Every Ramadan begins with the best of intentions. As Ramadan approaches, most of us who are trying unsuccessfully to keep to the straight path make the age old resolutions to focus on becoming better Muslims. It’s so much easier to be good in Ramadan. Fasting ensures that we are constantly aware of Allah (swt) and ‘you know who and all his little minions’ are locked up! Come Eid day though, most people feel like wild animals that were caged for too long (see Fordsburg Square on Eid night for an example). We are hungry, not just for food but for mindless entertainment, socializing and our favorite TV shows – basically all the distractions and noise that buries the voice of our soul. Perhaps we cannot hold onto the beauty of Ramadan because we fast, pray taraweeh and do good deeds with our minds and hearts racing forward to the day after Eid (when we can get back to our ‘normal’ routine). We do not live Ramadan – we endure it. The fleeting peace we feel from making our daily routine Allah-focused will disappear as we replace it with the noise of the world – the never-ending chase for material possessions, money, the right image, degrees and pop culture.

So here’s the plan: This year you take an oath, together with all other Ramadan.co.za users to live Ramadan with us! Stop the world and get off for a month, shut out the noise and let your soul do the talking instead of your nafs. Trust me it will be worth it and the world will still be racing along at a breakneck speed. Simply follow our fixed daily program and read the Boot Camp section for additional daily tasks and inspiration. Make the intention to throw yourself 100% into the program and InshaAllah by Eid each one of us will have found a way to be stronger Muslims than we were before Ramadan.

Here are a few words from Sheik Muhammad al-Ghazali on the subject of renewal:

“This is a new dawn; so one is able to rise and build one’s future upon the remains of the near or distant past. Do not hesitate because of the numerous sins committed, for even if they were as large as all the foam of the sea, Allah (swt) will forgive them all, if one sincerely turns to Him (swt).”

Random thought: To believe that something you have done is unforgivable is to deny one of Allah’s (swt) qualities – that of forgiveness. I always like to imagine that evidence of Allah’s forgiveness and greatness lies in the ability to stay away from that which you sought forgiveness for. Suddenly, something that seemed so enticing loses all appeal when you turn to Allah (swt).