Muhammad Rayyan Taujoo, Student, Jamia Ahmadiyya International Ghana
With a few days left until Ramadan, it is worth looking at our spiritual condition and reflecting critically upon it so that we might successfully pave our way into this blessed month and reap the maximum blessings attached to it.
Before entering the sacred month of Ramadan, one has to be spiritually fit enough to perceive its true light and for this, some preparations are necessary. The question arises: How can we prepare ourselves for Ramadan?
Here are 9 steps to help you through this great endeavour.
1. Make a strong intention
The Holy Prophetsa stated:
إِِنَّمَا الأَعْمَالُ بِالنِّيَّةِ
“The reward of deeds depends upon the intention.” (Sahih Bukhari, Kitab al-imaan, Bab ma ja’a anna al-amaal biniyyati wa al-hisbati wa li kulli imri’in ma nawa, Hadith 54)
Whenever a Muslim wants to pray his obligatory prayers, the act of performing ablution serves as the intention towards the prayer. Similarly, the act of one putting on the ihraam also symbolises abandoning a lavish lifestyle and all worldly pursuits only to be wholly present in front of Allah the Almighty.
This clearly shows that behind every action, our intention before indulging ourselves in any task is very crucial. So make a strong intention about what you are going to do this month.
2. Understand the true essence of fasting in Islam
Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Promised Messiahas states:
“Fasting is not so trivial as man staying hungry and thirsty; rather, it has an essence and effect that can be understood only through experience. It is in the nature of man that the less he eats the more purified his soul becomes and his powers of experiencing visions increase. The intent of God Almighty through this is to decrease one form of nourishment, and increase another.
“One who is fasting should always keep in view that the purpose is not to just remain hungry, but that he should remain engaged in the remembrance of God Almighty, so that he may attain a state of detachment and separation [from the world]. Thus, fasting means that man give up one bread that nourishes the body alone, and gain another that is the source of satisfaction and satiation of the soul.” (Malfuzat [English], Vol. 9, p. 43)
If a Muslim merely observes the outward requirements of the fast, he will simply succeed in making himself hungry and thirsty, nothing more. That is why he should know that the practice of fasting is not only a physical exercise but a spiritual one, the ultimate aim of which is the attainment of God’s pleasure.
3. Regulate your routine for the five daily prayers
Salat is one of the most vital pillars of Islam. If you are not fulfilling that criterion to the best of your abilities, it is time to get punctual with your prayers. Try your best to pray the five daily prayers. If you are already doing your best, perhaps try to make better resolutions. For instance, attend the five compulsory prayers on time and in congregation, as Allah says in the Holy Quran:
إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَٰبًا مَّوْقُوتًا
“Verily Prayer is enjoined on the believers [to be performed] at fixed hours.” (Surah an-Nisa’, Ch.4: V.104)
You could also try to concentrate more and ponder over the meanings of the prayers in Salat.
4. Increase your love for the Holy Quran
One should at least try to complete the Holy Quran once during the month, so be ready! Take the time to read the Arabic text with its translation. Ponder over its meanings and try as much as possible to abide by its instructions. Start gradually, even if it means reading only one or two pages.
Allah says in the Holy Quran:
أَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ لِدُلُوكِ ٱلشَّمۡسِ إِلَىٰ غَسَقِ ٱلَّيۡلِ وَقُرۡءَانَ ٱلۡفَجۡرِ ۖ إِنَّ قُرۡءَانَ ٱلۡفَجۡرِ كَانَ مَشۡهُودٗا
“Observe Prayer at the declining and paling of the sun on to the darkness of the night, and the recitation [of the Qur’an in Prayer] at dawn. Verily, the recitation [of the Quran] at dawn is [specially] acceptable [to God].” (Surah Bani Israil, Ch.17: V.79)
5. Charity
Charity is a much-appreciated act in the sight of Allah the Almighty. Therefore, it is advisable to give out as much charity as possible before Ramadan starts to train ourselves to spend more in the way of Allah the Almighty once this blessed month starts. It was also the practice of our Beloved Prophet Muhammadsa to give out more in charity during Ramadan.
