Many of us think that Ramadan preparations is not a crucial thing because once Ramadan is here, we’d definitely get in the mood. However, this assumption is wrong in many ways.
If we intend to make the most of the holy month, we should get well prepared for it. We should prepare ourselves physically, mentally and psychologically.
This episode discusses how we can best prepare for Ramadan, what some of its benefits are and other things to consider for supervisors and neighbors as well as children. - aboutislam.net
So many of us neglect this aspect of our lives: working on maintaining the peace and light of our hearts.
We make sure we feed our body with food, we make sure we fill our car tanks with oil, we make sure we charge our computers and phones because they’ll die/stop working if they’re not constantly recharged….
However, we neglect to do the same for our hearts.
We neglect to recharge and feed our hearts and souls.
Because of this negligence, we may feel dry from the inside and we miss the moments of peace and light we once had when our hearts were connected with Allah Almighty and filled with His Light.
So what can we do about it?
First of all, remember that light and peace come from their Ultimate Source, The Creator Allah Almighty who is The Source of Peace (As-Salaam) and The Source of Light (An-Nur).
Allah Almighty says in the chapter titled The Light in the Quran:
“Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The example of His light is like a niche within which is a lamp, the lamp is within glass, the glass as if it were a pearly [white] star lit from [the oil of] a blessed olive tree, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil would almost glow even if untouched by fire. Light upon light. Allah guides to His light whom He wills. And Allah presents examples for the people, and Allah is Knowing of all things.” (Quran 24: 25)
See how Allah mentioned that the source of light is blessed, neither from the east nor the west and it lights even if untouched because it is Light (from Him) upon light of the pure fitrah (God-given nature in the hearts of believers) and this is Light upon light and Allah grants this Light to whom He wills…..
So, Light essentially is from Allah and He bestows it upon those who actively and practically seek it of Him, not those who are passive, heedless, negligent or occupied and absorbed in the material world.
Accordingly, we need to be where Allah wants us to be in order to gain His Light.
So what exactly to do?
Get Light From Allah Fives Times a Day1- Pray on time
Be in the place of prayer when it’s time to pray and don’t miss the opportunity of getting light from Allah five times a day.
Remember that Allah already told us how to seek His Light and Love and maintain them in our lives. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:
“Allah the Exalted has said: ‘I will declare war against him who shows hostility to a pious worshiper of Mine. And the most beloved thing with which My slave comes nearer to Me is what I have enjoined upon him; and My slave keeps on coming closer to Me through performing Nawafil (prayer or doing extra deeds besides what is obligatory) till I love him. When I love him I become his hearing with which he hears, his seeing with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes, and his leg with which he walks; and if he asks (something) from Me, I give him, and if he asks My Protection (refuge), I protect him“. [Al- Bukhari].
So make sure you maintain the obligatory acts that Allah has enjoined, because He basically enjoined them knowing of their importance to maintaining the light of our hearts and our connection with Him.
When we work actively on maintaining the “fara’ed” (obligatory acts of worship) like prayer, fasting, zakat….etc. We can then work on developing this light further through the nawafil as per the hadith above in order to gain the love and closeness of Allah.
So what’s next…
2- Perform (nawafil)
This could be the Sunnah prayers, Sunnah fasting, giving more frequently to charity… all of these acts are done for the sake of Allah alone and His Closeness and by doing them, one really shows sincerity and active pursuit of Allah and His Light.
3- Do a lot of dhikr(remembrance of Allah)
Engage constantly in uttering words of dhikr like Subhan Allah, AlhamduliAllah, La illah illa Allah, Allahu Akbar. This keeps your tongue, heart and mind always in remembrance of Allah and it earns you His Closeness and Protection.
4- Make Dua
Make a lot of dua always and every day. The Prophet says:
“Verily supplication is worship.” [Related by the four Imams].
So ask Allah for all you need, be it a really small or really big matter, always ask Allah for all you need.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) mentions:
“‘Let one of you ask his Lord for his every need, even until he asks Him for the strap of his sandal when it breaks.’” [Jami` at-Tirmidhi]
5- Seek the company of righteous companions
Who remind you constantly of Allah, talk about Him, praise Him, live for His Sake and work for His sake… this will surely have an impact on you. And this is a command from Allah. He says in Surat Al Kahf:
“And keep yourself patient [by being] with those who call upon their Lord in the morning and the evening, seeking His countenance. And let not your eyes pass beyond them, desiring adornments of the worldly life, and do not obey one whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance and who follows his desire and whose affair is ever [in] neglect.” (Quran 18:28)
And the Prophet (peace be upon him) says, Narrated Abu Musa:
‘The example of a good pious companion and an evil one is that of a person carrying musk and another blowing a pair of bellows. The one who is carrying musk will either give you some perfume as a present, or you will buy some from him, or you will get a good smell from him, but the one who is blowing a pair of bellows will either burn your clothes or you will get a bad smell from him.” [Sahih Al Bukhari]
6- Actively seek knowledge of Allah
We constantly forget, this is why Allah called us “Nas” (Arabic for forgetful).
