan has ended. The fasts are over. Eid has passed. The mosques that overflowed with worshippers in the night prayers have returned to their usual numbers. The Qurans that were opened daily now risk gathering dust on shelves. The momentum we built for thirty days faces its greatest test.
This pattern repeats itself year after year. During Ramadan, we feel spiritually elevated. Our connection with Allah intensifies. We pray with focus and cry in sujood. We recite the Quran with regularity. We control our tongues and our tempers. We feel like different people—better versions of ourselves.
But what happens when Ramadan leaves? For many, the energy dissipates. The motivation fades. Old habits creep back in. The heart that was soft during Ramadan hardens again. The eyes that shed tears in night prayer become dry. This is the real test: what do we do after Ramadan?
[Hadith,Bukhari,"Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (RA) said upon the death of the Prophet ﷺ: 'Whoever used to worship Muhammad, then Muhammad has died. But whoever worships Allah, then Allah is Ever-Living and never dies.'"]
This statement wasn't only for the passing of the Prophet ﷺ—it is a timeless reminder for every believer, during every season, and especially after every Ramadan. If you worshipped Ramadan, know that it has ended. But if you worship Allah, then remain steadfast—for He is Ever-Living and never dies.
Allah commands us without exception:
[Quran,15:98-99,"So glorify the praises of your Lord and be one of those who ˹always˺ pray, and worship your Lord until the inevitable ˹death˺ comes your way."]
Notice the phrase "until the inevitable comes your way." Death is the only time our worship ends. Not after Ramadan. Not when life gets difficult. Not when we lose motivation. Only when the soul departs the body does our obligation to worship Allah cease.
[Quran,11:112,"So be steadfast as you have been commanded ˹O Prophet˺, along with those who turn ˹to Allah˺ with you. And do not transgress. Surely He is All-Seeing of what you ˹believers˺ do."]
This verse caused the Prophet ﷺ himself to say about it:
[Hadith,Tirmidhi,"Surah Hud and its sisters have caused my hair to turn gray."]
Why? Because steadfastness is difficult. Consistency requires effort. Maintaining worship day after day, month after month, year after year—this is the true jihad of the soul.
The Contrast Between Ramadan and After
In Ramadan, worship felt easier. The environment supported us. Shaytan was chained. Everyone around us was fasting. The atmosphere pushed us toward good. We had structure and routine.
But now, the environment has changed. Shaytan has been released and seeks revenge for being imprisoned. He knows you tasted the sweetness of worship in Ramadan, and he wants to pull you back to your old ways. The people around us may not be as focused on worship. The structure is gone, and we must create our own.
This is especially true in this environment. During Ramadan here, we had a collective focus. We broke fast together. We prayed taraweeh together. We supported each other. But now, the reality of daily prison life returns in full force. The frustrations, the anger, the difficulties—all return with intensity.
This is precisely why Allah tests us. Anyone can worship when it is easy. Anyone can fast when everyone else is fasting. Anyone can pray when the mosque is full and beautiful recitation fills the air. But who continues to worship when it is difficult? Who maintains their prayers when nobody is watching? Who reads Quran when there is no accountability? This separates the sincere from the insincere.
[Quran,22:11,"And there are some who worship Allah on the verge ˹of faith˺: if they are blessed with something good, they are content with it; but if they are afflicted with a trial, they relapse ˹into disbelief˺, losing this world and the Hereafter. That is ˹truly˺ the clearest loss."]
Do not be like those who worship Allah only when it is convenient. Do not be seasonal worshippers who appear in Ramadan and disappear for eleven months. Allah describes those who maintain consistency:
[Quran,70:23,"˹They are˺ those who are constant in prayer."]
Constant. Consistent. Regular. Not fluctuating between extremes. Not appearing and disappearing. But steady, like the rising and setting of the sun.
Signs Your Ramadan Was Accepted
Our righteous predecessors taught us how to know if our Ramadan was accepted. They identified several signs:
First, persisting in acts of obedience to Allah. If Ramadan ends and your worship ends, this is a bad sign. But if you continue striving in worship after Ramadan, this indicates acceptance.
