Ramadan Challenge: Chapter #1- Humans

Written by: Barah

Ramadan is here once again! Time to dive into the Qur’an and learn a few lessons from it. Like last year, I’m going to be doing a 30 day Ramadan challenge for Dear Chereen: As I work my way through each chapter of the Qur’an this Ramadan, I will take a verse that may have struck me while reading my chapter and present it to you with a small commentary from me and my understanding. As you follow along with me on this challenge, let me know what the verse I share tells you, and what you personally take away from it.

Let’s begin!

“And We said, “O Adam, dwell, you and your wife, in Paradise, and eat therefrom in [ease and] abundance from wherever you will. But do not approach this tree, lest you be among the wrongdoers.” [2:35] [Sahih International]

Every time I come across this verse I can’t help but think of how we, as humans, can so easily be manipulated. We are made to make mistakes; if we didn’t make any, we would be angels. Satan drove Adam and Eve to eat from the forbidden tree that God himself asked them not to approach. They made the mistake of listening to the devil’s whispers and forgot what God asked them to do. And that is something I’m sure we can all relate to.

This verse leads me to be thankful for the fact that Satan is behind bars during this blessed month. It eliminates a huge evil. Without his influence, we are left with only one obstacle: our nafs, our ownselves with all its attendant faults. May God grant us the strength to overcome our desires during this blessed month and do more good. Ameen.