An old man sat quietly, eating from a small lunchbox when a group of young men noticed him. Amused, they decided to tease him.
“Old man, you’re not fasting?” one of them called out.
The old man calmly closed his lunchbox, took a sip of water with his medication, and replied, “I am fasting. What made you think otherwise?”
The boys laughed. “We just saw you eat!”
The old man smiled and said, “My fast is not just of the stomach. It is of my eyes, so they do not gaze upon what is forbidden. It is of my tongue, so it does not speak falsehood or harm. It is of my feet, so they do not lead me to wrongdoing. Yes, I must eat every few hours due to my condition, but I never break my fast, because a true fast is not just about hunger; it is about discipline and righteousness.”
With that, he stood up and walked away. The young men, still hungry and thirsty, were left in thoughtful silence.
This brings us to the question of Masaib—tribulations. It is a fascinating concept in Islam: not even the prick of a thorn harms a believer except that it expiates his sins.
When people asked our beloved Prophet (ﷺ) who is tested the most, he replied, “The Prophets, then those closest to them, and then those closest to them.” Tribulations are not a punishment; they are a sign, a mark of nearness to Allah. They refine and elevate the soul.
Look at the lives of the Prophets, strange and extraordinary are their affairs. The friend of Allah, Ibrahim (AS), was thrown into fire. As a child, he lost his father and was left without tribal support. He remained childless until his eighties, and when Allah finally blessed him with a son, he was commanded to sacrifice him.
Look at Maryam (AS), the chosen one, a symbol of purity and chastity, yet her trial was immense. She carried a child by the will of Allah, and people accused her, pointed fingers, and questioned her honor.
And our Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), the most beloved to Allah, endured the greatest trials of all. One of the hardest days of his life was the day of Ta’if. Yet, it was the night of this day, when he (pbuh) was granted Al-Mi‘raj—the miraculous ascension to the heavens.
Sister, your pen name carries the essence of fasting—Sabr (patience). Perhaps you fast all year long without even realizing it, through endurance, resilience, and devotion. And maybe, because of this, your du‘a is one that the heavens await. So, pray for all of us, (especially me) for surely, your supplication holds weight in the eyes of the Most Merciful.
oh wow wow wow wow, this comment has moved me far more than i can ever put into words. subhanallah.
thank you *so* much for that story. i loved that message the old man gave, especially because i've been trying to avoid all of that too during ramadan. and i really related to the part 'yes i have to eat every few hours because of my condition'. so i can't wait to now tell people i'm fasting, what a dream come true!
that hadith you gave makes me feel so validated. i've never heard that one before but it's really bringing me such comfort right now. may Allah bless you tenfold for this.
such beautiful examples. the last part made me smile so much. 'perhaps you fast all year long without even realising it' 😭😭🥲🥲🥹🥹🥹. thank you so much. jazakallah khair x5000. gonna cry!
i definitely will be praying for you. may Allah increase you more in your profound knowledge, pull you closer and closer to Him and His Mercy, elevate your rank and status, talk about you to the angels in such huge gatherings and grant you and your family goodness both in this life and the next, Allahumma Ameen. thank you again :')
What a great reflection! I also wanted to add that maybe part of the reason why you were feeling a void initially was because you had just returned from umrah. There is a type of homesickness or emptiness that is often felt when people return from Makkah and Madinah. After experience the blessings of those cities, life feels a bit empty and dull for the first few days upon our return home to our regular lives. Just my two cents :)
thank you! :) definitely, i was thinking that too - i think it was me trying to fix the void and ending up on so many videos talking about fasting is just what made it worse. but thank you for telling me this bc that's so validating, i didn't know it was a common experience from those who have just returned from the sacred cities! that's comforting to hear bc i was like what's wrong with me it's ramadan 😭 alhamdulillah.