So we need to be reminded of Allah, our purpose, our destination, the Hereafter, Jannah….etc. Accordingly, you have to actively pursue knowledge.
There are plenty or resources online to help you with that, they’re free and you can access them anytime you want. For example, Bayyinah Institute, Quran Weekly and others.
Also, try to find circles/gathering/lectures in your area that you can attend, maybe at the masjid or through girls’ religious gathering where they seek knowledge and learn more about the deen on a weekly basis. This will keep you connected weekly at least with something that revives your faith and reminds you of the essentials.
7- Try to cut down the distractions in your life
If you spend too much time on social media or in any other activities that take you away from the remembrance of Allah and seeking His Light, then obviously, the light in your heart will be buried under layers and layers of distractions.
Imagine you have a lamp that emanates beautiful light, then you get too busy for days/weeks/months and you forget to clean this lamp. What will happen?
Most probably you will find that the glass of this lamp has been covered under layers and layers of dust and dirt.
The Light will be suffocating inside, unable to shine through. So you have to start cleaning in order to remove those layers and bring the light out again.
This is what happens to our heart when we neglect to clean and purify it from all of life’s distractions.
So, we need to actively, practically and continuously work on cleaning our hearts in order for the Light to take over and be more prevalent in our lives.
8- Most importantly, establish a relationship with the Quran!
This is the Direct Verbatim Words of Allah who is The Source of Light.
The Quran itself is Light and Healing and Guidance. So one has to seriously and persistently engage with the Quran through reading, listening, and recitation with tajweed, contemplation and reflection…etc.
There are many lectures online that help with Quran tafseer and tajweed. You can also try to find a teacher online or offline to help you study the Quran.
All of this is sea of purity and purification that soften hard hearts and feed the soul constantly so it won’t dry out.
Make Duaa
You can begin with asking Allah to help you and all of us with this task because it is Him alone who is capable of all things. So always recite this dua:
Allahumma a’inni ala dhikrika, wa shukrika, wa husni ‘ibadatika
(O Allah, help me remember You, be grateful to You, and worship You in an excellent manner).
You can assess your level of taqwa very easily. How do you make money? How good are your manners? Take a look at yourself and asses your level of being mindful of Allah. - aboutislam.net
There are many articles and lectures on how to prepare our bodies for Ramadan, including voluntary fasts to get our bodies used to the process by eating less proportion-wise and fewer meals.
This is wonderful advice and it’s very helpful, especially if you have days of missed fasts from the year before (like women who missed days because of menstruation/pregnancy/nursing).
But what about our hearts and minds?
How can we get our truest selves ready for the rigors of Ramadan?
Practical Suggestions
For starters, as always, we must make intention, or niyah, for welcoming Ramadan.
Just as you would get excited for the upcoming visit of a good friend or loved one, get excited for the arrival of Ramadan.
Get excited for the ways in which Allah will purify the things that don’t belong in your heart. Ask Allah to prepare your heart to welcome the cleansing of Ramadan.
Suhaib Webb said, “Ramadan is from ra ma da, an Arabic word that means “extreme heat”. That’s because the heat of the month burns away our sins.” Plan in your heart to make the most of Ramadan, and ask Allah to purify your heart in this powerful time.
There is no room in our hearts for Allah if we continually stuff everything else in there to fill the emptiness we feel. Begin a practice of sitting along with no phone, no book, nothing to distract yourself from yourself.
Sit alone and make dua. Sit alone and listen to your breath. Just sit and allow your heart to connect with your mind, and your mind to connect with Allah. Sit alone in this quiet for 10 minutes a day and I guarantee your mind and heart will be less busy, less distracted, and less easily led away from your intentions.
Think about what life will be like after Ramadan. Don’t want the typical post-Ramadan slump? Make a real plan for how you will incorporate your life goals into Ramadan.
Want to read more Quran? You must make a practical plan for it.
Want to make sure you pray all the obligatory and the sunnah prayers? Plan for it! I recommend a Ramadan Journal and planner that includes pre-Ramadan activities, like the Ramadan Battle Plan or StoriDori/SISTERS Magazine’s Ramadan Planner or Happy Muslim Mama’s Ramadan Planner.
May your Ramadan be welcomed like a beloved friend, cheer you and revive your heart and soul during its stay, and leave you and all of us better people. Ameen.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had a three-faceted strategy for preparing for the blessed month of Ramadan:
(1) practical preparation (by fasting more voluntarily fasts),
(2) asking Allah, through supplication, for its blessings, and
(3) exhorting, motivating, and reminding the people around him about the arrival of the imminent month of blessings, and encouraging them to do good deeds in it.
1- Voluntary Fasting During Sha’ban
Prophet Muhammad used to fast a lot during the month of Sha’ban.
