Suits is a brilliant show set in a law firm which revolves more around the personal struggles and relationships of the workers than the law work itself. The scripts are usually filled with quick witted genius dialogue and the plots themselves are entertaining too. I would say I recommend it, but after the ending of last season I'm questioning whether I should I watch it myself. Of course I can, and did, just not watch the innaporpriate scenes but that's not the point.

Anyway that was just some background information. And bear with me, this IS a Ramadan reflection

So I saw these tweets last night

Quote:

Aisha ‏@aiisha_k 17 Jul @halfadams Why did the new episode of Suits have to come out in Ramadan? #NonMuslimConspiracy 

Patrick J. Adams ‏@halfadams17 Jul @aiisha_k that is unfortunate. But I promise we will be right here waiting for you when you’re done. Ramadan Kareem!

Patrick J Adams plays one of the lead characters in the show and I thought it was pretty cool of him to reply to Aisha and I was pretty impressed by him saying "Ramadan Kareem" lol. But as I sat there reading and fav'ing his tweet I wondered what he thought of Ramadan and Muslims...and what other non-Muslims thought too.

I wondered if he (/others) thought if it was a bit pathetic that we just pause our normal routine for this month and then go back to our normal ways. May be he (/others) is impressed by our level of self-control; no food, no drink...no tv?! May be he (/others) thinks it's just part of the ritual that we have to do, like Orthodox Jews not using electrical products for 26hrs every shabbat. May be he (/others) gave it no second thought at all.

It doesn't really matter what he (/others) thinks. Though of course, I hope he  (/others) has a decent understanding of the month and recognises it in a positive manner.

But then we're responsible for the information that is given out to non-Muslims; this includes both the way we describe it and the way we act in it.

We shouldn't be treating as just a seasonal or ritual thing. To gain from Ramadan we must see it as a stepping stone (stepping log!) for our personal growth. We have to remember that our physical state affects our spiritual state and vice versa. So just going through the motions of Ramadan is not enough, we may do the minimum do fulfill our obligations to Allah but what will we get out of it? 

And Allah WANTS us to get something out of it

Quote:

 Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may attain taqwaa." (Q 2:183)

We are supposed to gain an awareness of Allah (swt) which goes beyond us simply saying we believe. No, to have taqwa, to be aware means to understand and act upon what He wants us to do and not to do in all situations. If we don't understand we won't want see the significance of the act but when we do it will transform our mindset an in turn our behaviour which in turn will make us better people. Because as I mentioned before: 

Quote:

 And they did not do Us any harm, but they wronged their own souls. (Q 2:57)

Not doing what Allah tells us to do only harms ourselves.

Furthermore

Quote:

 The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful. (Q 2:185) 

This isn't meant to be a struggle, we shouldn't be happy about *being in hardship* for even ease is a test. But we have to realise through struggles we will learn the skills and develop personality traits needed to succeed...that is, if we use the Quran as a guidance and let it make our lives easy. 

And He wants us to be grateful. Do you know what happens if we are grateful? Here, listen to brother Nouman Ali Khan explain

 ">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eThSNtJe7SY&feature=share&list=UUV7aA2UxR...

As we reach the half way point, I hope this is a good reminder for the purpose of this month. I really hope we can get the most out this month and importantly take from it at least one thing which will change the way we do things when normality is resumed. 

I am not saying we shouldn't stop watching tv/listening to music etc if we're only going to do it for a month. I think it's better to stay away for a month than not at all and I also think, perhaps, eventually we can completely break the habits of doing things which don't benefit us, if we start off like this. We just have to keep in mind WHY we're doing it, have the enthusiam and intention for change, instead of just going through the motions of the rituals. 

EDIT: I feel this blog was somewhat a waste of time. In my head I have talked about/reflected on something different to my last blog, I dunno u guys may see a similarity. But then this month is all about doing good, avoiding bad, and becoming better.

I hope you don't see it as a waste of time if you read it :/ I guess you woul've stopped reading if you did find it useless so that's not an issue really.