[Preparing for Ramadan (Part 1)]

[Final Ramadan preparations (Part 3)]

  

No preparation is too small - Photo:Trynes

Given our busy schedules between school, work, family, and all other activities, it seems hard to think of fitting in ‘Preparing for Ramadan’ time.

So instead of making ‘Preparing for Ramadan’ something separate from your daily activities, MAKE your daily activities a means of preparation for Ramadan.

I will first look into some spiritual preparations for Ramadan, and in my next article, I will touch on physical preparations.

Spiritual preparations:

• We often aim to complete recitation of the entire Quran during the month, but we sometimes don’t make a habit of reading it or understanding it the rest of the year.

• Don’t get me wrong, there are definitely benefits to reading Quran in Ramadan, but this attitude towards the Quran is not congruent with the aim of Ramadan. The purpose of Ramadan is for us to acquire habits that we can maintain throughout the year.

• Furthermore we may recite the Quran but understand very little of it and because of this we cannot fully appreciate what the Quran really has to offer to us.

“And indeed We have made the Qur’an easy for you to understand and remember: Is there any that will receive admonition?” (Quran 54:17)

• Rather than rushing through many chapters, try to take time out to read the translation of what you have recited, and ponder over the meanings for a while.

• One of the aspects of Ramadan that can be easily forgotten is the aspect of charity. Ramadan is also about reaching out to the poor but it not isolated to just this one month. Ramadan teaches us about looking after the poor so that we may carry on after the month is over.