Ramadan Ready! Tips to prepare our ‘PIES’ for Ramadan.

Alhamdulillah, Ramadan is dawning upon us once again. In just a few days, Muslims around the world can look forward to a month of 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬.

This year, Muslims in Singapore welcome Ramadan with much gratitude as we look forward to the easing of our safety measures.

Insya Allah, we will see our mosques bustling once again with prayers and charity activities, a scene that is very much missed since we were hit by the pandemic more than three years ago. Indeed, Allah SWT says in Surah Al-Allah (swt) says in Surah Alam Nash Rah verse 5 and 6.

فَإِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا (5) إِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا (6) (5) For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease. (6) Indeed, with hardship [will be] ease.

In this surah, Allah SWT promised that when there is a difficulty, a relief will come with it and indeed, His words are nothing but only the truth! Masya Allah.

With a humble heart and joy, let’s welcome Ramadan with a ‘Ramadan Ready’ mindset by preparing our P(hysical), I(ntellectual), E(motional) and S(piritual) well-being.

1. Preparing Physically

Ramadan brings about some changes to our daily routine. Thus, it is advisable that we prepare our body in advance so as to cope with the sudden shifts. Some examples include:

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• 𝐒𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐞 in your drinks. It helps to reduce lethargy during the first few days of Ramadan.

• 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐮𝐩 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐬 before Ramadan. If you are not able to complete them, do remember to pay fidyah and complete your owed fast this year.

• Develop 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐲 𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐬. Incorporate more fruits and vegetables to your diet and cut down on snacks as you get close to Ramadan.

• Adjust your 𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐬 by turning in after Isyak and waking up for Fajr daily before Ramadan. It helps to train your body to wake up for Tahajud and sahur.

2. Preparing Mentally

The first step to preparing our mind is to set our intentions or niat right. Citing a hadith, "Actions are (judged) by intentions (niat), so each man will receive what he has intended for.” [Bukhari & Muslim].

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As such,

• Make the 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 to have a 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐧 experience.

• Do 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐝 in backbiting, slandering, gossip or 𝐧𝐨𝐧-𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 that may rob you of earning good deeds.

• Make an effort to 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐬 (𝐚𝐤𝐡𝐥𝐚𝐤) and follow through this good habits even after Ramadan.

• List and 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧 all that must be done before and during Ramadan to prevent stress and fatigue which may take you away from performing your worship and your other obligations well.
  

3. Preparing Intellectually

It is never too late to increase our knowledge and appreciation for Islam and its teachings. In fact, those who continue to seek knowledge are the ones that Allah SWT loves.

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• Take 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐬 from reliable sources or seek clarifications from our asatizahs.

• 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 organised by mosques or socio-inter-religious organisations to find out more about the month and significant events that happens in this blessed month.

• Follow your mosque’s social media platforms for 𝐭𝐚𝐳𝐤𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐡 𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 and take the opportunity to 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭, 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞 for a better and informed you.
  

4. Preparing Spiritually

As a practising Muslim, we must consciously take the effort to be close to Allah SWT. Indeed, the remembrance of Allah enriches and gives light to our souls.

“Verily in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest” Quran 13:28.

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Aim to 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 such as :

• Praying your obligatory 𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐡𝐮 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞.

• Performing the 𝐬𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐚𝐡 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬 such as 𝐃𝐡𝐮𝐡𝐚, 𝐓𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐣𝐮𝐝, 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐫 and 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐰𝐢𝐡 either at home or in the mosques diligently.

• Learning about the 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐧.

• Setting a goal to internalise and understand your 𝐐𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 and 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐡𝐢𝐤𝐫 daily.

• Carrying out 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤, either by volunteering yourself or through donations to help your community in need.

Preparing our PIES for Ramadan may benefit not only us during the blessed month. The practices that we carry out in Ramadan may just be a habit that will take us through the rest of the year. Let us aim to thrive and attain a higher state of mind. May Allah bless us in this remaining days of Syaa'ban and allow us to meet Ramadan, and Allah knows best.

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