It’s that time of the year again! Ramadan is almost here and it’s important to be prepared for the month. Since Ramadan is only here for one month a year, we must make the most out of it. There are many ways to do so, in a spiritual, mental, and even a physical aspect. Here are some tips for Muslims to follow in order to ensure the best transformation in Ramadan.
HAVE SUHOOR
Although it may seem obvious to some, Suhoor is imperative. Suhoor essentially is where a Muslim wakes up before the Fajr (prayer at dawn) to eat a meal. Not only will Suhoor help you have fuel for the day, but it will also help start a fresh mindset and give you extra motivation at a spiritual level. With the extra time, you can pray extra Sunnah prayers (prayers that are not mandatory but recommended by the Prophet Muhammad), or even do some extra homework that you were not able to do the night before.
FOOD MEALS SUGGESTIONS
Eggs (protein)
Oatmeal (healthy fibers and protein)
Try to incorporate fruit or granola as well!
Chicken based foods (gives a great source of fuel)
Yogurt bowls (high protein and vitamins)
PRAYER
Stay on top of praying all five prayers of the day: Fajr (dawn), Duhr (noon), Asr (third prayer), Mughrib (dusk), and Isha (at night). If you are struggling with keeping up with timings or just need an extra push to pray every one, apps that can help include Muslim Pro, Athan, My Prayer and many others. In addition to the five obligatory prayers, try to pray Tahajjud (voluntary prayer) before Fajr since you are already up for Suhoor. After the Isha prayer, make it a goal to pray Witr which incorporates dua in the prayer on the last Rakat (cycle of prayer).
SET REALISTIC GOALS
One tip that could help you make the most of the month is setting realistic goals that you strive to achieve. Make sure that those goals are manageable and broken down into segments to be able to tackle. For instance, if you want to read the whole Quran (the holy book of Islam), try to set a goal to read a juzz (chapter) a week so by the end of the month you will have successfully have completed all 30 juzz. Your goals do not have to be something like this, however, it can be as simple as trying to make dua after every obligatory prayer or setting aside time for 30 minutes to make dua, reading hadith’s (collection of traditions that the Prophet Muhammad made), or listening to lectures by knowledgable scholars.
CREATE AN EXERCISE ROUTINE
Although you may be reluctant to have one, it will actually be very helpful to ensure that you will be at your best throughout the day. A recommended time to exercise is before Suhoor or 30-45 minutes before Iftar (the time to break your fast).
By setting goals for yourself for the month of Ramadan and trying to really connect with the faith of Islam, you can make this year’s Ramadan amazing!