Renewing Our Faith | Imam Tom Facchine | Ramadan Reminder

Renewing Our Faith

بِسْمِ اللهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلهِ وَصَلَاةُ وَسَلَامُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ

Allah says in Surah Al-Hadeed — it's basically a reminder for the people who have been given revelation. He says:

He says: isn't it time that the people who have been given revelation benefit themselves by what Allah has revealed — of the dhikr, of the reminder, and the truth?

There is an indication here. Allah implies that faith is something that needs to be renewed from time to time. And that is further supported by the next thing that He says — that they should not be like the people who had received revelation before them, فَطَالَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْأَمَدُ — that so much time had passed that they basically lost their edge, they lost their motivation, they kind of got lazy with it.

And so if it happened historically to the people of revelation before us, then we know that Allah is bringing this up because it can happen — and will happen — to us as well. So Allah is urging us to renew our faith and to renew our commitment to His deen, to His commandments, and to staying away from His prohibitions.

Ramadan: The Perfect Opportunity

This is a reminder that every single one of us needs. Now, with Ramadan coming up, there is no better opportunity to renew our commitment to these commandments, to renew our commitment to the revelation. Let's say a year has passed and you've fallen off — you've gotten into some bad habits, or you've made a lot of mistakes, or you've done things that you regret. You've hurt people, maybe you've had grudges against other people. Isn't it time? Isn't it time that you actually turn back and benefit from the revelation?

As someone who converted to Islam, I can tell you that having the revelation is no small thing. There are lots of people all over the earth who wish that they would be able to know what the truth is so that they could return to it. Well, you have the truth, and you know what it is. It's just a matter of whether you choose to return to it and put it into practice or not.

So this Ramadan, try to keep that in mind. Return to the remembrance that Allah has given you. Return to the revelation that He has entrusted you with. And try to renew your faith and to renew your commitment.