by Sister Safiyya
We’re about to embark upon a blessed month. A month that should be a source of change in our lives. To be prosperous in this month, we have to prepare for it. Just like everything worthwhile, if you want to pass your exams, you have to study hard. If you want to run a marathon and win the race, you have to practice hard before the day. Other than that, we also try to follow in the footsteps of the righteous predecessors. We follow their example in everything as they were the best students who were taught by the best teacher.
It is said that the Sahabas used to prepare for Ramadan for 6 months prior to the month. Why would they do that unless they understood how significantly important the month was?. My dear Sisters, why aren’t you excited about this month yet? Do you not Understand?
Know how in cartoons, a genie sometimes appears and allows you 3 wishes?. Ramadan is the month of Miracles where you can wish for anything and everything with no limitations and complete assurance those wishes of yours will be granted. Are you battling a health condition and wish to be healthy again?. Ramadan!. Is it a child you wish for? Is it a spouse? Is it a new job? Is it success in your business? Is it the highest in this dunya and Akhirah?. Ramadan is the month of Miracles as we’ve witnessed throughout history. Badr, Hudaybiyyah, Fathul Makkah, Battle of Ain Jalut, the conquest of Constantinople.. All of these happened in Ramadan. Most Importantly, the entire world has changed over History in Ramadan with all the revealed books from Allah coming down in the month of Ramadan.
Now that we’re all excited, how do we prepare correctly so we’re able to gain all we want and more from this blessed month?. Listen up Sisters, mothers, students and executives as we go through ways we can maximize this coming month correctly and squeeze up every drop of benefit from it.
Ramadan is a training program that combines physical, psychological and spiritual regimens to ensure no aspect of the human being is left without purification. Just like every human is made up of the mind, body and soul, Ramadan does not leave any of those aspects untouched. Let’s see how we can prepare each of those now:
PSYCHOLOGICAL PREP.
1. Take a mental inventory; sit for a few minutes in a quiet place and take a mental inventory of the sins holding you back. Check what problems/ addictions are holding you back from achieving lofty ranks. Same way people climb on a scale and check their starting weight before starting a new exercise regimen, check what’s holding you back before starting this Imaanic therapy. Allah says “O you who believe! Fear Allah and keep your duty to Him and let every person look to what he has sent forth for the morrow. And fear Allah, Verily, Allah is all Aware of what you do.” Al- Hashr 18.
2. Tawbah: Now that we’ve identified those things holding us back, it’s time to have a tearful farewell. Say goodbye to them. Start on a fresh page with Tawbah. No matter what it is you’ve done, I like to think you haven’t killed 99 people. Tawbah is the path to freedom. Tawbah is perhaps, the most significant psychological prep that’s needed to prepare for Ramadan, to clean out thevessel so you can take in new. Same way you can’t pour clean water in a bucket that contains some mud, same way we can’t absorb all Ramadan has to offer without freeing ourselves of the things that hold us back. To avoid having a regretful Ramadan, we have to stop being delusional and avoid major sins and Riyaa especially.
What are major sins?. A minor sin can turn major with persistence and belittlement. But here’s a short summary of what the scholars say:
• Named in the Shari’ah as a major sin: Shirk, Disobeying parents.
• Legal act prescribed for it in the dunya; Theft, killing, zina, slander, alcohol.
• If the do’er is cursed; lengthens hair, plucks eyebrows etc
• If the do’er is threatened with fire; ruthless tyrants, women who are clothed yet naked.
• If the do’er is condemned harshly; lying king, poor man that’s arrogant etc
Keep this in mind though, whatever it is, Allah is All- Forgiving. Also, Tawbah is obligatory and delaying Tawbah is a sin.
3. Shackle those inclinations; see, in Ramadan, the devils are shackled but we still find ourselves doing a lot of bad things. This is attributed to the bad nafs. Ramadan is supposed to train that Nafs so we have better discipline and willpower. That is why water is haram for you a few minutes before maghrib. Now that you’ve identified those obstacles, it’s time to rein them in. Have a plan to oppose your desires.
Ibn Qayyim said “The most perfect of people with regards to guidance are those that perform Jihad the most. The most obligatory jihad is the jihad against the ego(nafs), capriciousness (hawa), the devil (shaytan) and the world (dunya).
PHYSICAL PREP
This aspect is so important and a lot of us neglect it. Ramadan is such a generous guest that it raises in high esteem everything it touches. The greatest good deeds get even more inflated in their value in Ramadan. We need to get accustomed to the physical aspects before Ramadan:
1. Recitation of the Qur’an; I contemplated on what the first thing should be here and had to start with this. Why not when Allah said “The month of Ramadan is that in which the Qur’an was revealed, a guidance to men and clear proofs of the guidance and the criterion..”
