Seize the Opportunity of This Blessed Month
By: Dr. Nazia Kunnummal
Take full advantage of Ramadan—may Allah shower His mercy upon you—for many may not witness its return. Use this opportunity with the ability Allah has granted you to practice obedience to Him. Recognize the immense status of this month and fulfill its rights by submitting to Allah in devotion. Increase in supplications, seek His forgiveness, and turn to Him in sincere repentance, because the arrival of this month is a blessing for the believer.
For the one who strives in the obedience of Allah throughout the year, Ramadan becomes an opportunity to increase in goodness. As for the one who has fallen short, turn to Allah in repentance and make this month the beginning of a new, righteous path—continuing in obedience even after its end. If a person has committed sins throughout the year, seek Allah’s mercy and forgiveness, for He is ever ready to pardon and free His servants from the Fire.
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
“Whoever fasted the month of Ramadan out of sincere Faith (i.e. belief) and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his past sins will be forgiven, and whoever stood for the prayers in the night of Qadr out of sincere Faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.” Narrated by Abu Huraira (Sahih al-Bukhari: Volume 3, Book 32, Number 231)
The believers welcome Ramadan with open hearts, while those who frequently are involved in sin fail to appreciate its value. This entire month is a manifestation of Allah’s mercy, forgiveness, and deliverance from the Hellfire. Muslims should not deprive themselves of the blessings in Ramadan, we should use this opportunity to attain Allah’s grace by increasing acts of righteousness, compensating for past deficiencies through piety, and/ or sincerely repenting from major sins.
This is a sacred and generous time, deserving of utmost reverence. Allah, the Most High, commands:
ﯾَﺎ أَﯾﱡﮭَﺎ اﻟﱠﺬِﯾﻦَ آﻣَﻨُﻮا ﻛُﺘِﺐَ ﻋَﻠَﯿْﻜُﻢُ اﻟ ﱢﺼﯿَﺎمُ ﻛَﻤَﺎ ﻛُﺘِﺐَ ﻋَﻠَﻰ اﻟﱠﺬِﯾﻦَ ﻣِﻦ ﻗَﺒْﻠِﻜُﻢْ ﻟَﻌَﻠﱠﻜُﻢْ ﺗَﺘﱠﻘُﻮنَ
“O you who have believed, fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may attain piety.” (Al-Baqarah: 183)
ﺷَﮭْﺮُ رَﻣَﻀَﺎنَ اﻟﱠﺬِي أُﻧﺰِلَ ﻓِﯿﮫِ اﻟْﻘُﺮْآنُ ھُﺪًى ﻟﱢﻠﻨﱠﺎسِ وَﺑَﯿﱢﻨَﺎتٍ ﱢﻣﻦَ اﻟْﮭُﺪَٰى وَاﻟْﻔُﺮْﻗَﺎنِ
“The month of Ramadan is that in which the Qur’an was revealed—a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion.” (Al-Baqarah: 185)
Be grateful to Allah for allowing you to witness this blessed month. For the righteous, it is a time of increased goodness, salvation from the Fire, and elevation in status through worship and devotion.
However, there are those who enter this month heedless, transgressing against their own souls, neglecting its blessings, and failing to repent. About such people, Allah says:
أُوٰﻟَﺌِﻚَ اﻟﱠﺬِﯾﻦَ طَﺒَﻊَ ﱠُﷲ ﻋَﻠَٰﻰ ﻗُﻠُﻮﺑِﮭِﻢْ وَﺳَﻤْﻌِﮭِﻢْ وَأَﺑْﺼَﺎرِھِﻢْ ۖ وَأُوٰﻟَﺌِﻚَ ھُﻢُ اﻟْﻐَﺎﻓِﻠُﻮنَ
“They are the ones upon whose hearts, hearing, and vision Allah has set a seal, and they are the heedless.” (An-Nahl: 108)
As Muslims, we must treat Ramadan differently than other months and exit it with spiritual gain. Fasting is not just abstaining from food but also from desires and distractions that take one away from Allah’s remembrance. For example, we should avoid spending this precious time on gossip, entertainment, heedless talk, staying awake at night and sleeping through the day, and neglecting prayer, etc. Ramadan should become a period of earning rewards and refining our worship.