So many gems in this subhanAllah 😭 I’m a little behind on the Q30f30 series and literally on this episode with Dr. Umarji right now. That last quote you included is SO profound— it’s not always in our control HOW we worship Allah and He reminds us of that with these perceived “limitations.” I loved how you said you were now in control of how you felt about Ramadan by surrendering yourself to Allah, it sounds like a contradiction but it makes perfect sense. May Allah keep you the best of health sis and reward you for every way you show up at His door 🤍
subhanallah what a coincidence! it's a great episode, i hope you enjoy. and i know right - may Allah bless all the shaykh's in the series for the wisdom and insights they share, Ameen.
and LOL, i didn't even realise how it sounds like a contradiction! that's quite interesting actually... alhamdulillah :) Allahumma Ameen, thank you so much. i pray the same for you too, Ameen
MashaAllah a very nice reflection. I completely agree that the ability to feel the Ramadan spirit - or any sense of nearness to Allah - is always within our control. It isn’t tied to a single act like fasting, but rather to truly sensing and internalizing His endless mercy and rahma. If we grasp that, it rushes in like a flood, filling every void, every doubt. Sometimes, we get caught up in external measures of devotion and overlook the fact that even when we are excused from certain acts, we are not deprived of their rewards. The Prophet (may the peace and Allah’s blessings be upon him) said, "When a slave of Allah suffers from illness or sets on a journey, he is credited with the equal of whatever good works he used to do when he was healthy or at home". Al-Bukhari.
This should remind us that Allah does not diminish the worth of those who worship Him differently - our effort, our sincerity, and our longing all hold weight in His sight.
And really, the concern shouldn’t be about belonging to the group of those who fast, but rather about where we stand with Allah. What matters is the state of our hearts, the sincerity of our striving, and the unique path Allah has laid for us. Your realization that Ramadan was never far from you but waiting for you to embrace it... resonates deeply. Perhaps the ultimate lesson is that worship is not about being seen among the worshipers but about being truly present with the One we worship.
thank you so so much for this comforting comment, i feel very validated alhamdulillah :)
‘the concern shouldn’t be about belonging to the group of those who fast, but rather about where we stand with Allah’ - subhanallah, this is so true. it’s something i need to remember going forward for future ramadans Insha’Allah :)
i really needed to read this, i have been struggling with Ramadan this year and i think it’s due to balancing my current medical needs with fasting. i tend to be harsh on myself, and even in fasting i keep feeling guilty for not also being attentive to my health. you are right we don’t get to choose how we worship Allah (swt) and that is all part of our submission to Him.
may Allah (swt) reward you for sharing such a personal insight, thank you sister 🩵
alhamdulillah :) i definitely understand how you’ve been feeling - i’ve been there. feeling guilty either way.
i used to be really harsh with myself as well but lately, i’ve been realising that taking care of our bodies is also an act of worship bc we ourselves are a creation of Allah too and our bodies are an amanah - so listening to our bodies is actually pleasing to Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَى :) and gets double the reward too during ramadan!
Ameen! may Allah make it easy for you for the remainder of ramadan, Ameen 🩷
This was lovely to read. I'm not fasting either, but for another reason, and I've been feeling like a failure, an impostor, since the beginning of Ramadan. Thanks for the reminder that not everyone's Ramadan should feel the same.
alhamdulillah :') thank you so much. sending you my love. you're definitely not a failure or an imposter. Allah knows and decreed the situation for you before you even knew ♡ and no worries !!!
Thank you for your reflections! I love Quran 30 for 30 (and this is a great reminder to get caught up), there always so many gems from the series that somehow end up being exactly what I need to hear at the time. May Allah keep you in the best of health and allow you to perform the best acts of worship ❤️
An old man sat quietly, eating from a small lunchbox when a group of young men noticed him. Amused, they decided to tease him.
“Old man, you’re not fasting?” one of them called out.
The old man calmly closed his lunchbox, took a sip of water with his medication, and replied, “I am fasting. What made you think otherwise?”
The boys laughed. “We just saw you eat!”