Spiritual training in Ramadan cannot be complete without a great deal of recitation of the Qur’an. The Salaf understood this and that’s why it is reported that;
Al- Aswad b. Yazid Al-Nakha’i used to complete the recitation of the Qur’an in Ramadan every two nights; sleeping between maghrib and isha only. [Abu Nu’aym, Hilyatu Al- Awliya]
Al- Shafii used to complete reciting the Qur’an 60 times in the month of Ramadan, all in the prayer. [Ibid. 4:107]
Al- Bukhari used to complete a recitation of the Qur’an once a day in Ramadan and would pray after Tarawih every night, completing another recitation every three nights. [Al- Dhahabi, Siyar Alam Al- Nubala]
Qatadah used to complete a recitation of the Qur’an once every seven nights, and when Ramadan came, once every 3 nights. During the last ten nights, he would complete a recitation every night.
It is important to note that these individuals did not read the Qur’an with the main aim of just finishing it and ticking it off their Ramadan checklist, No. They did it because they enjoyed it. The Qur’an was their close friend, confidante and sincere advisor. To develop this habit and be great in Ramadan, we have to befriend the Qur’an and develop a relationship with it like a lover would. The more you understand it and the Power it holds, the more you love it. This same Qur’an is such that people died after hearing a verse due to it’s power. In Siyaar A’laam Al- Nubala, There’s the story of the martyr of the Qur’an, Ali ibn Fudayl. Ibraheem ibn Bashar said “The ayah which Ali ibn Fudayl was reading when he died was “If you could but see when they will be held over the Hell fire! They will say: Would that we were but sent back to the world!…” (Al- Anaam 6:27). The Qur’an is such that the Messenger of Allah was tortured, mocked at, slandered at and yet “Surat Hood and it’s sisters gave me grey hair before my time.” (Al- Silsilat As- Saheehah). Umar became ill after reciting the words “Verily, the torment of your Lord will surely come to pass- There is none that can avert it.” (Surat Toor 52;7-8).
So what is your Qur’an plan for Ramadan and how do you plan to get to know this great book?. It doesn’t matter if you do not know how to read the Arabic although it is paramount to learn it. Start small, even if it’s an ayah a day. Uthmaan ibn Affan said “If our hearts were pure and clean, we would never have enough of the word of Allah”.
Start today, set aside a few minutes everyday to read Qur’an and contemplate even if it be a verse a day.
2. Fasting; Prepare for the Ramadan fast by fasting as much as you can before then. Allah said “O you who believe! Observing As- Saum is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may attain Taqwa.” There are different levels of fasting:
• Those who refrain from food, drink and sexual intercourse. They have fulfilled the obligation without gaining anything from the fast. These are those who gain nothing from their fast but hunger and thirst. They do not try to keep their fasts free from imperfection. Abu Huraira reported that the Messenger of Allah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said “If one does not abandon falsehood and action in accordance with it, God has no need that he should abandon his food and drink.” (Bukhari).
• Those who refrain from everything Allah has prohibited while fasting. These are those who do their utmost to keep their fasts free from imperfection. They steer clear from all the prohibited and try as much as possible to do all the desired hings whilst fasting. As admirable as this level is, there’s a third level..
• Those who find sweetness and Joy in Fasting. Yes, they find pleasure in the hunger, the thirst, the dried lips, the growling stomach knowing fully well it is for the sake of Allah alone. You know, during the early stages of the Prophet’s da’awah, he went to Taa’if and received the most horrible of treatments. Yet, with his bleeding feet and bloodied lips, he made a long heartfelt du’a in which he said “..If You are not angry with me, then I do not mind, though safety from You is easier for me..” Through this supplication, we understand that the Prophet’s sole desire was to please Allah alone. He did not become sad because he wanted to protect himself from harm or wanted to find peace and comfort. To the contrary, he found pleasurable any inconvenience he was subjected to for the sake of Allah.
This is when we start preparing for fasting by fasting so we can get to this third level before Ramadan In Shaa Allah. We do this by learning the purpose of fasting and who we’re doing it for. We do this by understanding that “..Allah intends for you ease and He does not want to make things difficult for you..” (Baqarah:185). We do this by learning the numerous physical and mental and spiritual benefits of fasting. Maybe just learning about how medically, it helps you get rid of toxins and excess fat will motivate you now until you get to that level of Imaan where you fast only for the pleasure of Allah.
This month of Shaaban is like an introduction to Ramadan and it has some things in common with Ramadan. Use this month as a training couse. The best months for fasting after Ramadan are Muharram and Sha’aban and it is not encouraged to fast voluntarily almost the entire month other than these two.
Usaamah ibn Zayd said: “I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, I do not see you fasting in any other month like you fast in Sha’abaan.’ He Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said: ‘That is a month to which people do not pay attention, between Rajab and Ramadan, and it is a month in which deeds are lifted up to the Lord of the Worlds. I like for my deeds to be lifted up when I am fasting. (An- Nasaai).