Usamah bin Zaid said:
I said, “O Messenger of Allah, I do not see you fasting any month as much as Sha’ban.” He said: “That is a month to which people do not pay much attention, between Rajab and Ramadan. It is a month in which the deeds are taken up to the Lord of the worlds, and I like that my deeds be taken up when I am fasting.” (Sunan Al-Nisai)
The same has also been recorded on the authority of the wife of the Prophet, `Aishah:
The month which the Messenger of Allah most liked to fast was Sha’ban; indeed, he used to join it to Ramadan. (Sunan Al-Nisai, Sahih A similar report has also been recorded in Sunan Abi Dawud)
The exact number of days that he fasted during Sha’ban have not been recorded, but we can safely assume that by the time Ramadan arrived, he was already in the habit of daily fasting.
However, he did not fast the whole month.
2- Supplicating for Blessings on the Sighting of the Crescent Moon
Whenever the Prophet sighted the crescent moon signaling the start of any new lunar month, including Ramadan, he would make a special supplication:
Talhah bin Ubaidullah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
At the sight of the new moon (of the lunar month), the Prophet used to supplicate: “O Allah, let this moon appear on us with security and faith; with safety and Islam. (O moon!) Your lord and mine is Allah. May this moon be bringing guidance and good”. (Jami` Al- Tirmidhi)
3- Reminding People of the Blessings of Ramadan & Encouraging Them to Perform More Good Deeds
The Messenger of Allah said:
There has come to you Ramadan, a blessed month, in which Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, has enjoined you to fast. During it, the gates of heavens are opened and the gates of Hell are closed, and every devil is chained up. In it, Allah has a night which is better than a thousand months; whoever is deprived of its goodness is indeed deprived. (Sunan Al-Nisa’i)
So you can see, how the Prophet encouraged Muslims around him to increase in worship during Ramadan, before it actually arrived, by mentioning the extra rewards for doing good deeds during it. He tried to motivate them in advance.
This is what has been narrated in authentic Prophetic narrations, about how Prophet Muhammad used to prepare for the month of Ramadan.
Muslims are obligated to pray five times a day, giving them the chance to temporarily disconnect from this world to reconnect with their creator.
“And when you have completed the prayer, remember Allah standing, sitting, or [lying] on your sides. But when you become secure, re-establish [regular] prayer. Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times” (Qur’an, 4:103).
This act can be beneficial in numerous ways.
Psychologically, it provides a break from daily routines and momentary freedom from the mental stress that comes with the burdens of daily life, allowing the realignment of priorities at regular intervals during the day.
Spiritually, prayer provides the chance to reconnect with Allah and remember what is most important.
Research at Binghamton University in the US is now showing that praying can benefit physical health.
The researchers say that the physical motions completed during salat, if performed regularly and as prescribed, can reduce lower back pain in a manner similar to other common therapeutic interventions.
In addition to its physical movements, prayer could be inducing a state of relaxation as one connects with Allah.
This relaxing effect on the body can reduce blood pressure and heart rate, ultimately helping muscles to relax.
‘Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah. Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured.’ (Qur’an, 13:28).
The researchers found that the most stress on the lower back happens during the ‘bowing’ movement known as ruku`. But if people with lower back pain position the knee and back correctly, that pain can be significantly reduced by the movement.
Prayer Physical Benefits
The study highlighted the physical benefits of each posture during salat.
Standing: Body weight is evenly distributed.
Ruku`: Fully stretches the muscles of the lower back, thighs, calves and neck. Blood flows into upper portions of the body.
Rising from ruku`: Tension is released in muscles as they relax.
Prostration or sujood: Increases the elasticity of joints. Furthermore, the increased blood flow to the head as it is lowered below heart level can reduce high blood pressure. It also have a positive effect on brain functions such as memory and concentration.
The repeat sujood: Balances and cleanses the various systems of the body including the respiratory, circulatory, and nervous systems by increasing and encouraging continued blood flow and oxygenation of the entire body. It also assists digestion by encouraging movement of contents down the digestive tract.
With all the numerous physical benefits of each position, it is no wonder that those who practise prayer regularly are less likely to experience health problems, specifically those of the spine and joints.
In Surat Al-Qasas, Allah Almighty recounts the journey of Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) when he ran away from Egypt after having accidentally killed a person by punching him.
The journey took Prophet Musa to the water of Midian where he found a bunch of people giving water to their sheep and, beside them, two women were having trouble with their animals, pulling and tugging as if they were at war with the sheep and not really winning.
It looked weird for Musa that these women were struggling in this way while everybody was comfortably feeding their animals. He went up to the ladies and asked, what is your problem? What’s going on here?
Here is a huge lesson: We are supposed to have modesty and to guard our tongues and eyes but when someone is in trouble, there’s nothing wrong with you going and asking: Can I be at your service? What is going on here?
You have to remember, though, that Musa (peace be upon him) did not go to have an elaborate conversation or to make a small talk. He just went and asked: What is going on with both of you?
More insights about the ethics of dealing with the opposite sex, as revealed in the story of Prophet Musa and the two ladies, in this episode of Qur’an Weekly, Hosted by Nouman Ali Khan.