The old man smiled and said, “My fast is not just of the stomach. It is of my eyes, so they do not gaze upon what is forbidden. It is of my tongue, so it does not speak falsehood or harm. It is of my feet, so they do not lead me to wrongdoing. Yes, I must eat every few hours due to my condition, but I never break my fast, because a true fast is not just about hunger; it is about discipline and righteousness.”
With that, he stood up and walked away. The young men, still hungry and thirsty, were left in thoughtful silence.
This brings us to the question of Masaib—tribulations. It is a fascinating concept in Islam: not even the prick of a thorn harms a believer except that it expiates his sins.
When people asked our beloved Prophet (ﷺ) who is tested the most, he replied, “The Prophets, then those closest to them, and then those closest to them.” Tribulations are not a punishment; they are a sign, a mark of nearness to Allah. They refine and elevate the soul.
Look at the lives of the Prophets, strange and extraordinary are their affairs. The friend of Allah, Ibrahim (AS), was thrown into fire. As a child, he lost his father and was left without tribal support. He remained childless until his eighties, and when Allah finally blessed him with a son, he was commanded to sacrifice him.
Look at Maryam (AS), the chosen one, a symbol of purity and chastity, yet her trial was immense. She carried a child by the will of Allah, and people accused her, pointed fingers, and questioned her honor.
And our Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), the most beloved to Allah, endured the greatest trials of all. One of the hardest days of his life was the day of Ta’if. Yet, it was the night of this day, when he (pbuh) was granted Al-Mi‘raj—the miraculous ascension to the heavens.
Sister, your pen name carries the essence of fasting—Sabr (patience). Perhaps you fast all year long without even realizing it, through endurance, resilience, and devotion. And maybe, because of this, your du‘a is one that the heavens await. So, pray for all of us, (especially me) for surely, your supplication holds weight in the eyes of the Most Merciful.
oh wow wow wow wow, this comment has moved me far more than i can ever put into words. subhanallah.
thank you *so* much for that story. i loved that message the old man gave, especially because i've been trying to avoid all of that too during ramadan. and i really related to the part 'yes i have to eat every few hours because of my condition'. so i can't wait to now tell people i'm fasting, what a dream come true!
that hadith you gave makes me feel so validated. i've never heard that one before but it's really bringing me such comfort right now. may Allah bless you tenfold for this.
such beautiful examples. the last part made me smile so much. 'perhaps you fast all year long without even realising it' 😭😭🥲🥲🥹🥹🥹. thank you so much. jazakallah khair x5000. gonna cry!
i definitely will be praying for you. may Allah increase you more in your profound knowledge, pull you closer and closer to Him and His Mercy, elevate your rank and status, talk about you to the angels in such huge gatherings and grant you and your family goodness both in this life and the next, Allahumma Ameen. thank you again :')
whewwww this is so beautiful, (I’m not tearing up, my eyes are just sweating 😅) May Allah reward you for all your efforts 🥹🙌🏽💫🩵
:'))) teeeheeee, thank you sm ♡
Ameen, you too Ameen 🩷
wonderful post allahuma barik. it’s so easy to focus on what we don’t have and forget what we do have subhanallah 🫶
thank you so much Lupin! jazakallah khair :') and honestly, it really is
What a great reflection! I also wanted to add that maybe part of the reason why you were feeling a void initially was because you had just returned from umrah. There is a type of homesickness or emptiness that is often felt when people return from Makkah and Madinah. After experience the blessings of those cities, life feels a bit empty and dull for the first few days upon our return home to our regular lives. Just my two cents :)
thank you! :) definitely, i was thinking that too - i think it was me trying to fix the void and ending up on so many videos talking about fasting is just what made it worse. but thank you for telling me this bc that's so validating, i didn't know it was a common experience from those who have just returned from the sacred cities! that's comforting to hear bc i was like what's wrong with me it's ramadan 😭 alhamdulillah.
