With Ramadan fast approaching, we thought we’d prepare a list of simple and practical tips to share before Ramadan, in preparation for this blessed month. The goal is to help you enjoy this time of year and better appreciate and understand the blessings and opportunities that are coming to the Muslim community.
Here are some tips to help you get started and ensure you get the most out of it inshallah.
1- Planning is key
It is essential to have some sort of plan outlining what you want to achieve during this month. Your goals must be focused on you personally and structured around what you think you can do.
Make sure you are consistent in your efforts and remember that you are trying to create habits that will stick with you long after Ramadan. Whether it’s reading the Quran more, praying Tahajjud several times a week, or studying the Seerah of the Prophet Muhammad, make it part of your plan and do your best.
2- Build a relationship with the Quran
This is the perfect time to start engaging with the Quran. You can aim to complete the Quran (khatm) or simply read a certain number of pages each day. With reminders, progress tracking, and the ability to create challenges tailored to your needs, you will develop Quran reading habits that will last.
Whether you read it alone or with a translation, study tafsir, or want to memorize more surahs to use in your salah, there are many ways to connect with the Quran to prepare for the month ahead.
3- Give yourself a context
The search for knowledge is of great value in religion, so make sure to give yourself plenty of context around Ramadan. Read about the importance of the month, listen to lectures, and make it a point to discuss it with your family and friends. The more you know, the more you will do.
4- Prepare your body
Ramadan brings major changes to your daily routine. If you don’t prepare yourself in advance, you may have a hard time settling in and getting used to fasting the first few days. You really need to be in good physical shape to fast during Ramadan, otherwise, your body may not be able to handle the sudden change.
- Try to refuel by adopting healthier eating habits. Eat a healthy breakfast and cut out snacks before Ramadan.
- Get some exercise. Even if it’s just walking 3 times a week, do it because your body is an Amanah, and taking care of it with gratitude is in itself a form of ibadah.
- If you are taking medication, consult your doctor to see if you can take your doses after breaking the fast.
- Adjust your sleep pattern to get used to the Ramadan sleep routine. Sleep immediately after Isha and wake up a few minutes before fajr.
- Reduce your caffeine intake so that not having coffee in the morning or tea in the afternoon does not make you feel sleepy during the first few days of Ramadan.
5- Reduce your responsibilities
Ramadan forces you to balance responsibilities, ibadah, and life to make the most of it. Do your best to reduce as many responsibilities as possible.
For example, clean the house well in advance so that only a little is left during Ramadan. Plan a few set meals and stock your house ahead of time. If you can, prepare your meals so you don’t have to worry about being so busy cooking that you can’t do anything else. Do your Eid shopping before Ramadan rather than during the last days of Ramadan. If you have work deadlines or obligations, see if you can finish most of them before Ramadan begins.
6- Repent and rejoice
Take a moment to remember how precious these upcoming days are. They are different from any other day of the year. Make sure you have the right intentions and start preparing yourself, your home, and your family for this blessed month. Bring a joyful and reflective spirit to Ramadan by remembering that it is a time of repentance and a time to celebrate the mercy of Allah.
Encourage your family members to ask for Allah’s forgiveness and demonstrate it yourself daily. If you have young children, make sure to add decorations, plan activities, and make this time of year special. The family as a whole needs to recognize Ramadan as a happy time of year to reconnect and strengthen your connection to the Quran and Allah.
7- We are better together
Ramadan is all about solidarity. Find out how you can get involved and support your community. It could be through your local mosque, helping to organize a community iftar or even just giving an extra hand to your loved ones at home. Make Ramadan an experience that goes beyond you – a reward shared is a reward better appreciated!
8- Increase your worship
The best way to achieve your goals during Ramadan is to start working on them regularly. Pray on time and according to the sunnah when you can; create a Quranic routine and associate it with duration rather than page count to encourage reflection and understanding. The idea is to take small steps towards achieving your Ramadan goals now so that when Ramadan comes, you are already ahead of the game.
Try to include your children in these acts of worship whenever possible, to get them used to what Ramadan will look like and also help them learn the spirit of worship no matter what.
These are just a few tips to better prepare you for Ramadan. We pray that you will all be able to make the most of this time and that Allah will accept your Duas.
Remember that you are special, you are part of the best of the nations, you are an important individual who has been allowed to see another Ramadan, make another salah, fast another day, and be generous to the less fortunate. Only you can realize how special you are. Allah has not abandoned you, and He certainly will not abandon you during Ramadan, when you seek Him and need Him most. Hold on to your faith!
“Verily, it is in the remembrance of Allah that hearts find rest.” (Quran 13:28)
Last Updated on March 8, 2024
