Islamic Teachings Regarding the Preparation for Ramadan
To make this blessed month the best it can be, we all must especially consider a few points mentioned below:
The Resolve to Attain Piety
Allah Almighty has declared the purpose behind the obligation of fasting to be the attainment of piety, as mentioned in verse number of Surah Al-Baqarah.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ ١٨٣
O you who believe, the fasts have been enjoined upon you as they were enjoined upon those before you, so that you may be God-fearing. (2:183)
It is expected that the quality of piety (taqwa) has developed within you. The main purpose of fasting this month is to firmly resolve to adopt piety, and from now on, sincerely repent and seek forgiveness for all your sins. And make a promise that you will spend this entire month, especially, and thereafter, whatever life remains, in general, avoiding sins. This is the path to attaining piety.
Inculcate the sense of greatness and blessings of Ramadan in your heart
Since the month of Ramadan is immensely dignified, majestic, and blessed, one should instill the realization of its greatness, status, blessings, and value in one’s heart and mind, so that when this month arrives, there remains no negligence, laziness, or indifference in us. It should not happen that this precious wealth slips through our hands and we are left regretting afterwards. Regarding Ramadan, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: This is a blessed month. What does blessing mean? It means that Ramadan contains blessings and mercies that make daily tasks, and even many additional tasks, much easier to accomplish. Allah Almighty has made this month a source of His special mercy and blessings. Generally, performing five daily prayers also feels like a difficult matter. However, in Ramadan, performing additional Tarawih prayers becomes effortless. On ordinary days, completing one, two pages, or a quarter juz of Quranic recitation daily is challenging, while in Ramadan, completing one to three entire Qurans becomes easy. Eating at the pre-dawn meal (Suhoor) seems an unfathomable concept on regular days, but in Ramadan, it naturally becomes organized. The relationship between the servant and the Lord, which was weak, gets refreshed and joyous upon the arrival of Ramadan. The believing servant experiences a strange exhilaration of doing and achieving. What is all this? This is the blessing about which the Noble Prophet (ﷺ) has given good news in this blessed hadith.
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: ” أتاكم رمضان شهر مبارك فرض الله عليكم صيامه تفتح فيه أبواب السماء وتغلق فيه أبواب الجحيم وتغل فيه مردة الشياطين لله فيه ليلة خير من ألف شهر من حرم خيرها فقد حرم ” . رواه أحمد والنسائي
Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “Ramadan, a blessed month, has come to you during which God has made it obligatory for you to fast. In it the gates of heaven are opened, the gates of al-Jahim are locked, and the rebellious devils are chained. In it God has a night which is better than a thousand months. He who is deprived of its good has indeed suffered deprivation.” (Mishkat al-Masabih)
The blessings of Ramadan can only be fully utilized when we meticulously plan our time, align our eating and drinking habits with the designated times for Suhoor and Iftar. Alongside preserving the obligatory prayers, make arrangements for the supererogatory prayers, especially the Taraweeh prayers, and the prayers of Ishraq and Chasht. Special attention should also be given to performing the Jumu’ah prayers during Ramadan. Always carry a copy of the Holy Quran with you and recite whenever you find the opportunity. How beautiful will the sight be when everywhere, people are seen engaged in reciting the Quran? What better use could there be for these blessed moments?
Striving for the attainment of lawful sustenance
Efforts should be made to earn a lawful livelihood in such a way that not even a single penny of illegitimate earnings is included in our income. Remember, if this is not the case, meaning if one endures the hardship of hunger and thirst by fasting all day and then breaks their fast with ill-gotten wealth at night, then according to the light of the blessed Hadiths, have they not completely wasted the reward of their fast? It is narrated from Sayyidina Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ لَمْ يَدَعْ قَوْلَ الزُّورِ وَالْعَمَلَ بِهِ فَلَيْسَ لِلَّهِ حَاجَةٌ فِي أَنْ يَدَعَ طَعَامَهُ وَشَرَابه» . رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ
Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “If one does not abandon falsehood and action in accordance with it, God had no need that he should abandon his food and his drink.” (Mishkat al-Masabih)
Therefore, especially in this one month, and generally throughout the entire year, it is essential to devise a plan to avoid prohibited (Haram) earnings. Hence, those whose source of income is entirely Haram, such as those employed in usurious institutions (banks, insurance, etc.), should seek an alternative lawful (Halal) means of livelihood, or at least for this one month, borrow some money to fulfill the necessities of Ramadan and make a firm resolution for the future to surely adopt a lawful means of earning.