thank you for reading 🩷
So many gems in this subhanAllah 😭 I’m a little behind on the Q30f30 series and literally on this episode with Dr. Umarji right now. That last quote you included is SO profound— it’s not always in our control HOW we worship Allah and He reminds us of that with these perceived “limitations.” I loved how you said you were now in control of how you felt about Ramadan by surrendering yourself to Allah, it sounds like a contradiction but it makes perfect sense. May Allah keep you the best of health sis and reward you for every way you show up at His door 🤍
subhanallah what a coincidence! it's a great episode, i hope you enjoy. and i know right - may Allah bless all the shaykh's in the series for the wisdom and insights they share, Ameen.
and LOL, i didn't even realise how it sounds like a contradiction! that's quite interesting actually... alhamdulillah :) Allahumma Ameen, thank you so much. i pray the same for you too, Ameen
thank you for reading :) sending love 🩷
MashaAllah a very nice reflection. I completely agree that the ability to feel the Ramadan spirit - or any sense of nearness to Allah - is always within our control. It isn’t tied to a single act like fasting, but rather to truly sensing and internalizing His endless mercy and rahma. If we grasp that, it rushes in like a flood, filling every void, every doubt. Sometimes, we get caught up in external measures of devotion and overlook the fact that even when we are excused from certain acts, we are not deprived of their rewards. The Prophet (may the peace and Allah’s blessings be upon him) said, "When a slave of Allah suffers from illness or sets on a journey, he is credited with the equal of whatever good works he used to do when he was healthy or at home". Al-Bukhari.
This should remind us that Allah does not diminish the worth of those who worship Him differently - our effort, our sincerity, and our longing all hold weight in His sight.
And really, the concern shouldn’t be about belonging to the group of those who fast, but rather about where we stand with Allah. What matters is the state of our hearts, the sincerity of our striving, and the unique path Allah has laid for us. Your realization that Ramadan was never far from you but waiting for you to embrace it... resonates deeply. Perhaps the ultimate lesson is that worship is not about being seen among the worshipers but about being truly present with the One we worship.
thank you so so much for this comforting comment, i feel very validated alhamdulillah :)
‘the concern shouldn’t be about belonging to the group of those who fast, but rather about where we stand with Allah’ - subhanallah, this is so true. it’s something i need to remember going forward for future ramadans Insha’Allah :)
thank you for reading ♡. jazakallah khair.
i really needed to read this, i have been struggling with Ramadan this year and i think it’s due to balancing my current medical needs with fasting. i tend to be harsh on myself, and even in fasting i keep feeling guilty for not also being attentive to my health. you are right we don’t get to choose how we worship Allah (swt) and that is all part of our submission to Him.
may Allah (swt) reward you for sharing such a personal insight, thank you sister 🩵
alhamdulillah :) i definitely understand how you’ve been feeling - i’ve been there. feeling guilty either way.
i used to be really harsh with myself as well but lately, i’ve been realising that taking care of our bodies is also an act of worship bc we ourselves are a creation of Allah too and our bodies are an amanah - so listening to our bodies is actually pleasing to Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَى :) and gets double the reward too during ramadan!
Ameen! may Allah make it easy for you for the remainder of ramadan, Ameen 🩷
thank you for reading :)
This was lovely to read. I'm not fasting either, but for another reason, and I've been feeling like a failure, an impostor, since the beginning of Ramadan. Thanks for the reminder that not everyone's Ramadan should feel the same.
alhamdulillah :') thank you so much. sending you my love. you're definitely not a failure or an imposter. Allah knows and decreed the situation for you before you even knew ♡ and no worries !!!
Thank you for your reflections! I love Quran 30 for 30 (and this is a great reminder to get caught up), there always so many gems from the series that somehow end up being exactly what I need to hear at the time. May Allah keep you in the best of health and allow you to perform the best acts of worship ❤️
thank you for reading !!! i love it too :) and alhamdulillah, it's so true!!!
Ameen, i pray the same for you too Ameen <333
A beautiful reminder to always have sabr & tawakul in Allahs plan for us 💓 loved reading this
:) thank you ♡