3. Salah: This is one of the most important acts of worship. I wanted to concentrate on preparing for the act of Qiyaam here then I realized some of us are lax with the obligatory salah. Either praying late or not praying it at all. This is dangerous as Salah is the dividing line between Muslims and others. Salah is so important you can’t excuse yourself even at times of war. If you don’t pray already, start today.
• If you do but don’t do it on time, make a conscious effort to start today. Set your alarm clocks and make yourself get up once it rings to pray. It’ll help to also get someone to pester you until you do. Once that’s done, then improve the quality of your prayers. There are so many tips on perfecting khushoo that we’ll get to.
• Once the Obligatory is in place, start with the sunnah. You can start with the sunnah for fajr alone until you get consistent, then add on that until you’re able to do them all. Then include the nawafil like duha and others.
• Qiyaam-ul-Layl: This is a key ingredient in restoring Imaan and definitely an act of worship we’re building momentum towards. In a hadith found in the Sahih books, the Messenger of Allah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said “Whoever prays at night in Ramadan with faith and seeking it’s reward, then all his sins would be forgiven”. This is an ingredient to success.
4. Du’a: Make du’a that Allah allows us to witness this blessed month and it is the way of the Salaf. No one knows tomorrow, so as part of our preparation for Ramadan is to make du’a to reach Ramadan.
5. Revive Abandoned worship: As muslims, we seek everything that pleases Allah. we do not do things in halves.There are so many forms of worship that have become strange now and part of the mercy of Allah is giving us diversity in worship so we don’t get bored. Some of the worship we can revive now include:
• Seeking Forgiveness right before Fajr: Allah said “They are those who are patient, those who are true and obedient with sincere devotion in worship to Allah . Those who spend in the way of Allah and those who pray and beg Allah’s pardon in the last hours of the night.” (suratul Imraan: 17). The chain of verses in this verse describes thes are the successful ones. The word used in this verse has the same root word as Suhoor. Right before fajr, step away from the family and make Istighfaar. Istighfaar at all times is a key to success. In Suratul Hud v:52, Hud Alaihissalam said “And O my People, Ask forgiveness of your Lord and then repent to Him, He will send you abundant rain and add strength to your strength, so do not turn away as Mujrimun.” We are in need of Istighfaar as even our good deeds are flawed. This is why the Messenger of Allah said in a hadith found in Bukhari “By Allah, I seek Allah’s forgiveness and turn to Him in repentance for more than 70 times a day.” The time right before fajr is a special time. Right before the break of dawn and before the hustle and bustle of dunya take over. Whatever problems you may be facing now, this is an act of ibadah that will ease the way for you. Make the intention and start right out even if it’s just 5 minutes before Fajr.
• Tafakkur: This is a worship mentioned in the Qur’an. Allah said “Those who remember Allah standing, sitting and lying on their sides, and Tafakkur (think deeply/ponder) about the creation of the heavens and the earth, saying: Our Lord! You have not created all this without purpose, glory to You. Give us salvation from the torment of the fire.” This is a worship that unblocks the heart and opens it to the meanings of the Qur’an and attains you Love of Allah, fear of Allah, hope in Allah, constant repentance to Allah. it’s time to start seeing Allah’s blessings in everything and His power over everything. drop your phones and look at the sky and ponder upon the fact that there are no pillars holding it, nobody maintaining it but Allah, yet, your house needs maintenance once in a while. This helps purify your heart and gets it ready for Ramadan with that Imaan boost.
6. Have a Ramadan Planner: Write it down. Ramadan plans and a way to check yourself. Every single thing, from the meals to be prepared to the ibadah goals. Allocate time for
7. Start a New Diet: Fudayl ibn Iyaad used to say “two qualities that harden the heart are excess speech and excess eating.” Imam Ahmad is recorded to have said “I can’t see how the heart can melt on a full stomach.” Prepare for Ramadan by watching what you eat and how much you eat now. A lot of us make the mistake of eating too much at Iftaar as if making up for not eating breakfast and lunch. This makes it difficult for us to do a lot of acts of ibadah. Understand that Nourishment is the first culprit in the propagation of sins. Prepare for Ramadan by implementing this hadith starting today, The Messenger of Allah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said “The Son of Adam does not fill a vessel worse than the belly. It is enough for the son of Adam to eat a few bites that strengthens his spine. If he likes to have more, then let him fill a third with food, a third with drink and leave a third for his breathing.” Tirmidhi. Learn the sunnah way of eating in moderation and start today. Your body will thank you for it.