Second, abandoning previous sins and bad habits. If Ramadan passed and you returned immediately to the sins you committed before, what did Ramadan change? But if you genuinely left those sins and guard yourself from returning to them, this shows your Ramadan was productive.
Third, balancing fear of insufficient deeds with hope in Allah's mercy. The believer is never arrogant about their worship, always fearing it was not enough. Yet they never despair, always hoping in Allah's infinite mercy.
Fourth, demonstrating humility and avoiding arrogance. Some people worship in Ramadan and then look down on others, feeling superior. This destroys any reward. The true worshipper remains humble, knowing that without Allah's guidance and help, they are nothing.
Fifth, increasing private worship and sincerity. The sign of sincerity is that your private worship increases. Anyone can show off in public. But what do you do when alone? Do you still pray with quality? Do you still recite Quran? This is the test of sincerity.
Sixth, continuously engaging with the Quran. If the Quran was your companion in Ramadan, do not abandon it afterward. Keep your daily portion, even if small. Do not be from those whose Quran only comes out once a year.
Seventh, feeling sincere regret for Ramadan's departure and longing for its return. When Ramadan ended, how did you feel? Relieved that you can go back to normal? Or sad that the blessed season has passed? The believer grieves the loss of Ramadan and immediately begins preparing for the next one.
[Hadith,Bukhari & Muslim,"The Prophet ﷺ said: 'The most beloved deeds to Allah are those that are consistent, even if small.'"]
This is the key principle. Consistency matters more than quantity. A small deed performed regularly is better than a large deed performed once and abandoned. Allah does not need you to pray all night every night. He does not demand that you recite the entire Quran every week. But He loves consistency.
[Quran,16:92,"And do not be like she who undoes her ˹strong˺ thread after ˹spinning it˺, breaking it into pieces."]
Imagine someone spending hours carefully spinning thread, making it strong and useful. Then after all that work, she unravels it herself, destroying what she built. This is the one who worships in Ramadan and then abandons it afterward. You spent thirty days building something beautiful—do not destroy it now.
[Quote,Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak,,"A small deed that is consistent is better than abundant deeds that discontinue."]
[Quote,Al-Hasan al-Basri,,"He whose today is not better than his yesterday is in loss."]
Every day should show progress, even if small. Every day should move you closer to Allah, not further away. If you examine yourself and find that today was worse than yesterday, then you have lost that day.
[Quote,Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali,,"The sign of an accepted deed is that it is followed by another good deed."]
This is profound wisdom. Good deeds should lead to more good deeds. If your Ramadan was truly beneficial, it should lead you to continue in worship after Ramadan. The good deed opens the door to the next good deed.
The Danger of Returning to Sin
The worst outcome after Ramadan is not simply stopping extra worship—it is returning to previous sins. Some people use Ramadan as a temporary break from their sins, planning to return to them afterward. This mocks the sanctity of Ramadan and shows that nothing truly changed in the heart.
[Hadith,Ibn Majah,"The Prophet ﷺ said: 'Every one of my ummah will enter Paradise except those who refuse.' They said: 'O Messenger of Allah, who would refuse?' He said: 'Whoever obeys me will enter Paradise, and whoever disobeys me has refused.'"]
When you return to sin after Ramadan, you refuse the gift Allah gave you. He gave you thirty days to change, to reform, to become better. If you return to your old ways, you have rejected His gift.
Part Two: Practical Steps for Steadfastness
In this second half, I want to address the practical question: How do we maintain momentum after Ramadan? What specific actions can we take to ensure we do not lose what we gained?
[Quran,41:30,"Surely those who say, 'Our Lord is Allah,' and then remain steadfast, the angels descend upon them, ˹saying,˺ 'Do not fear, nor grieve. Rather, rejoice in the good news of Paradise, which you have been promised.'"]
Steadfastness brings tremendous rewards. Allah promises that those who remain firm on His path will receive the support of angels and the glad tidings of Paradise. But how do we achieve this steadfastness?
