Preparing for Ramadan

Thursday Halaqa Notes

5/29/14

Sh. Fatenah Tailakh

MCA Santa Clara, CA

How to Receive Ramadan

Similar to planning for a trip, we need to plan for Ramadan. Ramadan is like a station: when you pass through it, it will help guide you through the next 11 months. But in order for it to do that, you need to prepare for it. These are the steps to be prepared and get the most benefit of this blessed month.

* Niyyeh Khaalisah. Make your intentions. Decide what you want to do in Ramadan and make an intention to do them in your heart and mind. When you intend to do something, it mentally becomes a priority for you. And even if you die before Ramadan or in Ramadan, you will get the reward for everything you intended to do in Ramadan. You can say, this Ramadan, I want to read the entire Qur'an, I will forgive this sister, I will give food to fasting people, I will pray taraweeh, etc.

* Tawba Saaliha. Sincere repentance in order to clear your heart and bring sweetness and concentration back to your prayers. Even if we are not doing any major sins, we often don't realize all the minor sins we are doing, which over time can accumulate. We think they are so small, but even a drop of water over time, will fill a barrel. So if you are praying and you are not able to concentrate, think deeply and find those small sins and think of ways to prevent them from happening again.

* Ma'rafit sharaf al Zaman. Realizing that your time in Ramadan is very important. Making a schedule for your day, with certain times for Qur'an, prayers, cooking, cleaning, kids, phone calls. You don't want to be just going through the days without getting anything done.

* Taqleel al Ta'aam. Eating less. If you overeat in Suhoor and Iftar, you will not be able to move. Your brain will close and you will become lazy, which will make it hard for you to the things you had intended to do.

* Ta'allum ahkaam Fiqh al Siyam. Reading about the Fiqh of Fasting. Learning or reviewing the rules of fasting, what can and can't be done, what you are supposed to do and say, etc.

* Ta'weed al Nafs. Getting yourself used to 3 things: Fasting, Qiyam prayer, and reading Qur'an. When you slowly start getting used to doing these, then when Ramadan starts it won't be so difficult. For example, you could start fasting Mondays and Thursdays. You could pray 2 rakah qiyam after Isha. You could read one page of Qur'an a day, to get yourself into a routine. 

* Tanaafus. Make a competition with your friends. It helps to have someone to support you and remind you. One of you could make a schedule of reading Qur'an, qiyam, and then you remind each other and ask each other how much they did. This is not for showing off, but to encourage each other, and you will get the reward for what she does. 

* Salaamit al Sadr. Sleeping with a peaceful heart. Every night before you sleep, you forgive anyone that hurt you - your spouse, children, sisters, brothers, and friends. 

So imagine that this is your last Ramadan and think about everything you can do to prepare for Ramadan and how you can benefit the most from it.