Fruitful Living
Life after Ramadan : What is expected of us
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. We praise Him, we seek His help, and we seek His forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah from the evil within ourselves and from the consequences of our deeds. Whomever Allah guides, none can misguide, and whomever He leaves astray, none can guide.
May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon Prophet Muhammad, his family, his companions, and all those who follow his guidance until the Day of Judgment.
Introduction
Ramadan is a sacred season of intense spiritual purification—a month in which believers strive to reconnect with Allah through fasting, prayer, charity, and self-restraint. However, the true measure of Ramadan is not confined to its thirty days; rather, it is reflected in the transformation that follows it.
The question every sincere believer must ask is: What happens after Ramadan? Does one return to old habits, or does one sustain the spiritual momentum gained? Islam teaches that worship is not seasonal but continuous.
Allah commands: “And worship your Lord until there comes to you certainty (death).” (Qur’an 15:99). Thus, life after Ramadan is a test of consistency, sincerity, and true devotion.
Life after Ramadan: What is expected of us
a. Consistency in worship
The foremost expectation after Ramadan is steadfastness in acts of worship. The spiritual discipline cultivated during Ramadan must continue beyond it. The Messenger of Allah —
Prophet Muhammad — said: “The most beloved deeds to Allah are those that are consistent, even if small.” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
Practical applications include:
• Observing the five daily prayers punctually
• Maintaining regular recitation of the Qur’an
• Performing voluntary night prayers (Qiyām al-Layl), even if minimal
• Engaging consistently in dhikr (remembrance of Allah)
Consistency is the hallmark of sincere faith.
b. Guarding Against Returning to Sins
One of the gravest dangers after Ramadan is reverting to sinful habits that were abandoned during the holy month.
Allah warns: “And do not be like the one who untwisted her thread after it was strong…” (Qur’an 16:92).
Returning to sins may indicate that one’s transformation was temporary rather than genuine.
Preventive measures:
• Avoid environments that encourage sin
• Replace harmful habits with beneficial ones
• Maintain righteous companionship
True devotion is shown by perseverance after spiritual highs.
c. Maintaining the Spirit of Taqwa
The ultimate objective of Ramadan is the attainment of taqwa (God-consciousness).
Allah says: “O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you… so that you may attain taqwa.” (Qur’an 2:183)
After Ramadan, believers should evaluate themselves:
• Has my consciousness of Allah increased?
• Am I more mindful of my actions and speech?
• Do I avoid sins with greater awareness?
If these qualities endure, then Ramadan has achieved its purpose.
d. Continuing Voluntary Acts of Worship
Ramadan should serve as a foundation, not a peak.
Among the recommended acts after Ramadan is fasting six days in Shawwal. The Prophet
Mohammed (pbuh) said:
“Whoever fasts Ramadan and follows it with six days of Shawwal, it is as if he fasted the entire year.” (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim).
Other recommended practices include:
• Regular charity (ṣadaqah)
• Voluntary fasting on Mondays and Thursdays
• Frequent seeking of forgiveness (istighfār)
These acts sustain the spiritual elevation attained during Ramadan.
e. Signs of an Accepted Ramadan
Scholars highlight several indicators that Ramadan has been accepted:
• Continuation of good deeds after Ramadan
• Increased humility and sincerity
• Regret over shortcomings during the month
• A stronger inclination towards obedience
As the righteous predecessors said:
“The reward of a good deed is another good deed after it.”
f. Becoming Better in Character and Society
Ramadan is not solely about ritual worship; it is about moral refinement.
The Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) said:
“The best among you are those with the best character.” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī)
After Ramadan, a believer should demonstrate:
• Greater patience
• Increased generosity
• Forgiveness and compassion
• Honesty and integrity
A transformed character is the true fruit of fasting.
g. Sustaining a Lifelong Ramadan Mindset
A believer lives between hope and fear:
Hope that Allah has accepted his deeds
Fear that his efforts may fall short.
This balance nurtures continuous spiritual growth and humility.
Conclusion
Life after Ramadan is the true test of faith. Ramadan is a training ground, but what follows determines whether its lessons have been internalized. A successful believer is one who continues in obedience, maintains taqwa, and strives for excellence in character long after Ramadan has passed. Let Ramadan not be a temporary phase, but a lifelong transformation.
Author
Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai
Kpone Katamanso Metropolitan Chief Imam
Governance Expert, Certified Counselor, and Public Speaker
A renowned Islamic scholar and community leader, Imam Saeed Abdulai is actively engaged in
religious guidance, social advocacy, and public education through sermons, media engagements, and scholarly writings.
References
The Qur’an, Surah Al-Ḥijr (15:99)
Sahih al-Bukhari; Sahih Muslim
The Qur’an, Surah An-Naḥl (16:92)
The Qur’an, Surah Al-Baqarah (2:183)
Sahih Muslim
Reported from the sayings of the Salaf (righteous predecessors)
Sahih al-Bukhari
4. Correct the falsehood
If someone misrepresents Muhammad (pbuh), teach people who Muhammad (pbuh) really was.
Tell them about his mercy.
Tell them about his justice.
Tell them about his patience.
Tell them about his forgiveness.
5. Report genuine offences
Use lawful channels.
The Muslim does not become the police, prosecutor, judge and executioner.
6. Protect the innocent
If one Christian insults Islam, do not attack another Christian who knows nothing about it.