Making arrangements to learn the Holy Quran with Tajweed
Ramadan Al-Mubarak and the Holy Quran: There is a great connection between the two. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) would significantly increase his recitation of the Holy Quran especially during this blessed month. Let us also intend to do the same, and if one does not know how to read the Holy Quran or lacks the ability to recite it properly with Tajweed, then arrangements should be made from now to learn and recite the Quran with Tajweed. For this purpose, select a good Qari or Hafiz and arrange to learn from them on a daily basis starting now.
Making arrangements to remove superstitions from homes
Remove from homes all things associated with superstitions such as TV, dish, cable, etc., as these devices are instruments of sin. All these items are robbers of faith and deeds. Expel all of them from your home. Take this step with the resolve to maintain it forever, or at least, ensure they are turned off for this one month. Do not waste time watching Ramadan broadcasts and other programs on TV channels. It is a plot of falsehood to distract us from the pure and luminous environment of the mosque and madrasa, and to engage us with these satanic devices of disobedience, obscenity, nudity, and frivolity. We should understand this conspiracy of falsehood with full awareness and protect ourselves from it. Along with this, use mobile phones and the like only as much as necessary, and spend your precious time reciting the Holy Quran, performing Nawafil (voluntary prayers), Tasbihat (glorifications of Allah), and choosing to read important religious books based on the advice of esteemed scholars.
Essential purchases should already be completed
Complete all necessary shopping for the entire month of Ramadan and for Eid, etc., before the arrival of this blessed month, so that the auspicious moments of Ramadan are not spent in the misfortunes of the marketplace.
Businessmen should avoid hoarding
It is commonly observed that businessmen start stocking up on items that sell more during Ramadan before the commencement of the blessed month, so that they can sell them at higher prices during Ramadan. Remember, these practices are not permissible for several reasons, hence, protect yourself from hoarding any goods. In these current circumstances of financial constraints, do not exploit the necessities of your Muslim brothers and benefit from their compulsions. Sell items at the regular rate for their well-being and convenience, and do not increase the prices of goods just because of Ramadan.
Complete your household budget
Before the arrival of Ramadan, organize your household budget, write down all expenses, and then reduce them as much as possible. After that, help your dear ones, relatives, and the underprivileged Muslim brothers living in your neighborhood.
Finish household chores before Ramadan
Women should ensure that all household chores, including cleaning and tidying up, as well as the advance preparation of items needed for Suhoor and Iftar, which can possibly be completed before the blessed month of Ramadan, are settled from now. This is so that women can also have moments of opportunity for worship during Suhoor, Iftar, and other times in Ramadan to the fullest extent.
From now on, the determination and arrangement to complete the first Takbir’s Chilla
A great virtue that we often hear in the circles of education by the Tablighi Jamaat in mosques is that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stated:
The person who prays for forty days with sincerity in such a manner that they do not miss the first Takbir, then they are granted two certificates: one of being free from hypocrisy, and the other of salvation from Hell.” Narrated by Anas (رضي الله عنه): The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: ” مَنْ صَلَّى لِلَّهِ أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْمًا فِي جَمَاعَةٍ يُدْرِكُ التَّكْبِيرَةَ الْأُولَى كُتِبَ لَهُ بَرَاءَتَانِ: بَرَاءَةٌ مِنَ النَّارِ وَبَرَاءَةٌ مِنَ النِّفَاق “. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ
Anas reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone prays to God for forty days in congregation being present in time for the first takbira, two immunities will be recorded for him, one from hell and one from hypocrisy,”
Tirmidhi transmitted it. (Mishkat al-Masabih)
Refrain from sins that deprive [one] of forgiveness
One very important task is to distance oneself from those sins which, even in this magnificent month of mercy, blessings, and forgiveness, do not receive forgiveness. And those are four sins:
1. Disobedience to parents
2. Severing ties of kinship
3. Harboring malice and hatred in hearts
4. Drinking alcohol
Now from this moment, introspect deeply to see if any of these diseases exist within you. If so, for the sake of God, rid yourself of it.
Arrangements for sighting the Ramadan moon
The sighting of the moon shall be arranged after sunset on the 29th of Sha’ban (11th March, Monday); because sighting the moon or keeping track of the dates is considered a collective obligation (Fard Kifayah), and the Holy Prophet (ﷺ) himself used to especially arrange for the sighting of the Sha’ban moon and remember its dates due to the preparations for Ramadan Al-Mubarak.
