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When we know we are to attend a wedding,
we begin to plan and prepare from days and even weeks in advance. We pay much
attention to detail so that we arrive to the function on time, are dressed up
smartly with clean/ new shoes, have organizedss a place to stay, eat carefully so
as not to ruin our clothing and so on. In a similar way we prepare and plan for
other important events, functions, interviews etc.
However, when it comes to approaching our Islamic duties/ obligations we do so
little in advance, especially for Ramadan. For some reason we feel we can flick
a switch and become great pious personalities overnight. In fact, while this may
work short term, in the long term you will more likely ‘burn out’ and return to
your former self or in a worse condition. Is it not true after all that in the
middle of the month Ramadan the Masjid halls during taraweeh are at half
capacity to what they were in the first few days??
Therefore it is much better we prepare and plan for our deeni activity, much
like we do for the dunya ones and inshallah in this manner we can make the most
of the blessed month of Ramadan and remain consistent upon the a’maal we adopt.
Anyway, with Ramadan due to start soon I thought it would be good to make a list
of things in preparation for Ramadan. Please leave your comments and suggestions
as well, via the comments below.
- Increase in recitation of the Quraan. If possible, complete a minimum of
1 part to daily so as to make 1 whole complete recital of the Holy Quran during
Ramadan.
- Try and perform 4 rakah (units)
of tahajjud before partaking in Suhoor.
Learn a, or many prophetic duas in Arabic.
- As much as one can keep Allah in
your heart by doing Dhikr eg: La ilaaha illallah, Allahu-akbar, Subhan-Allah,
Alhumdulillah etc.
- Devoting more sincerity and
concentration into our existing daily prayers.
- Try and utilise the month to
give up smoking.
- For the more foul mouthed
amongst us, try to refrain from swearing the whole month. Friends can help here
by lightly hitting or gently reminding his/ her friend each time they swear that
they shouldn’t do it. (please note, I take no responsibility for any limbs that
may be broken from the above suggestion!)
A small request I make is that if a
brother or sister becomes more religious simply for the month of Ramadan, then
rather than shooting our mouth off, saying he/ she is a hypocrite and its only
for Ramadan etc, why don’t we give gentle words of encouragement so they might
continue their virtuousness even after the month of Ramadan. Why should we be so
mean to taunt them about what we THINK is only temporary on their part?
If we were to step back a moment and realise that this is the last Ramadan we
will see in our lifetime, how would we spend it? How many Muslims do you know of
who aren’t around this year to see Ramadan?
Death we know can come to us at any time, yet we still remain so ignorant of the
blessing of the time now given to us to be utilised by Allah the Almighty.
I pray Allah gives, first of all me, and all Muslims the ability to utilise the
month of Ramadan and safeguard ourselves from the punishment hereafter, Ameen.
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