By Haruna Razaq

The best of all acts of goodness are the ones followed up with its like.  Engaging in  good deeds at all times is a character of righteous people for, acts of obedience do not have a specific time.  It is rather Allah’s unconditional right upon His servants as long as they are alive. Though, the month of Ramadan is expected to be more than other time. Yet, worshipping Allah should not be restricted to Ramadan alone as there is no end to Muslim’s worship until he dies.

Furthermore, sustaining meritorious acts after Ramadan is among indicates an honour done to the month in obedience to Allah and doing otherwise is also like disobedience to Allah.   This is because Allah does not intend that our good deeds are only limited to the blessed month.

Similarly, one good deed erases one bad, also, evil deed destroys good one as evidence in the Qur’an, Hadith and Sirah. Allah says: Indeed it has been revealed to you (O Muhammad SAW), as it was to those (Allah’s Messengers) before you: “If you join others in worship with Allah, (then) surely (all) your deeds will be in vain, and you will certainly be among the losers.” (Q 39:65)

He also says, “But if they had joined in worship others with Allah, all that they used to do would have been of no benefit to them.” (Q 5:5) And from the Sirah examples of people that followed up good deeds with the bad ones and thus became evil ones include: Shaitan, Qaruna, Sa‘alabah, etc.

On following up bad deeds with good ones, Allah says: “Verily, the good deeds remove the evil deeds. That is a reminder (an advice) for the mindful (those who accept advice).” (Q 11:114) Also, the Prophet (SAW) says: Fear Allah wherever you have followed up the evil deed with good one it will remove it and relate with people with good conduct.” (At-Tirmidh) From the example of people that followed up evil with good and thus died as a righteous Muslim include: Asiya (wife of Fir’aun), A Bani Israel that killed 100 people, many of the Sahabah, etc.

Ramadan 1437 had gone, but its meritorious acts are still relevant in another month with its rules. And one of the meritorious acts is fasting. The Messenger of Allah (SAW) has recommended fasting on the following days: Fasting of six days of Shawwal; fasting on Mondays and Thursdays, fasting for three days in every month.