5 Ways to Prepare for Ramadan
Ramadan is a guest that visits us only once a year and we never know which one will be our last. It is said that the Salaf, among the Sahaba, the Companions, and the Tabi’een, and the great scholars, used to prepare for Ramadan six months before Ramadan comes. This just shows the importance of the month and the fact that to attain the blessings of it, a person must prepare in advance.
Just like if you were to receive an important guest to your home, you would make yourself available to receive them, prepare your home and refreshments, ensure that you understand what they might need and much more. We must treat Ramadan with this same reverence and respect.
Tip 1: Renew your intention for Ramadan
Ramadan is not the month of weight loss and hosting late night dinners. We sometimes get carried away with our desires. And we can get distracted from the real reason why we are commanded to fast. Ramadan is a month in which we should be striving to attain Taqwa.
“O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous –”(2:183)
To prepare for Ramadan it is important to renew your intentions for fasting and make dua that Allah allows us to truly benefit from the month. To learn more about the virtues of Ramadan be sure to read this article!
Tip 2: Learn about the fards of Fasting and what breaks a person’s fast
It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“There are people who fast and get nothing from their fast except hunger, and there are those who pray and get nothing from their prayer but a sleepless night.”
May Allah protect us from this category of people.
To be able to get the full reward of fasting, it is important that before the month of Ramadan, we learn about the fards of fasting. As well as what breaks a person’s fast.
Tip 3: Prepare your dunya to prioritise your Deen
Look at your day to day life and think about how you can adjust your schedule to better support your Ramadan goals. Here are some things you can implement:
- Block out time for the Quran after your Salahs.
- Find courses that you’d like to complete and plan how much you need to do each day
- Prepare foods that make take longer to cook before the month begins and simplify your meals especially suhoor.
- Ask your managers if you can have your lunch during salah time so that you can use it to rest, make dua and read the Quran.
- Delete social media and music from your devices
- Plan time for exercise or walks during your schedule
- Plan Islamic activities for your children to do during Taraweeh or during the times that you are engaging in acts of worship
- Automate your donations across Ramadan to free up time for other acts of worship during the blessed month. Get started here!
Tip 4: Clean your environment before Ramadan
Having a clean environment before Ramadan begins can help you to feel relaxed and ready and can reduce the time you have to spend cleaning during the month.
- Declutter your rooms and living spaces
- Eat food from the freezers and fridges so they don’t spoil during Ramadan
- Prepare dates and fruits
- Organise your cupboards and storage spaces
Tip 5: Have clear and SMART goals for the month
Part of preparing for Ramadan, is having SMART goals for the month.
S – Make your goals Specific.
You cannot complete the study of entire topics during Ramadan but you can choose a specific area to focus on. Whether that is tafsir of certain juz or surah, a book about the arabic language or a small book of fiqh.
M – Make your goals Measurable.
Ensure that your goals can be measured. We want to be able to see progress from the beginning of Ramadan, to the middle and right to the end.
A – Make your goals Achievable.
Make sure to push yourself while still ensuring that the goal is achievable within the month of Ramadan.
R – Make your goals Relevant.
Ensure that the goals you set for Ramadan can be made an act of worship during the blessed month. There is no point doing acts which will invalidate or won’t add to your Ramadan.
T – Make your goals Time-able.
Set a time limit for when you want to complete and work backwards to figure out how much time you need to spend per day to be able to complete this goal.
May Allah allow us to reach Ramadan and gain the rewards of the blessed month!
Ameen.