8. Avoid Distractions/ Time-Wasters: Hasan Al- Basri is reported to have said “You are nothing but a number of days, and whenever a day passes away, a part of you passes away.” Time is more valuable than gold and silver. Each day that passes by is rolled up and will not return until the day of Judgment when it comes to testify for you or against you. Imagine 2 men at a funeral, one of them asked “do you think if the dead man could get up to perform more ibadah, even if it’s 2 raka’ats of prayers and die again, he wouldn’t?”, His companion replied “He surely would”. The first man said “Then let’s take heed from that and hasten to do good”
As muslims, each second is precious as we understand we’ll never get it back again and we’ll be questioned on what we did with it. Will any sane muslim who knows his every heartbeat would be questioned waste time with matters of the dunya and more, haram matters?. Clear the path from those things that’ll distract you especially in the blessed month. Delete those movies/ music. Assign a specific amount of time each day for social media if you have to. Yes, establish ties of kinship without harming your soul. Too much socializing can harden the heart. Start limiting your time on social media and other things as preparation for Ramadan starting today.
SPIRITUAL TIPS
1. Purify the heart: Ibn Qayyim Rahimahullah is reported to have said “Whoever wants to purify his heart then let him prefer the love and Obedience of Allah over his own desires.” Check for the diseases in your heart eg envy, jealousy and take them out. One of the ways to purify your heart and prepare for Ramadan is by establishing hearts with no ill- feelings towards others. This is the time to reconcile with the friend you haven’t spoken to for over a year over a minor skirmish. Let those ill- feelings go.
2. Knowledge: Don’t wait until Ramadan to learn the Fiqh of Fating. The do’s and don’t. the things that break the fast and what you should do when you eat forgetfully while fasting. Etc.One of the ways to prepare for Ramadan is by gathering the knowledge before Ramadan. Knowledge comes before practice.
3. Befriend and compete with Salaf: One of the ways to charge ourselves for Ibadah is by flipping back the pages of our beautiful golden History. One of the ways to ignite our Ibadah is by picking friends from the Salaf and having friendly competitions with them. When Nafi’, the freed slave of Abdullah ibn Umar was asked about his master’s worship, he said “just leave it, you won’t be able to do it.” when you hear statements like that, take it up as a challenge. We want to enter the same Jannah as Abu Bakr, Umar, Bilal, Khadijah, Sumayyah and the others. It is imperative we learn about them and befriend them.
FOR THE BUSY SISTERS (MOMS AND STUDENTS)
1. Niyyah: It is mentioned in the two Sahihs that the Messenger of Allah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said to Sa’d bin Abi Waqqas when he fell ill in Makkah and was visiting him “Whatever you spend for the sake of Allah, you will get reward for it, even for the morsel of food which you put in your wife’s mouth.”
Mu’adh ibn Jabal said to Abu Musa Al-Ashari “I earn from my sleep what I earn from my prayers through my intention”. A person’s intention can make an act great or make it small.
2. Dhikr: Allah says “O you who believe! Remember Allah with much rememberance.” (Al- Ahzaab:41). This is one of the most flexible and greatest acts of Ibadah which we should get accustomed to. Beautiful statements we can make with our tongues but which are very heavy on our scale of good deeds. No matter what it is you’re doing “Keep your tongue moist with the remembrance of Allah” (Tirmidhi). Dhikr pleases Ar- Rahman and keeps away the Satan, it dispels worry and distress and brings provision and open doors of knowledge. It plants the seedlings of paradise and helps one to avoid the evils of the tongue. It offers consolation to the poor who do not have the means as it also serves as charity. The numerous benefits of dhikr cannot be fully stated here and we have no excuse not to do it. what are you waiting for?. SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, La Hawla Wa La Quwwata IllaBillah. Start now so your tongue can get used to it for Ramadan and the rest of your life In Shaa Allah.
WOMEN IN RAMADAN
Dear Sisters, why should you feel anguished when your period comes in Ramadan knowing Allah is your Creator and the Most Wise. Not fasting or praying in Ramadan is an act of Ibadah as we were ordered not to fast and pray by the same who ordered others to fast and pray. A lot of us get neglectful when on our period forgetting that the only acts we are prevented from are fasting and praying. Get up and do your adhkaar at the same times you do them when you’re not on your period. Make the intention so you get your reward for fasting and praying despite not doing them. Feed the fasting people for extra reward and keep your morale up.
CONCLUSION
Do not make perfection the enemy of good. What you’re unable to achieve should not be forsaken entirely. Set for yourself lofty Islamic goals, then edge towards it even if slower than what you prefer. Do not exhaust yourself and avoid spiritual “burnout”. The idea of Ramadan is to train us not to give up striving in worship when we have the energy and inclination and when we feel tired, we should just do as much as we can. “Religion is very easy and whoever overburdens himself in his religion will not be able to continue in that way. So you should not be extremists, but try to be near to perfection..” (Sahih Bukhari).
DeensisterS 