Best Practices in the Month of Ramadan

Ramadan is the blessed month of fasting. But fasting isn’t simply about abstinence and sacrifice. When we fast, we are also meant to examine our spiritual, emotional, and physical states, and work towards bettering ourselves. We do this so we can increase our Taqwa – devotion to God. It’s important to understand that Allah (SWT) has designed this month to change our hearts, not to change our schedules.

To remind ourselves of this beautiful message, we visited our most popular blog – “Best Practices in the Month of Ramadan” , and have decided to share these great ideas this year too.

We’ll keep these blogs short and simple – maybe just two good practices at a time, leading up to Ramadan.

As we’ve said, Ramadan changes our schedules, but can also change our lives. It’s an ideal time to remove bad habits and introduce better ones. And we all try harder this month. We make an extra effort to be regular and timeous with our prayers; we try to stop smoking; we limit idle time while engaging in more productive and spiritual activities. These efforts go hand-in-hand with the 30 days of fasting to cleanse and better ourselves.

To help us get there, here are two spiritual practices to increase the time this Ramadan.

Increasing Quranic Recitation

Since Ramadan is the month in which the Holy Quran was revealed, it is an ideal time to increase our recitations and spend time engaging and learning about it. The Quran is a guide for all mankind until the end of time. It is a manua

l on how to lead an ideal life as a Muslim.

‘The best among you [Muslims] are those who learn the Qur’an and teach it.’ (Bukhari)

Some of us may find it daunting to complete the Quran in Ramadan, so it’s best to set realistic expectations. Try reading a few pages after every Salaah or before going to bed at night. Reading the extra Quran will help you feel love for Allah’s (SWT) word.

Praying Tahajjud and Taraweeh

Waking up for Tahajjud is a challenge for most of us, but in Ramadan, we do rise early to make Suhoor. So why not wake up just ten minutes earlier, and before breakfast, make wudhu, and pray this highly beneficial Salaah?

‘Whoever prayed at night in it (the month of Ramadan) out of sincere Faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.’ (Bukhari).

Taraweeh is also considered a night prayer. It is one of the most auspicious and anticipated events of Ramadan and is unique to this month. If you can pray this extra Salaah in the congregation, even better, but even if you pray this at home, there are many rewards. By doing so, you’ll be following one of the most meritorious Sunnahs of our Prophet (PBUH). Taraweeh is Sunnah Mustahab – highly recommended.
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