The holy month of Ramadan unites all Muslims in fasting, feasting, worship
and prayer. It is a time for contemplation, spirituality and brotherhood. It is
also known and recognised as the month of the Qur'an Allah (SW) says:
“The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for
mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right
and wrong).” (Al-Baqarah 2:185)
Have you ever wondered why it is difficult to concentrate in your prayer? Or
why your faith throughout the year is not on a high like it is during Ramadan
or through Hajj? Maybe it is because we usually jump straight from a phone
conversation into Takbir or because we just go with the flow in Ramadan and
are influenced by the environment around us and not our own ‘real’ feelings.
A lot of us usually live life and have our faith dependent on an upcoming
major event i.e. “I’m going to start reading a page of Quran a day as soon as
Ramadan starts; I’m going to start praying Qiyam every night when I come
back from hajj; or, I’m going to stop smoking when my child is born.” And
because of this way of thinking we usually end up with an anticlimax; we
don’t end up giving up smoking, we don’t end up praying Qiyam and we start
reading Quran but then get back to our normal old self after a few days or
weeks.
This is because these ‘statements’ or ‘feelings’ are based on impulse and not
a real thought out plan. We usually don’t prepare for Ramadan or hajj or have
a plan for our faith to stay at the increase; we just go with the flow and
expect it all to happen. Well, it doesn’t!
Wouldn’t you love to enter the month of Ramadan 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 Ramadan Count Down
Counting down for Ramadan (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
Ramadan, 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 Ramadan 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
Ramadan. 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
Ramadan starts (try to continue this even after Ramadan).
Step 4 – Know your life
Be aware if Ramadan affects anything that is happening in the month or
shortly after. Do you have exams during Ramadan? Or is there a major family
wedding after Ramadan 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 Ramadan 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 Ramadan 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 Ramadan 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 Ramadan 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 ṣallallāhu 'alayhi
wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) 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
Ramadan begins. If you sleep late, start sleeping early, if you are a Facebook
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. Insh’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 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 subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and
exalted be He).