[Hadith,Bukhari & Muslim,"The Prophet ﷺ said: 'A person may perform deeds characteristic of Paradise until there remains only a hand span between him and it, then performs the deeds of the people of Hell and enters it. And another may perform deeds characteristic of Hell until there remains only a hand span between him and it, then performs the deeds of Paradise and enters it.'"]
This hadith should shake us. A person could worship their entire life and then change at the end. Or a person could live in sin and then genuinely repent at the end. What matters is not just how you start—it is how you finish. The Companions would make dua constantly for a good ending, knowing that everything depends on how we die.
[Quote,Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal,Imam adh-Dhahabi and Ibn al-Jawzi,"Shaytan came to me and said, 'O Ahmad, you have escaped me and defeated me!' So I replied, 'Not yet—not until I die upon Islam.'"]
This is the attitude of the believer. Never become comfortable. Never think you have arrived. Never assume you are safe. Remain in a state of striving and vigilance until the moment of death.
Maintain Quality in Your Obligatory Prayers
First and most important: maintain the quality you achieved in your prayers during Ramadan. Perhaps in Ramadan you prayed with focus and presence. You felt the meaning of what you recited. You made sincere dua in sujood. Do not lose this.
The five daily prayers are the pillar of your religion. They are your direct connection to Allah. If they become mechanical and routine again, you have lost the core of your faith. Focus on these obligatory prayers before adding extra worship.
Prepare for prayer properly. Make wudu with care. Go to the prayer area early if possible. Recite the adhkar before prayer. Stand before Allah knowing that He sees you and hears you. Concentrate on the meaning of what you say. Extend your rukoo and sujood. Make sincere dua before giving salam.
Here in prison, prayer can be especially challenging. There are distractions everywhere. People talking. Guards walking by. Noise and chaos. But this is your test. Can you maintain focus despite the environment? Can you create a private sanctuary with Allah even in a public space? This is the training ground for sincerity.
Continue Daily Quran Recitation
In Ramadan, many of us completed the entire Quran, some multiple times. Now that Ramadan has ended, do not abandon the Quran. Set a daily portion that you can maintain consistently. Even if it is only one page per day, maintain it without fail.
The Quran was revealed gradually over twenty-three years. Allah could have revealed it all at once, but He chose gradual revelation. There is wisdom in this. Consistent, regular engagement with the Quran transforms the heart more than sporadic intensive reading.
[Hadith,Bukhari & Muslim,"The Prophet ﷺ said: 'The one who recites the Quran and is proficient in it will be with the noble and obedient angels. As for the one who recites it with difficulty, stammering and stumbling through its verses, he will have twice the reward.'"]
Even if you struggle with recitation, continue. Even if you are not proficient in Arabic, continue. Even if you read slowly, continue. The effort itself is rewarded, and the consistency builds your relationship with Allah's speech.
Fast Six Days of Shawwal
[Hadith,Muslim,"Whoever fasts Ramadan and follows it with six days of Shawwal, it is as if he fasted the whole year."]
This is an immediate practical action after Ramadan. The six days of Shawwal can be fasted consecutively or separately throughout the month. They can begin immediately after Eid or be delayed until later in Shawwal. The key is to complete them before Shawwal ends.
These six days demonstrate your commitment to continue worship after Ramadan. They show that you are not abandoning good deeds now that the blessed month has passed. They earn you the reward of fasting an entire year.
Continue Voluntary Fasting
Beyond the six days of Shawwal, consider establishing regular voluntary fasting. The Prophet ﷺ recommended several patterns:
[Hadith,Bukhari & Muslim,"The best fasting is the fast of Dawud. He would fast one day and break his fast the next day."]
[Hadith,Muslim,"The Prophet ﷺ used to fast Mondays and Thursdays."]
[Hadith,Bukhari & Muslim,"Fasting three days of every month is like fasting the whole year."]
