All things considered, Ramadan 2019 will begin on either Sunday 5 or Monday 6, May 2019, depending on the sighting of the moon.
Typically, when the "holy month of Ramadan" is approaching, many Muslims around the world get excited and pray to witness this month.
But optimism and excitement are just not enought to receive the endless blessings the holy Month brings.
A lot of us are probably thinking “I’m going to start reading a page of Quran a day as soon as Ramadan starts; I’m going to start praying Tahajjud (voluntary mid-night prayer) in Ramadan."
I'm going to do this and that without actually planning and organizing ahead of time.
This way of thinking usually lands us in the anticlimax: we don’t end up achieving all those lofty things we intended. We don't end up reading enough Quran, praying Qiyam, we get tired and soon return to our normal old self after a few days or weeks.
This is because these wishful ‘statements’ or ‘feelings’ are based on impulse rather than concretized plan.
But wouldn’t you love to enter the Ramadan 2019 on a real high mood, while making the most of it?
Here are 9 simple steps to prepare yourself for the BIG Month!
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- Fast Voluntarily
This month—Shabaan—is the prime time to start fasting those extra fasts or making up your missed fasts from last Ramadan.
Usamah ibn Zayd (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I said, ‘Oh Messenger of Allah, I do not see you fasting in any other month like you fast in Shabaan.’
He 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.'” (Narrated by al-Nasaai)
The best way to prepare fasting for a whole month is to start fasting often, in order to gain control over your actions, stomach and desires.
The Prophet said, “(Allah said), ‘Every good deed of Adam’s son is for him except fasting; it is for Me, and I shall reward (the fasting person) for it.’ Verily, the smell of the mouth of a fasting person is better to Allah than the smell of musk.” (Bukhari)
Step 8 – 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.
The Prophet (pbuh) said: “All the children of Adam constantly err, but the best of those who constantly err are those who constantly repent.” (Tirmidhi)
Step 9 – Plan Your Life Around Your Worship
Make sure you consider prayer times while planning activities to undertake during your day. You can talk to your superiors in the office that you would prefer to go for your lunch or break at prayer time.
Don’t take your phone with you to the place you pray and forget the world as you stand in front of your Creator, Allah (swt).
How about you? What are you doing to prepare for Ramadan? Let us know in the comments section!