I’m a Muslim. This bothers some people, because on the face of it, I don’t project “Islamism”. That fact bothers a lot of Muslims.
See, I’m an equal-opportunity bias-enabler.
The month of Ramadan is here. So, for this whole month, every day, from dawn till dusk, we don’t eat, drink, have sex, lie, cheat, steal, backbite or take candy from babies.
It’s a month to build a better relationship with God. To ponder our existence. To take stock of our lives.
It’s a month to try to get as many brownie points as we can by being good to others, by thinking of the less fortunate, and by counting our blessings.
In this month, God locks away the devil. Yup. He’s in lockdown for the whole month; so any actions we take, are all on us. We can’t claim falling for Satan’s charms.
And there, for me, lies the catch.
See, I enjoy blaming Lucifer for all the bad in me. So what do I do when Iblees can no longer be held responsible?
Where can the finger point when I swear someone black and blue when they’ve cut in front of me in their car?
Or when I lose patience with my son and scold him when all he has failed to do is a math question on a sunny summer day?
When I curse someone under my breath for having a different point of view.
It’s a terrifying reality.
Made more terrible by the realization that this is a part of me.
Every year, I promise myself that I will seek Allah’s mercy, and beg for forgiveness. That I will take stock of my life.
And every year, I find myself naked, striped of justifications. No Satan, no early childhood traumas, no excuses.
Just me and my reality.
I think the devil is more important than we realize. If we were forced to look at ourselves naked for the whole year, would we ever be able to live with ourselves?
Is there a person out there who is completely content with how they have lived their life? With every action they have taken? With every word uttered?
Is there a person out there who has never tried to convince themselves that “that wasn’t the real me, I just succumbed to the catalysts of the moment. I’m really a nice person”.
The devil, or temporary insanity. Call it what you will. We all hide our evil side behind the patina of “it was his fault” – even if just to ourselves, even if just for a moment.
So, when the devil is locked away, and you are stripped of your excuse, look at yourself.
Really look at yourself.
If you can, then you are blessed.
Ramadan Mubarik!
Disjoint Wisdom 
One response to “When the devil’s locked away”
Thoughtful
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