Choose a pattern that you can maintain consistently. If fasting every Monday and Thursday is too much, then fast three days per month. If that is difficult, then fast one day per month. The key is consistency and sincerity, not overwhelming yourself to the point of quitting.
Three Practical Sunnah Prayers to Maintain
Let me give you three specific sunnah prayers that will transform your daily worship if you maintain them consistently. These are simple, achievable actions that earn tremendous rewards.
1. The Two Rakat Before Fajr
The Prophet ﷺ consistently prayed two rakat before Fajr, and emphasized their value:
[Hadith,Bukhari & Muslim,"The two rakat of Fajr are better than the world and all it contains."]
[Hadith,Bukhari & Muslim,"Aisha (RA) said: 'The Prophet ﷺ never left the two rakat before Fajr, whether he was at home or traveling.'"]
This is a confirmed Sunnah Mu'akkadah that the Prophet ﷺ never left, even while traveling. It is prayed after the adhan but before the obligatory prayer. The Prophet ﷺ used to pray it very briefly, with light recitation. It is recommended to recite Surah al-Kafirun (109) in the first rakah and Surah al-Ikhlas (112) in the second.
The time for this sunnah starts after Fajr time enters and ends when the congregational Fajr prayer begins. If you miss it before the obligatory prayer, it can be made up after sunrise during the allowed time.
2. Remaining Seated After Fajr Until Duha
[Hadith,Tirmidhi,"Whoever prays Fajr in congregation, then sits remembering Allah until the sun rises, then prays two rakat, will have the reward of Hajj and Umrah—complete, complete, complete."]
This is an incredible opportunity, especially in this environment. After praying Fajr, instead of immediately returning to your cell or engaging in worldly activity, remain seated in dhikr and Quran recitation until after the sun rises.
Wait approximately fifteen minutes after sunrise to avoid the prohibited time for prayer. Then pray two rakat of Duha. This simple practice earns you the reward of Hajj and Umrah—acts of worship that many of you cannot perform due to your circumstances. Allah in His mercy has given you an alternative way to earn that reward.
Here in prison, this might be the most productive time of your entire day. The morning is often quieter. Your mind is fresh. Use this time for deep connection with Allah through His Book and His dhikr.
3. Praying Witr Before Sleep
[Hadith,Bukhari & Muslim,"Make Witr your last prayer at night."]
[Hadith,Bukhari & Muslim,"Abu Hurayrah said: 'My close friend (the Prophet) advised me to fast three days of every month, to pray Duha, and to pray Witr before sleeping.'"]
Witr is also a strongly emphasized Sunnah. The Prophet ﷺ encouraged praying it before sleeping, especially for those who might not wake for Tahajjud. It can be prayed as one, three, five, or more odd-numbered rakat, but the minimum is one.
The most common practice is three rakat, either prayed as two then one separately, or three together. Witr can be prayed anytime after Isha until Fajr enters, but if you are not confident you will wake for night prayer, then pray it before sleeping.
In the last rakah of Witr, it is Sunnah to make Qunut—a supplication before or after rukoo. This is a special time when Allah accepts dua. Use it to pour out your heart, asking for forgiveness, guidance, and steadfastness.
Make Dua for Steadfastness
Finally, brothers, never underestimate the power of dua. The Prophet ﷺ himself, despite being guaranteed Paradise and having all his sins forgiven, regularly made dua for steadfastness:
[Dua,يَا مُقَلِّبَ الْقُلُوبِ ثَبِّتْ قَلْبِي عَلَى دِينِكَ,Ya muqallibal-qulubi thabbit qalbi 'ala dinik,O Turner of hearts, keep my heart firm on Your religion.]
The Prophet's wife Umm Salamah (RA) asked him why he made this dua so frequently, and he replied that the hearts are between two fingers of the Most Merciful, and He turns them as He wills.
If the Prophet ﷺ needed to make this dua, how much more do we need it? Our hearts are weak. Our resolve is fragile. Without Allah's help, we cannot remain steadfast for even a moment.
