Ramadan is a month not only when Muslims keep away from food, but everything we do during this month causes us to develop taqwa (piety). The Holy month of Ramadan is where we recharge our Imaan (faith) for the entire year. In this article I will attempt to list out 10 things which we can all do to make our Ramadan this year more spiritual and hopefully some of these things would develop into habits which we carry on with us for the year ahead. You could also print out this article and keep it handy for the month of Ramadan to act as a reminder.
1. Read Quran daily
You will be rewarded 10 rewards for every letter you read. This prize basically illustrates the weight of the Quran in terms of where it should be in your life.
Ramadan is the perfect opportunity for us to develop a routine, so why not make reading the Holy Quran part of our daily lifestyle choices and why not start in this month?If you read one juz (part) of Quran each day, by the end of the month, you would have completed the entire Quran!
I find it most peaceful to do these recitations after Fajir Salaat in the morning. It is also common to recite Quran between Asr and Maghrib Salaat. Find what works for you, and stick to it.
Reading Quran is more effective in Ramadan because as we fast, we strengthen our consciousness of Allah which allows us to better internalise the teachings of the Quran and align our behavior to these teachings.
2. Pray Sunnah Salaat before and/or after Salaat
“Allah will build house in Jannah for whoever is diligent in observing 12 sunnah rakat (as follows) 4 rakat before and 2 after Dhur, 2 after the Maghrib, 2 after Ishaa, and 2 before Fajr.”
[Tirmidhi]
During this month, there are so many extra blessings we can attain and praying our voluntary prayers before and/or after our obligatory salaat is an easy way to gain these. If we give ourselves the time to pray these extra salaat for this month, then during the rest of months, it would become like second nature to us. Make this a habit, and you would soon feel incomplete in your salaat without your voluntary prayers, and feel so much more spiritual when you complete them; not to mention, your blessings would be increasing and you would feel more accomplished.
3. Increase your remembrance of Allah
“O You who believe! Remember Allah with much remembrance”
{Surat Al-‘Ahzab33: Verse 41}
This could be as simple as doing dikhr (rememberance) while you’re in the car going to work, or in the check-out line at the grocery. Any and all free time could be the vehicle you use to develop your dikhr of Allah.
A few common things you can say are:
– SubhanAllah or SubhanAllahwabihamdihi (“I praise Allah (or All praise if to Allah) above all attributes that do not suit His Majesty.”)
It is recorded that the reward for saying this is that a tree will be planted for you in Paradise. Another hadith records that whoever says this 100 times a day, his/her sins will be forgiven even if they were as much as the foam of the sea [Bukhari].
– Alhamdulillah (“All praise is for Allah.”)
The stated reward for this one is that your scales will be tipped in your favour on the Day of Judgment.
– La hawlawa la quwwataillabillah (“There is no power or might except (by) Allah.”)
You will enter through a special door in Paradise if you oft use this remembrance.
– SubhanAllah (x33), Alhamdulillah (x33), Allahuakbar (x34) “I praise Allah (or All praise if to Allah) above all attributes that do not suit His Majesty. All praise is to Allah. Allah is Great.”)
This is commonly said after all salaat and before you go to sleep.
4. Give extra charity
In addition to your Zakaat (obligatory charity) you should find a way every day to give extra charity. Feed a hungry child or family; give away some of your clothes to needy people; or even help an elderly person cross the road. The possibilities for charity are limitless. Our beloved Prophet Muhammad salallahualeyhiwasallam, has said that even a smile is charity. The little things would add up and would be a great source of your blessings. Further, the satisfaction you will get from being kind and charitable to others would be a fulfilling experience.
5. Do not engage in unnecessary talk
It has been reported that if someone approaches you and engages in nonconstructive talk, then you say ‘I am fasting, I am fasting’ and stop it in its tracks. This is a good way to cleanse your thoughts as well. Think positively and talk positively.
6. Visiting a sick Muslim
“There is no Muslim who visits a sick Muslim early in the morning but 70 thousand angles send blessings upon him until evening comes, and if he visits him in the evening, 70 thousand angles send blessings upon him until morning comes, and he will have a garden in paradise.”
[Tirmidhi]
7. Providing food for breaking the fast
“Whoever provides food for breaking of the fast for a fasting person receives the reward of the fasting person, without the reward of the fasting person being reduced in any way.”
[Tirmidhi & Ibn Majah]
This is an easy way to receive more blessings during this month, while increasing our spirituality.
8. Standing in prayer on Laylatul Qadr
“LaylatulQadr is better than a thousand months.”
{Surat Al-Qadr 97: Verse 3}
The rewards from prayers of this night is equivalent to a thousand months. This is a great opportunity to get closer to Allah and build up your spirituality.
9. Asking Allah to forgive ALL Muslims
“Whoever seeks forgiveness for believing men and believing woman, Allah will write for him a good deed for each believing man and believing woman.”
[Tabarani]
This is a powerful way to make the best out of our Ramadan.
10. Attend lectures and events in the Masjid
“Whoever goes to the mosque not desiring except to learn or teach what is good has the reward of a pilgrim who completed his Hajj”.
[Tabarani]
I hope that these 10 things inspire you to make the utmost best of your Ramadan. Remember that the little things add up and every little bit you do counts. Patience and consistency will get you where you want to go.