If one Muslim makes an offensive statement, do not blame all Muslims.
7. Restore peace
After the controversy, bring responsible Muslim and Christian leaders together.
Talk.
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Clarify.
Forgive where forgiveness is appropriate.
And rebuild trust.
Ghana must not become a battlefield of religious provocation
My dear brothers and sisters in Islam,
Let us look around Ghana.
Muslims and Christians have lived together for generations.
We have Muslim fathers with Christian in-laws.
Christian mothers with Muslim sons-in-law.
Muslim and Christian business partners.
Muslim and Christian neighbours.
Muslim and Christian classmates.
Muslims and Christians serving together in the military, police, public service, universities, hospitals, markets and businesses.
This is Ghana.
We must protect this peace.
Religious freedom is precious.
But religious freedom comes with religious responsibility.
A microphone is not a weapon.
A pulpit is not a battlefield.
A smartphone is not a licence to spread hatred.
A viral video is not a fatwa (religious decree).
And anger is not evidence.
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A word to Muslim scholars
To my fellow Imams and Islamic scholars:
Allah has placed a trust upon our shoulders. You are the best of generations selected for the guidance of mankind. Quran chapter 3:110.
When people are angry, we must calm them.
When people are confused, we must educate them.
When people want revenge, we must teach justice.
When people want violence, we must remind them of Allah.
Our microphone should extinguish fire—not pour petrol upon it.
The Prophet said:ِ
لَيْس َ الشَّدِيد ُ بِالصُّرَعَةِ، إِنَّمَا الشَّدِيد ُ الَّذِي يَمْلِك ُ نَفْسَه ُ عِنْد َ الْغَضَب
“The strong man is not the one who can overpower others; rather, the strong man is the one who controls himself when angry.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 6114; Sahih Muslim, 2609)
This is strength.
Self-control is strength.
Restraint is strength.
Wisdom is strength.
Justice is strength.
A word to Christian preachers
And to our Christian brothers and sisters, especially those who preach:
We Muslims deeply revere Jesus (peace be upon him)
He is not an ordinary man in Islam.
He is ʿĪsā ibn Maryam عليه السالم, a mighty Messenger of Allah.
The author is the Chief Imam of Katamanso Municipal and Certified Counsellor and Governance Expert.
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When Paul tells us that our “attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus,” he had summarized in the previous two verses what such an attitude was: selflessness, humility, and service. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others” – Philippians 2:3-4.
In other words, the attitude a Christian should reflect is one that focuses on the needs and interests of others. Without question, that does not come naturally to us. When Christ came into the world, He established a whole new attitude to relationships with others. One day when His disciples were arguing among themselves regarding who was to be greatest in His kingdom, Jesus said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you.
Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” – Matthew 20:25-28. Jesus is teaching us that, when we become preoccupied with our own things, it can cause conflicts and other problems with people we know. Instead, God wants us to have an attitude of serious, caring involvement in the concerns of others.
Paul speaks more about this Christ-like attitude in his letter to the church in Ephesus: “that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.– Ephesians 4:22-24. Many religions of today, including the New Age philosophies, promote the old lie that we are divine or that we can become gods. But the truth of the matter is that we will never become God, or even a god. Satan’s oldest lie was promising Adam and Eve that, if they followed his advice, “- and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:5, NKJV.
Each time we try to control our circumstances, our future, and the people around us, we’re only demonstrating that we want to be a god. But we must understand that, as creatures, we will never be the Creator. God doesn’t want us to try to become gods. Instead, He wants us to become like Him, taking on His values, His attitudes, and His character. We are meant to “be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” – Ephesians 4:23-24.
Finally, we must always keep in mind that God’s ultimate goal for His children is not our comfort, but the transformation of our minds into the attitude of godliness. He wants us to grow spiritually, to become like Christ. This doesn’t mean losing our personalities or becoming mindless clones. Christlikeness is all about transforming our minds. Again, Paul tells us, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” – Romans 12:2.
It is God’s will that we develop the kind of mindset described in the Beatitudes of Jesus – Matthew 5:1-12, that we exhibit the fruit of the Spirit – Galatians 5:22-23, that we emulate the principles in Paul’s great chapter on love – 1 Corinthians 13, and that we strive to pattern our lives after Peter’s characteristics of an effective and productive life – 2 Peter 1:5-8.
Establishing our actions in righteousness
Every person is commanded to live up to divine standards.
a. In the words of Jesus
“ For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Be ye, therefore, perfect, even as your Father, who is in heaven, is perfect” – Mt. 5:20, 48.
Every person in the world is required to live up to that standard. You say, “You’ve got to be kidding!” No, I’m not. You are obligated to live up to that standard with a pure inside as well as a right outside. But you say, “I can’t!” You are absolutely right. That’s why we are given the solution…
b. In the words of Paul
As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;– Rom. 3:10, 21-22a.
Though you can’t obtain on your own the righteous standard Christ set, you can receive His righteousness if you are one of those who believe. Isn’t that great? God set the holy standard. And when you acknowledge that you can’t live up to it, He says, “My Son is not only the Lawgiver, but He is the Redeemer as well, who makes it possible for you to live on that level.” Beloved, it’s a fantastic thing! The standard is so high we can’t obtain it. But Christ met that standard and imputes to us His righteousness. Oh, what a blessed thing!
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