Mar
Ramadan is the holy month where Muslims strive to Earn Allah’s Mercy by abstaining from food and water from sunrise to Sunset.
“O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may develop God-consciousness.”
(Quran 2:183)
The month of Ramadhan is an excellent training for spirituality as it is beyond hunger and thirsts but abstaining from anything Haram(Forbidden) to embracing all that would connect one to Allah and earn multiple rewards. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“When Ramadan enters, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hellfire are closed and the devils are chained.”
(Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Abu Hurayrah also reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“Every action a son of Adam does shall be multiplied—a good action by ten times its value, up to 700 times. Allah says: With the exception of fasting, which belongs to Me, and I reward it accordingly. For, one abandons his desire and food for My sake.”
“There are two occasions of joy for a fasting person: one when he breaks his fast, and the other when he meets his Lord, and the (bad) breath (of a fasting person) is better in the sight of Allah than the fragrance of musk
(Al-Bukhari)
It then demands from every conscious Muslims time, energy and commitment to serving Allah as Ramadhan is literally days away from us, we need to ask ourselves how prepared are we? Are we prepared as much as we are expected to or we just choose to pay a lip service to Ramadhan is coming as everyone keep saying? We need to PLAN. To take the best use of our time during Ramadhan, then planning is a necessity. Yes, we have to plan and strategise to enter it fully prepared. There is a saying that goes; “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail” So many lives have lost for one reason or the other. Some of our loved ones are not with us this year. We owe it to Allah (swt), to those no longer with us and to ourselves, to ensure that we make the most of Ramadhan this year. We need to be physically, emotional and mentally prepared before it’s arrival. The result of not being prepared early enough for Ramadhan is to be motivated at the first week and be consistent with so many acts of worship but feel unmotivated as early as the second week and be back to old habits. Aspiring for a successful and fruitful Ramadhan not only requires a well-trained mind and body but also a well trained soul, this we learn from our predecessors, Ramadhan is always a much awaited month, that is earnestly looking forward to.
The Companions of the Prophet (pbuh) used to prepare for Ramadhan six months in advance. Or how so do you really think we can make the best of this Ramadhan without planning and preparing for it?
Abu Bakr al-Balkhi, may Allah bless him with mercy, said:
“Rajab is the month to sow the seeds; Shaban is the month to irrigate the crop; and Ramadhan is the month to reap the harvest.”
As we are in the month of Shadan, let’s be guided by some of the tips we would share on how harvest positive results in the month of Ramadhan and After.
1. The first step to be more intentional about Serving Allah in Ramadhan for Ramadhan by productively focusing on our relationship with Allah, the Most High, in a time of isolation and how we want to be more closer to Him.
2. We need to pen down our checklist of what we would like to achieve in Ramadhan. They have to be simple and practical, as consistency is the key to any act of worship.
3. Plan our daily schedule around our ibadah (worship) accordingly.
4. Devoid the fear of getting weak and tired along the line. Start preparing for Ramadhan with a positive mindset of earning lots of rewards without losing out on your strength.
5. Start to practice all you intend to do in the Month of Ramadhan. That is, start to wake up early, read the quran, observe solah at its time and lots more.
6.Keep yourself fit with physical exercise and eat healthy meals.
7. Surround yourself with positive and empowering people that would present the whole journey as something achievable.
8. Devoid your heart from all form of hate, hurt, ingratitude, malice, backbiting, envy, assumptions and backstabbing as they all would serve as hinderance to you achieving your plans
Allahumma Balligna Ramadhan.
For many across the Muslim world, Ramadhan will be a month where survival continues to be a struggle. You can hlep in your own little way to make Ramadhan easy for some people by supporting Rafeeqee Foundation feed poor families with relief packs.
Your help could mean so much more!
Have a blessed and fulfilled month of service with acceptance of deeds and supplications.
As salam alaykum warahmatulLahi wabarakhatuhu.