[Dua,اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الثَّبَاتَ فِي الأَمْرِ، وَالْعَزِيمَةَ عَلَى الرُّشْدِ,Allahumma inni as'alukat-thabata fil-amr, wal-'azimata 'alar-rushd,O Allah, I ask You for steadfastness in all affairs and determination upon guidance.]
[Dua,اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنِي وَسَدِّدْنِي,Allahumma ihdini wa saddidni,O Allah, guide me and make me steadfast.]
[Dua,رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْوَهَّابُ,Rabbana la tuzigh qulubana ba'da idh hadaytana wa hab lana min ladunka rahmah innaka antal-Wahhab,Our Lord, do not let our hearts deviate after You have guided us. Grant us mercy from Yourself. You are indeed the Giver.]
Make these duas daily, brothers. Make them in your sujood. Make them after your obligatory prayers. Make them in the last third of the night if you wake. Make them in the morning and evening. Beg Allah to keep you firm on His path.
[Quote,Imam al-Shafi'i,,"If you do not occupy your soul with truth, it will occupy you with falsehood."]
This is a profound reality. Your heart will not remain empty. If you do not fill it with worship, dhikr, and obedience, it will fill itself with other things—things that harm you. Maintain the habits you built in Ramadan so that good occupies your time and your heart.
The Prison Context: After Ramadan Is the Real Test
Brothers, I want to address something specific to our environment here. In some ways, Ramadan in prison is easier than Ramadan outside. You have structure. You have routine. You have a community of believers around you supporting each other. You are not bombarded with food advertising and temptations to eat. The environment, despite its challenges, supports fasting.
But after Ramadan, the reality of prison life returns with full force. The daily frustrations. The difficult people. The unjust situations. The anger and bitterness that can fill your heart. This is when your faith is truly tested.
Will you maintain your prayers when you are angry? Will you control your tongue when someone disrespects you? Will you remain patient when treated unjustly? Will you continue reading Quran when your mind is filled with worry? This is the real test.
Remember that every difficulty you face here can be an expiation of sins and an elevation of ranks if you respond with patience and faith. Every moment you choose obedience over disobedience, you are earning reward. Every time you make sujood in this difficult environment, you are closer to Allah than someone praying comfortably at home.
[Quran,2:155-157,"We will certainly test you with a touch of fear and famine and loss of property, life, and crops. Give good news to those who patiently endure—who, when faced with a disaster, say, 'Surely to Allah we belong and to Him we will ˹all˺ return.' They are the ones who will receive Allah's blessings and mercy. And it is they who are ˹rightly˺ guided."]
You are in the category of those being tested. The question is: will you respond with patience and faith, or with anger and despair? The choice determines your outcome.
We ask Allah to make us firm upon His straight path, to guide us and not let us go astray, to have mercy on us and forgive us. We ask Him to help us maintain the good habits we built in Ramadan and to continue growing closer to Him every day. We ask Him to grant us sincerity in our worship and consistency in our deeds.
[Dua,اللَّهُمَّ أَعِنَّا عَلَى ذِكْرِكَ وَشُكْرِكَ وَحُسْنِ عِبَادَتِكَ,Allahumma a'inna 'ala dhikrika wa shukrika wa husni 'ibadatik,O Allah, help us to remember You, to be grateful to You, and to worship You in the best manner.]
[Dua,اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عِلْمًا نَافِعًا، وَرِزْقًا طَيِّبًا، وَعَمَلًا مُتَقَبَّلًا,Allahumma inni as'aluka 'ilman nafi'a, wa rizqan tayyiba, wa 'amalan mutaqabbala,O Allah, I ask You for beneficial knowledge, goodly provision, and accepted deeds.]
Whatever good was said in this khutbah is from Allah alone, and whatever mistakes or errors are from myself and from Shaytan. I ask Allah to forgive me and you for any shortcomings.
I say these words of mine, and I seek forgiveness from Allah for myself and you all. Seek His forgiveness—indeed, He is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.
[Arabic,أَقُولُ قَوْلِي هَذَا، وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ لِي وَلَكُمْ، فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ. ]