It is also an injunction of the Holy Quran that we should spend out of which Allah the Almighty has provided for us. It is said in the Holy Quran:
وَفِىٓ أَمْوَٰلِهِمْ حَقٌّ لِّلسَّآئِلِ وَٱلْمَحْرُومِ
“And in their wealth was a share for one who asked for help and [for] one who could not.” (Surah adh-Dhariyat, Ch. 51: V.20)
6. Increase our connection with the Khalifa
As Ahmadis, we are immensely blessed to be under the Divine scheme of Khilafat. Therefore, we must strengthen our relationship with the Khalifa, especially before entering into the month of Ramadan. We should write a letter to our beloved Khalifa and humbly request his sincere prayers so that, with Allah’s grace, we can reap the most of Ramadan.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa, in his Friday sermon on 29 May 2020, said that all Ahmadis around the world must develop these sentiments of dedication and do their utmost to act upon the instructions of the Khalifa. There is a strong connection between the Khalifa and his Jamaat, and vice versa.
This connection should thus be strengthened and cherished.
7. Maintain a nutritious diet
The human body may react when faced with sudden changes in eating habits. Some experience digestion issues for the first few days of Ramadan. Therefore, one ought to gradually reduce the intake of food some days before Ramadan, hence, adjusting the body to a new eating schedule.
Food like dates, fresh fruits, milk, yoghurt, eggs and nuts should be included in one’s diet before and during Ramadan. Recommended Ramadan dishes are: Oatmeal topped with fruits and nuts, bread with boiled eggs, fresh fruits, vegetable soups, whole-grain toasts and low-fat milk.
8. Avoid wasting time on social media
Muslims should be very careful while using social media platforms, especially during Ramadan. Social media displays a lot of explicit content by which our spirituality is highly at risk. You can start by ceasing unnecessary scrolling on social media, and instead focus more on istighfar and try your best to seek the forgiveness of Allah the Almighty.
Concerning this, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa said during a sermon:
“Evils of these days include television and the Internet. You can observe this in most homes that the eldest to the youngest are not offering Fajr Salat on time as they were either watching TV or were online on the Internet until late, watching some program and, as a result, they could not wake up on time. In fact, such people do not even realise that they have to get up for Salat in the morning.
“Both the Internet and TV and similar useless things not only cause you to miss your Salat once or twice, but those who fall victim to this behaviour get into this habit of watching programs until late at night or sitting on the Internet. Then it becomes difficult to get up for the prayer in the morning and [such people] may not even wake up [at a reasonable time]. Some people eventually fail to give any importance to Salat.” (Friday Sermon 20 May 2016)
9. Patience and anger issues
The word “Islam” stands for peace. One fundamental teaching of Islam is to spread peace in society and be tolerant of the people in our surroundings. It is mentioned in the Holy Quran:
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱسۡتَعِينُواْ بِٱلصَّبۡرِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ
“O ye who believe! seek help with patience and prayer; surely, Allah is with the steadfast.” (Surah al-Baqarah, Ch.2: V.154)
The Holy Prophetsa similarly said:
“Fasting is a shield (or a shelter). So, the person observing fasting should avoid sexual relations with his wife and should not behave foolishly and impudently, and if somebody fights with him or abuses him, he should tell him twice, ‘I am fasting.”” (Sahih Bukhari, Kitab al-sawm, Bab fadl al-sawm, Hadith 1894)
This Hadith focuses on the necessity of controlling our impulses during Ramadan but we must start working on it beforehand so that it does not become a burden for us to deal with during the month of Ramadan.
During his Friday Sermon on 28 April 2023, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa said:
“The Promised Messiahas always emphasised to his followers that they must show patience and turn to prayer. He said that if anyone is unable to bear the persecution of the oppressors with patience, then they are free to leave him. It is only our patience that has made the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community stand out as unique in the world.”
Huzoor further stated: “Showing patience is the way of the prophets and so this is what the Promised Messiahas has taught us that we should show patience.”
In conclusion, fasting is a spiritual key which can enable us to unlock the doors of heavenly success. However, since Ramadan is only a few days away, we ought to make some spiritual and physical preparations so it may be easier for us to start this new routine. May Allah the Almighty accept all of our sacrifices and shower us with his choicest blessings in all of our endeavours during this blessed month. Amin!