The blessed month of Ramadan is the most important in the Islamic Calendar. It is the 9th month according to the Islamic Calendar. People fast from dawn till sunset in this sacred month by offering regular prayers (five times a day) and avoiding eatables or food. There are so many blessings and benefits in the Ramadan month that they cannot be counted.
As we all know, Fasting is among the five pillars of Islam. And if we avoid any of the five pillars, we will be answerable on the Day of Judgment.
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَٰتٍ مِّنَ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَٱلْفُرْقَانِ
The month of Ramadan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion.
(AlQuran 2:185)
What are the key points you shouldn’t miss in Ramadan?
Muslims believe this is the most sacred month of the year. According to Prophet Muhammad,
“When Ramadan begins, the doors of heaven are opened, and the doors of hell are closed, and the devils are chained.” It was also during this month that the Quran was revealed. Quran is Islam’s sacred book.
Here we discuss a few key points that shouldn’t miss in Ramadan.
1. Set your intention This Ramadan
This Ramadan, let us set our intentions. In our beautiful Islam, we have been taught to adjust our intentions before acting for any form of worship. Our intentions act as a compass that guides us through the way, and it is our fuel that keeps us moving forward in our downtime.
Fine-tuning our motives behind our worshipping in Ramadan or any time during the year gives us a sense of direction that our deeds are purely and solely performed for the sake of Allah (SWT).
We don’t do charity, pray at mosques, learn Quran or help others for reputation or for expecting appreciation and gratitude from people. We are only awaiting His utmost reward (SWT).
Prophet Muhammad (SA) said:
إنما الأعمال بالنيات، وإنما لكل امرئ ما نوى، فمن كانت هجرته إلى الله ورسوله، فهجرته إلى الله ورسوله، ومن كانت هجرته لدنيا يصيبها أو امرأة ينكحها، فهجرته إلى ما هاجر إليه
“Actions are (judged) by motives (niyyah), so each man will have what he intended. Thus, he whose migration (hijrah) was to Allah and His Messenger, his migration is to Allah and His Messenger; but he whose migration was for some worldly thing he might gain, or for a wife he might marry, his migration is to that for which he migrated.”
2. Plan your Ramadan hours
Set blocks of time during the day or night exclusively for the Quran, prayers, and other acts of worship that you would like to perform.
As you know, failing to plan is planning to fail. Ramadan is a once-in-a-year gift, and we could never know if we will make it to the next Ramadan. Let’s try to give it our best times of the day instead of the leftovers.
Prophet Muhammad (SA) said:
من صام رمضان إيمانًا واحتسابًا، غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه ”
“He who observes fasting during the month of Ramadan with Faith while seeking its reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven.”
Bukhari & Muslim
3. A screen fast
It is very tempting while fasting and trying to pass the time in front of screens, and it is equally easy to get driven by scrolling on our phones or remote controls while relaxing after Iftar.
Setting a time limit for screens and planning a daily schedule for our priorities helps us monitor where we spend our precious Ramadan moments. A lost Ramadan minute is an opportunity missed for Maghfirah (Allah’s forgiveness).
The Prophet (ﷺ) said,
من صام رمضان إيمانًا واحتسابًا، غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه
“He who observes fasting during the month of Ramadan with Faith while seeking its reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven.”
Bukhari and Muslim
4. Fasting vs Feasting month
We can not deny that most of our days in Ramadan revolve around food. It’s either we’re planning for it, shopping for groceries, preparing, or cooking and dealing with the aftermath of Iftar.
While Ramadan is a great chance for families to gather simultaneously and bond, it has unfortunately transformed from the month of fasting to the month of feasting.
Spending loads of effort and hours every day preparing banquets for Iftar is not the best thing to do. And often overeat to the extent we can’t move a limb afterwards.
Alternatively, there are a lot of “Quick and easy meal ideas” on the internet that can save us a lot of precious Ramadan days in the kitchen.
The Prophet (PBUH) said:
ما ملأ آدمي وعاء شراً من بطن، بحسب ابن آدم أكلات يقمن صلبه، فإن كان لا محالة؛ فتلث لطعامه وثلث لشرابه، وثلث لنفسه”.
“The son of Adam does not fill any vessel worse than his stomach; for the son of Adam, a few mouthfuls are sufficient to keep his back straight. If you must fill it, then (fill) one-third for food, one-third for a drink, and one-third for air.”
5. Self-Control
The purpose of Ramadan is not starvation. It is a boot camp for us to practice self-control. It’s not only about abstaining from food and drinks, but it’s also about training ourselves to quit bad habits and adopt good ones. And this means developing our awareness and self-control.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُون
“O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become pious.”
[Surah al-Baqarah 2: 183]
Now it’s your turn. How will you make the most out of your Ramadan before its blessings and mercy slip away?