If one has fallen into such heedlessness, repent sincerely and correct one’s course. Losing wealth or possessions is a lesser loss than losing one’s faith and soul. Allah warns:
إِ ﱠن اﻟْﺨَﺎﺳِﺮِﯾﻦَ اﻟﱠﺬِﯾﻦَ ﺧَﺴِﺮُوا أَﻧﻔُﺴَﮭُﻢْ وَأَھْﻠِﯿﮭِﻢْ ﯾَﻮْمَ اﻟْﻘِﯿَﺎﻣَﺔِ ۗ أَﻻَ ٰذَﻟِﻚَ ھُﻮَ اﻟْﺨُﺴْﺮَانُ اﻟْﻤُﺒِﯿﻦُ
“Indeed, the true losers are those who lose themselves and their families on the Day of Judgment. Unquestionably, that is the greatest loss.” (Az-Zumar: 15)
O servants of Allah, be conscious of your Lord and recognize the excellence of this month. Use it as a means of drawing closer to Him, purifying your hearts, and elevating your rank. Let it be a period of renewal, where sins are erased, good deeds are multiplied, and souls are reconnected with their Creator.
May Allah grant us all the ability to honor Ramadan as it deserves, to seek His mercy, and to attain forgiveness and salvation. Ameen.
About the Author
Nazia Kunnummal, MD, is the founder of Advanced Mobile Counseling Center (AMCC), a pioneering online counseling service dedicated to empowering individuals and families worldwide.
With a strong academic background, including a BEd, BA, MA, and a current PhD research scholar in Counseling Psychology at Italian University, Dr. Kunnummal is committed to delivering evidence-based practices that cater to diverse needs. Her thesis, approved for a dual degree from California University FCE, USA, focuses on online therapeutic interventions.
As a certified educator (CELTA, TEFL) turned counseling psychologist, Dr. Kunnummal has served as an ESL Guide at the University of Rennes, France, and a lecturer at Princess Noura University and Saudi Electronic University, KSA. She is also a professional member and training partner of the International Association of Therapists Europe, the American Psychological Association (APA C2404815154), and also serves as Overseas Executive Director of the International Association for Guidance & Counseling (IAGC).
Dr. Kunnummal has extensive living and traveling experiences in the USA, UK, GCC, India, and Europe, which broadened her understanding of diverse cultures, traditions, and backgrounds, enabling her to bring a unique perspective and sensitivity to her counseling practice and foster deeper connections with clients from diverse walks of life.
At AMCC, Dr. Kunnummal’s mission is to provide accessible, convenient, and professional counseling services, leveraging technology to bridge geographical gaps and support mental well-being. AMCC’s vision is to foster a global community that prioritizes emotional wellness, resilience, and personal growth. AMCC offers comprehensive services, including individual, student, family, and group counseling, addressing various concerns such as emotional struggles, behavioral challenges, and relationship issues.
Learn more about AMCC’s services and mission statement at Advancedmobilecounseling.com.
Ms. Nazia Kunnummal
- Doctorate (PhD) Research Scholar in Counseling Psychology, Europe (dual degree: California University, USA)
- Master’s in Psychology/ Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology (PGDCP) (Final stage)
- Certified in Online & Telephone Counseling (British Association of Counseling and Psychotherapy, UK)
- Advanced Diploma in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Certified Parenting Coach
- Clinical Psychology Internship (under the guidance of RCI licensed Clinical Psychologist-(A71773).)
- Crisis Intervention Certified
- Psychiatric Emergency Certified
- Certified Life Coach
- Certified Psychotherapist
- Hypnotherapist
- Neuro Linguistic Program Practitioner
- Diploma in Counselling Psychology, (AIPC011047), AIPC, Australia
- Certified Cupping Practitioner (CHP), UK
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