PREPARING FOR RAMADHAN

Bismillah ir-rahman ir-rahim

Assalam alaikum warahmatullah wabarakatu

We are approaching the Holy month of Ramadhan and we ask Allah to grant us to see this and more of the Holy month.

The Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) were very attentive to the worship to Almighty Allah, including paying great attention to Ramadhan.

So it is known that many of them used to pray to Allah during 6 months after the end of Ramadan to accept their fasting, and then in 6 months they would ask Allah to allow to see the next Ramadhan, so that they have another opportunity to make this great worship, which is the fasting in this holy month. In other words, we can see how they were prepared to meet the Ramadan.

So 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.”

And he also said: “Rajab is like the wind; Shaban is like the water-laden clouds; and Ramadhan is like the rain.”

Here the question : How do we need to prepare for Ramadhan?

Wouldn’t you love to enter the month of Ramadhan on a real high and have the effects of this beautiful month be a permanent impact on your life thereafter ? How can this be done?

Below are the 8 steps for a Legacy of a Ramadan.

Step 1 – Create a Ramadhan Count Down

Counting down for Ramadhan (whether it is done mentally or by keeping physical signs around the home or office) will help create hype and buzz in your mind and amongst the people around you. When you and others are counting down to the same event, it becomes part of regular conversation and excitement spreads.

Step 2 – Seek knowledge about Ramadan

This will help you ensure you will do things correctly and perfectly for Ramadhan, it will create a hype as there are many motivational aspects and events in the month to look forward to and finally it is a reward reaper . The more you know about Ramadan the more you can apply, hence multiplying your rewards.

Step 3 – Make a Ramadhan plan

Be it reading the entire Quran, ensuring you pray taraweeh every night or inviting families over for iftaar; make a list of things you would like to achieve in the month and then how you plan on achieving these goals. It is important that goals are realistic and it is better that your life doesn’t need to entirely take a different road in this month (i.e. take the month off work or change work hours etc.) so that you may continue to do these deeds after Ramadhan. Knowing what you want to achieve in the month will help you stay focused. Ensure you plan your day every night before you sleep when Ramadhan starts (try to continue this even after Ramadan). 

And who needs 'New year resolutions' have Ramadhan resolutions what you want to achieve as well as change from this Ramadhan and hence forth.

Create a Page on Facebook and encourage others and yourself in multiplying Ramdhan deeds as well as restrain from bad habits, devout yourself in pleasing Allah.

Step 4 – Know your life

Be aware if Ramadhan affects anything that is happening in the month or shortly after. Do you have exams during Ramadhan? Or is there a major family wedding after Ramadhan by a short time? Moving house? If so, plan for these events from now. Study now so that you are prepared for the exams before the month starts. Be packed and ready to go before Ramadhan or plan that you do it after so that it doesn’t take time away from your worship. The last thing you want to do is spend Ramadhan at the shopping centres. Buy any Eid presents and prepare for any wedding before the month starts.

Step 5 – Prepare spiritually

We all know that Ramadhan is about Fasting, Praying, Reading Quran and giving in charity. Start these worships early; don’t expect to just click into it as soon as the first day of Ramadhan starts. Start doing extra prayers from now, start revising and regularly reading Quran now, get used to being generous and follow the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad and fast during Sha’baan.

Step 6 – Prepare your mind

Fasting is to refrain from more than just what we consume in our mouth. Start working on your patience; be extra vigilant with your conversations: ensure you are not backbiting, slandering or talking about useless things.

Step 7 – Say ‘good riddance’ to bad habits

Know what bad habits you have and stop them from now, don’t wait until Ramadhan begins. If you sleep late, start sleeping early, if you are a Facebook or whatever social media junky start cutting down, have a coffee craze, slow it down etc. It might sound much easier said then done, but once you’ve committed yourself, purified your intentions – make sincere dua' for guidance. In Sha Allah, these bad habits will be easier done with than you ever expected.

Step 8 – Plan your life around your worship

For instance; instead of working through your prayer or setting up meeting etc., at prayer times, plan that you have a real break at prayer time. Don’t take your phone with you to the place you pray and forget the world as you stand between the hands of the Almighty Allah.

Have more ideas? Send them to family and friends In Sha Allah let's also make this Ramadhan a part of us, our friends and families. 

TAQWA BOOSTING.

May Allah grant us this and more Ramdhan(s) to come. And May our fasts be accepted and our sins forgiven as we end it.