How to Unlock Ramadan's Potential (Part 1)
Over the next few days leading up to Ramadān, I will share some thoughts on how to enter the month fully prepared.
PREPARE NOW!
A common mistake most people make is to talk about preparing for the month once the month has already started. No! Prepare ahead of time. So, when it begins, you are ready to dive in.
Remember! Every season has its uniqueness that makes planting crops best. Ramadan is the season to plant faith and taqwa and its crop will continue to grow throughout the entire year! In order to harvest that crop, start preparing the soil now! You got this...bimisllah!
Start Your Engines!
Once a person asked a Sheikh, "The month of Ramadan has started, what should I do?" The Sheikh responded, "If you are asking now, you are too late!"
Don't Let The Month Get Cold
Can you imagine folks sitting at a table with really nice food and instead of eating, folks talk about how it was made and what it will taste like when its cooked or worse, argue about how it was prepared!? By the time they get around to eating it, it will be cold! The same applies to Ramadan! Let's talk about preparation now, so when the month comes, we are ready to go!
How Can You Prepare?
Make a list of at least three things you want to accomplish during the month and place them under headings like worship, community service and character development.Take a picture of that list with your phone and review it everyday during the month. Twice is ideal, once in the morning and once in the evening. Under each category put something you want to improve on and something you want to get rid of. Here's an example that I made for myself for this year:
1. Worship:
A) Improve my concentration in prayer and make all tarawihs and completion one reading of the Qur'an on my own.
B) Avoid missing any sunnas during the month and my daily dhikr
2. Community Service
A) Volunteer with a local food pantry
B) Avoid being uninformed about those in need in my city - make sure to attend neighborhood meetings for the rest of the year
3. Character Development
A) Develop a softer heart towards those around me
B) Avoid being arrogant and haughty
Start now! Don't delay! Make a list and SHARE it below. Let's all make dua for each other that this month will be a blessing for us.
May Allah bless us to have a special Ramadan!
Suhaib Webb
Ella Collins Institute
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