27/02/2024
Ramadan is around the corner so let's remind ourselves of the do's and don'ts in this blessed month
Ramadan Do's ✅
1. Perform Extra Worship
During Ramadan, we want to reap as much rewards as possible by exerting extra effort to increase all possible forms of worship. This includes increasing our voluntary prayers by praying the Sunnahs of each prayer, Duha prayers, attending the Taraweeh prayers after Isha' as well as Tahjjud prayers before Fajr.
2. Read Daily Quran and Seek Knowledge
Ramadan is the month when the Quran was revealed to mankind as a guidance. Reading and reflecting on the verses of the Quran is a virtue that has endless reward in store for you. Seeking knowledge is an easy path towards Jannah, and there's no knowledge better than knowing who Allah is by understanding His Words and Message to us. So strive in reading tafseer and getting a stronger connection with the Quran. For every letter we read from the Quran, we gain 10 rewards, so imagine being able to complete the whole Quran once, twice or even more in Ramadan. That's a bucket full of gold!
3. Increase in Dua & Dhikr
Allah calls upon us that we invoke Him constantly and turn to Him in repentance through making Dua. Never belittle the power of Dua especially in the blessed month of Ramadan. Don't forget to also keep your tongue moist with the remembrance of Allah and send much peace and blessings upon His Messenger. Busy your self with Istighfar (seeking forgiveness) to purify your soul. Dhikr is a great virtues which reaps great reward in normal days, imagine the reward you'll be receiving in Ramadan with each word of remembrance you utter from your heart. In these blessed days, make every minute count and don't let it pass without making Dhikr.
4. Give Charity
Giving charity by night and day, openly and secretly is an act beloved to Allah. Not only will your wealth never decrease by giving charity, but you will always see it increase in multi-fold when you least expect it. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever relieves the hardship of a believer in this world, Allah will relieve his hardship on the Day of Resurrection. Whoever helps ease one in difficulty, Allah will make it easy for him in this world and in the Hereafter.... (Muslim 2699)
5. Be Extra Kind and Righteous to Parents
If there's anything that brings so much blessings in your life, it'll be righteousness towards your parents. The reward is so vast when we show respect and love towards our parents on regular days. Imagine the reward of doing it in a month of great blessings. Strive hard to put a smile on your parents faces, help them even when they don't ask for it, compliment them and always show them gratitude for their constant love, care and sacrifices they make for you. Most importantly, never forget to include them in your du'as and in every single one of your prayers.
"And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say, "My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small." (17:24)
6. Break the Fast of others and Feeding the Poor
Fasting during the month of Ramadan does not only teach us discipline and self-restraint, but it also builds our sentiments of sympathy and compassion towards those who are less fortunate than us. Feeding the poor is a means of attaining contentment of the heart by being the reason for someone else's happiness.
The virtue of feeding those who are fasting is also an excellent means of reaping so much reward.
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever gives iftaar to one who is fasting will have a reward like his, without that detracting from the reward of the fasting person in the slightest.” (Al-Tirmidh 807)
Ramadan Don't 🚫
1. Argue and Backbite
The tongue can be extremely dangerous if it is not used wisely. Try holding your tongue as much as possible, especially during Ramadan so that we may receive the full reward of our fasting. If you get angry say 'I Am Fasting' and immediately leave the area so that you have a less of a chance of arguing back. Whenever people around are backbiting or gossiping, remind them that we are in Ramadan and such action can affect the reward of our fasting.
2. Sleep for Long Hours
Ramadan was not meant for sleeping all day and worshiping all night. Learn how to manage your time and make a balance around your times of worship and sleeping hours. Every minute is precious so we need to make some sacrifices and decrease our long sleeping hours during the day so that we may benefit from the blessings bestowed upon us during Ramadan
3. Not Lowering Your Gaze & Watching & Listening to Useless Contents.
Looking at things which are forbidden is an avenue towards a diseased heart. We need to enter Ramadan with a pure heart and observe it by maintaining its purity. Watching useless TV and listening to music during Ramadan has become so common in our day and age that sadly, it just goes to show just how ignorant people are regarding the whole purpose of this blessed month. Ramadan is a month full of forgiveness and change and we can't expect to receive this blessing if we decide to continue holding on to our bad habits and not make an effort to change ourselves.
If you do wish to watch TV during Ramadan, watch programs that will increase your spirituality and help you become a more productive Muslim.
4. Marital Relations
A husband and his wife should not have any sexual relationships during the daytime of Ramadan while they are fasting. Beware of such temptations as this becomes a grave sin in which the expiation (kafaarah) must be offered of fasting for two consecutive months and if unable to do so, he/she must feed sixty poor persons.
May Allah grant us all the opportunity to witness this year's Ramadhani 1445/2024
