How to Make the Most out of Ramadan

Three Methods:

Pre Ramadan

During Ramadan

Post-Ramadan

It doesn't matter if :

You can get into Ramadan mode and reap the benefits of this month too!

You're a city slicker with a high

stress job and a long commute ,

stay at home mum with a menagerie of kids to manage.OR

Method 1 of

3: Pre

Ramadan

Shape up your soul1

Prepare yourself spiritually by fasting on Mondays, Thursdays and the 13th, 14th, 15th of the lunar calendar in Shaa'baan.

• Wake up earlier than usual (even half an hour before Fajr will do) and pray.

Read the Qur'an after Fajr even if it's only for 10-15 minutes. • Stock up on interesting Islamic lectures

that you can listen to during the day or on your way to work.

If you're cooking or waiting in a line or have some free time, do Dhikr.

Detox your body2

Stifle the urge to munch snacks at odd moments or when you're bored.

Drink lots of water, and avoid endless cups of coffee and tea.

Start with a complex carbohydrate breakfast that releases energy slowly and allows you to stay energized through the day.

Have a light meal at the end of day with lots of fruit, vegetables, live culture yogurt and salad.

Free your mind3

Get rid of all those erotoxins that are generated by watching music videos or listening to music and the anxiety hormones produced by watching the news on TV. 

Wean yourself off TV, read an interesting Islamic book instead.

Tie your camel4

Shop for groceries in advance, prepare large batches of food and freeze them, chop vegetables and store them in airtight containers.

Do what it takes to keep you organized in Ramadan.

Method 2 of

3: During

Ramadan

Wake up during Fajr to eat the pre-dawn meal

(Sahur) and stay up to read a portion of the Qur'an before and after Fajr.

1

Try and get a little shut-eye in the day. 

Even a half hour nap will leave you feeling refreshed.

2

Be nice

A major aspect of Ramadan is being charitable to others and controlling oneself... bite your tongue, count to 10 if you're having a hard day. If someone's out to give you a bad time, just be patient.

3

Give generously.

It doesn't matter if it's a smile to a co-worker or a hundred pounds to a homeless derelict, it's the season to give money to charity (saadaqa) (not to mention the Prophet's Sunnah).

4

Don't overeat at iftar

• Start with dates and something liquid (water, juice, milk, a soup, a smoothie) and eat sparingly of the spread. Save your main meal for later in the night. If you're cooking iftar, bake and broil instead of frying.

5

Drink up!

• To combat dehydration, drink lots of water between iftar and Sahoor -- try having at least two glasses of water at a go. Keep off fizzy drinks and opt for herbal teas or unsweetened juices.

6

Attend and organise community iftars and taraweeh. 

• Don't forget to invite people who tend to get overlooked. Focus on 'connecting' with others in the community and discovering common ground, instead of 'networking'.

7

Save some quality time with Allah. 

8

It's easy to get overwhelmed by life and forget that this month is essentially about renewing one's personal connection with God.

The Qur'an says (the translation of which means): "When you are free from your affairs, then turn to your Lord."

Wake up in the night and pray as much as is easy for you. Stay in seclusion (i'tikaf) if you can for a part of the month, even if it's only a weekend.

Seek the Night of Power 

• There is a night in Ramadan that is considered better than a 1000 months, by virtue of the blessings that descend in it. Seek the Night of Power in the last ten days of the month.

9

Make arrangements to give Zakaat al-Fitr

on time

• This can be done anytime before the 'Eid prayer.

10

Method 3 of

3 :Post -

Ramadan

Reap the benefits of Ramadan

1

Ramadan presents a great opportunity to regulate our lives.

The best benefit that can be derived from Ramadanis to carry the lessons learned from it -- moderation and discipline -- to the year that follows.

Do an alternative if you are unable to fast2

If you're among the group of people who are exempted from fasting – persons traveling the ill whose illness can be made worse by fasting; menstruating women women with post-partum bleeding pregnant and nursing women people who are not capable of fasting, either due

to old age or incurable diseases -- there's still something to be gained.

Feeding the poor on the days one is unable to fast is a highly recommended act.

Read one chapter of the Quran every day. This way, you'll be able to finish the whole Quran in just a month!

Prefer home cooked food fir iftar as it is more healthier. Do not get into opinion differences. Leave them aside. Try

to race how close we can reach to Allah. Don't let it be all about the food. A lot of the time,culture

dictates that there be a huge spread of 5 -7 courses each day for iftar which leaves little time for worship or reflection.

Invite people over for iftar on weekends.

• To avoid heartburn, line your stomach with a bland, alkaline food before starting on fried, spicy stuff.

• Read translation/tafsir of next day’s para of Qur'an that will be read in tarawih. This helps to better focus and enjoy tarawih.

• Learn how to forgive and forget. Don`t hold the grudge against people who have wronged in the past.

• It is for your own sake. If you keep those bad feelings inside they might will doubtlessly hurt you in the future not only psychologically but physically, too.

• Try to be patient and spend wisely for iftar• Shop for groceries in bulk and prepare food that won't

spoil on keeping in large batches and freeze.

Ramadan comes around just once every year ...who knows if we'll be around next

year to make all our resolutions come true? Seize the day!

Try and make the most of it.

الموضوع رابطhttp://

www.wikihow.com/Make-the-Most-out-of-Ramadhan

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