Ramadan Prep 2018

It is that time of the year again! In a few weeks, we will be hustling to and fro from the masjid, preparing morning meals, and taking advantage of the internet to connect with different shuyookh’s lectures and ramadan programs. Writing all of this makes me realize how lucky we are to live in the age where access to Islam is so easy.  Within in a few year, we have made quality islamic knowledge much easier to access so that even those without any muslim friends or family close by can, with a click of a button, make the Ramadan experience a little bit more familial.

Just like I have been doing for the past three years, I like to sit down a few weeks before and come to terms with my goals and desires for the blessed month by asking the following questions:

1.  What is it that I want to accomplish during this year’s Ramadan?

2. Where do I see myself spiritually by the end of it?

3. How will I put in my best effort?

I have been an avid “winging it” Ramadan practitioner mostly all of my life.  After a while, fasting and breaking fast just did not seem enough.  Why do Muslims globally love this time of the year if it means starving yourself for most of the day?  Such thought processes took me towards a different direction, by the will of Allah, where I began to crave a spiritual connection with this incredibly spiritual month. With the aforementioned ease of access to knowledge, a few youtube videos from my favorite scholars were enough for me to begin desiring it.

If you look through my previous year’s preparation, they are always different with different focus and direction.  This year has been one of reflection and changing of mindset for me, as I discussed in my recent upload of Every Day Sunnah on YouTube, so I feel my Ramadan Prep addresses that change and responds to that need.

PRE-RAMADAN PREPERATIONS

While writing down goals and making lists of what to read and what to cook has its own benefits, this year I am taking a different approach in wanting to cultivate my heart to be able to take advantage of the spiritual blessings during the month.  Alhumdulillah I have been doing more adhkar the past few months than I have done before but I am still not consistent with them.  I want myself to be thinking of Allah, to have taqwa, more than I already do in as many different formats as possible.  Ramadan is the month of the Quran so engaging with it is my highest priority. I was thrilled when Sumayah of Recite and Reflect released a book on engaging with the Quran on a personal level. I felt that 50 Reflections of the Quran will help me to connect with the mushaf on a deeper level.  While doing daily recitations during the month insha’Allah, I feel that this book would help me to connect the dots that I have previously not been exposed to.

This book is very simply written with an English translation of the Quranic verse on the left side and a short reflection on the right with the focus on personal development, to look critically at one’s self and improving one’s condition.

I do not want to become comfortable with the idea that planning is going to lead me to guaranteed success.  If that was the case, me and you would be flying on our own private jets while reciting the entire Quran that we memorized in a year.  Do you see what I mean? Success is not dependent on our efforts – even though it is supplemented by it – the main force that gives success in this life is Allah. To ask Him for it through everything that we do in life is critical.  So I want to really sit down with the Dua Journal as often as I can to mindfully make dua and count the blessings before the month arrives.

All of this is my effort to cultivate the heart and prepare it to sacrifice and devote it to Allah during the month of Ramadan.

RAMADAN GOALS

1. A Book

I want to learn and grow more as a Muslim. That is my yearly goal and Ramadan is a great launching pad with the spiritual gifts that Allah bestows on the believers during its days and nights. After asking my insta friends for a knowledge-based book recommendation on this post, I received quite a few compelling suggestions.  One sister told me about The Book of Guidance with its accompanying Qalam Institute’s podcast and it won me over.

The book is written with the original Arabic text on the right and the English translation on the left.  It would be ideal if I can actively read the entire text during the month while taking notes and giving priority to the podcast throughout the day.

2. A Surah

In addition to my monthly readings, I want to focus on memorizing a surah of the Quran with a certain level of understanding.  Surah Munafiqoon (no. 63) was my pick for this year and I sincerely pray that Allah opens the doors for its memorization in my heart as well as put in the desire and discipline to continue Quranic memorization in all of us beyond Ramadan. Ameen.

Normally I prefer to listen to a youtube lecture during suhoor (the morning meal), so I felt it would be a perfect time to listen to videos in relation to this surah.  Some of the ones that I am interested in and will probably pursue with the explanation of the surah are with Mufti Menk, Omar Suleiman, and Nouman Ali Khan.

3. The Plan

Finally with my goals in place, it was time to sit down with the my Seeking Jannah planner and write down the the steps I can take every day to achieve the overall monthly goals I have for Ramadan. Some things I took into account while making this action plan were the following two points:

1. Be realistic:  With enough experiences in overplanning and overestimating my abilities, I did not want to write down so much that should I fail (and inevitably I will with such a plan) that I would fall into despair and disappointment. Such a failure only results in more failed days.  I wanted to be realistic with the bare minimum goals and give myself an option of doing more.  The more being the podcast for the Book of Guidance and the detailed tafseer of Surah Munafiqoon.
2. Remember Dua: I want to highlight that my efforts are only worth something with proper intention and sincere dua.

With all of the action plans and goals in mind, I feel that I am on a more secure footing for a beneficial Ramadan ahead.  Of course nothing would be possible without the will of Allah.  So I make dua for me, for you, dear reader, to reach Ramadan and to take benefits from the fruits of Ramadan, to leave it in a state of being closer to Allah, and to find it as our friend on the Day of Judgement. Ameen.