When reading the Quran during the nights and days of Ramadan, we should really aim to understand the message that Allah (swt) is trying to give His creation. When we truly understanding the words of Allah (swt), we will actually see a change in our ideas and behaviour. They will change in such a way that we please our Creator and achieve Taqwa.

It is crucial for Muslims living in the west to be extra attentive of the following verse:

إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا مَا عَلَى الْأَرْضِ زِينَةً لَّهَا لِنَبْلُوَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا

“Indeed! We have made that which is on the Earth adornment for it that We may test them [as to] which of them is best in deed.”

(Kahf, 18:7)

Why? Because they are actually living in societies where the main goal is to achieve as much of this “adornment” as possible. So in fact, Muslims living in the West are confronted on a daily basis in one way or another with the opposite message to what their Creator is actually warning them about.

Living in the West under secular liberal values, we are taught from a young age that we should do as we can to please ourselves especially when it comes down to following our desires. Under the secular capitalistic lifestyle, happiness of the individual is what counts and almost nothing is put in the way of this goal.  Making any kind of connection with the Creator is actually the last on the list of goals especially if making this connection would put restrictions on people’s desires.

And now Allah (swt) is telling us to be aware of these distractions as they have the potential to divert our attention from the true goal of life; attaining the pleasure of our Lord. So, my brothers and sisters, let us be mindful of Allah’s words as they are a mercy for us to achieve what is truly important and to help us stay focussed on the main goal of life.

Yasmin Malik

Member of the Women Section in the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir