Ramadan is a month of self-control and self-training, with the intention that this training will continue after Ramadan is over. Many Muslims give up their daily routines in search of Allah’s complete forgiveness and the Islam’s promise of eternal happiness. Muslims are typically aware that Ramadan is their one and only opportunity in a year to be absolved by Allah and given another chance to change for the better. Many Muslims quietly strive to rid their spirits of troubles and impurities throughout this holy month while turning their distraught faces towards salvation and protection.
Muslims treat their hearts’ ailments during the holy month of Ramadan by giving them the best treatment available: the Holy Quran. May Allah be pleased with Hudhayfa ibn al-Yamani, he said: “The Prophet of Allah (SAW) had said: ‘Temptations are presented to the heart one by one. Any heart that accepts them will be left with a black stain, yet there are two kinds of hearts, and the one that rejects them will bear a mark of purity, a dark heart that has turned away and transformed into a vessel that has overturned, for as long as the earth and the skies are in existence, and a pure heart that will not be corrupted by temptation.” a sincere heart, the strong and visible light of faith that is present in the heart of every sincere believer is there. Pure hearts like this resist temptation when it is offered to them, and as a result, their light and illumination only grow. Many Muslims seek to develop this kind of heart during Ramadan and Allah will permit them to reach al-Jannah.
Muslims often transition from unaware states to fully alert and conscious ones during Ramadan. By extending their prayers and staying up later than usual to beg Allah’s pardon, they start to implant fear in their hearts (SAW). ” They can be seen stumbling around in the pitch black of the night.,” One of the companions of the Prophet (SAW), Ibn al-Mubarak, said. When others who feel secure in this life peacefully sleep on, those who are afraid of Allah (SWT) stay awake.
It is true that during Ramadan, many Muslims abstain from haraam activities like internet chatting and watching television, but these activities are nevertheless a part of their daily lives. Instead, they concentrate on what critical tasks they need to complete, such as keeping fasts, offering Allah five daily prayers, and even making time to read at least one juz of the holy Quraan each day until the conclusion of the month. Sincere prayer is offered to Allah , and in Surah Al-Baqarah, Allah declares: “And when my servants question you about Me, I am really near (to them), I answer the prayers of every supplicant who calls on Me.” The Prophet of Allah (SAW) said: “Supplication is worship itself,” according to An-Nu’man ibn Bashir. Then he quoted the following verse: “And your Lord has stated,” Call on me, and I will answer you. Those who are too proud to worship Me will undoubtedly be humiliated as they enter Hell.
Muslims are more conscientious of their conduct as they go about their daily lives. As an illustration, consider superfluous speech, one of the four heart poisons. A believer would never talk or dare to open their mouth unless it had to do with Allah . On the authority of Anas, it is recorded in Al-Musnad that the Prophet (SAW) said: “A servant’s faith cannot be restored until his heart is restored, and his heart cannot be restored until his tongue is restored.” This demonstrates how the Prophet (SAW) has made it so that the purification of the heart is a requirement for the purification of the heart, and the purification of the tongue is a requirement for the purification of the heart. The Prophet of Allah (SAW) also reportedly remarked, “The servant utter things, the repercussions of which he does not realise, and for which he is cast down into the depths of Fire deeper than the distance between the east and the west,” according to Abu Huraira. What is our best chance of living, O Messenger of Allah (SAW), I asked, according to Uqba ibn Umar. He responded, “Watch your speech, make your home adequate for protecting your private, and sorrow for your wrong deeds,” may Allah (SWT) bless him and grant him peace. “Do not talk excessively without remembering Allah for such excessive discussion leads the heart to harden, and the one who is farthest from Allah (SWT) is the one with a hard heart,” says At-Tirmidhi in a hadith on the authority of Ibn Umar. Consequently, a Muslim should feel regret for his prior misdeeds instead of concentrating on inconsequential matters, and concentrate on what to say before he speaks it while considering the potential ramifications.
Eating excessive amounts of food is one of the four poisons of the heart. Muslim families eat a lot during suhour to keep their bellies full until sundown, when they break their fast. Little portions of food ensure that a person’s heart is soft, their mind is sharp, they are humble, their cravings are weak, and they have a mild disposition. Overeating has the reverse effect of these admirable traits. No receptacle that the son of Adam (AS) fills is more offensive to Allah than his stomach, according to Al-Miqdam ibn Ma’d Yakrib. He should be able to maintain his strength with just a few bites. If he must fill it, he should leave room for a third each for meals, a third for liquids, and a third for breathing comfortably. There are numerous negative effects of binge eating. Those calamities are severe enough on their own because they cause the body to lean towards disobedience to Allah and they make worship and obedience seem difficult. Overeating and having a full stomach have hindered a lot of worship and caused many bad deeds. Anyone who works to avoid or protect themselves from the negative effects of overeating—in this case, Muslim families—has stopped a huge deal of bad from happening. It has often been said: “Restrict the routes of Shaytaan by fasting.” This is because it is simpler for shaytaan to dominate someone who has filled their stomach with food and liquids. Muslims abstain from this poison during Ramadan by simply eating what is necessary to maintain their health because overeating leads to excessive drinking and sleeping, which results in excessive weight loss.
Keeping bad company is the third of the four heart poisons that many Muslim families attempt to avoid. Unwanted company is a chronic illness that harms a lot of people. How many times has the incorrect kind of company and mixing robbed people of Allah’s (SWT) generosity, sowing division in their hearts that even time, even if it were long enough for mountains to be worn away, has not been able to remove. By surrounding oneself with such people, one can discover the causes of loss, both in this life and the one next. Companionship should be advantageous to a servant. He needs to categorise people into four groups in order to achieve this, but he must take care to avoid mixing any of the groups up because doing so could allow evil to infiltrate him. The first group consists of persons whose companionship is like food in that it is necessary day or night. They are the people who wish well for Allah His Prophet (SAW), and His followers and are aware of Allah’s (SWT) instructions, the plots of His enemies, and the ailments of the heart and their cures. Becoming friends with this kind of person is a success in and of itself. The second group consists of those whose company is comparable to medicine. They are only necessary once a disease has begun. The third category consists of folks who are dangerous to be around. Being around people of this type has all the variations, levels, strengths, and weaknesses of an illness. Muslims abstain from communicating with individuals they fear could harm them or stand in the way of their efforts to purify their souls throughout the holy month.
Unrestrained glances are the last of the four heart poisons. Muslims make every effort to drop their sight and avoid staring at objects that draw their attention during the holy month of Ramadan. They are aware that an unfettered glance leads to attraction to what is seen and the imprinting of an image of what is seen in the heart. The servant’s heart may become corrupt in a variety of ways as a result. Some of them are listed below: According to a rumour, the Prophet (SAW) allegedly said, “The gaze is a poisoned arrow of Shaytaan. Whoever lowers their attention in the direction of Allah He will give them a pleasant, reviving sweetness that they will discover in their hearts the day they meet Him. Another perversion is that the shaytaan enters by the gaze because he moves with it more quickly than the wind through an empty space. He distorts what is visible to make it appear more lovely than it actually is and turns it into an object of adoration for the heart. Then, after making false promises of rewards, he sets fire to its cravings and feeds them with the fuel of forbidden deeds that the servant would not have undertaken if not for this distorted image. A Muslim’s heart is distracted by this, and it loses sight of its more pressing issues.
Young boys and men go to masjids for their daily prayers throughout Ramadan, trying to maintain their modesty by lowering their gaze and avoiding interactions with women. Women also protect their modesty by lowering their eyes, avoiding interactions with people of the opposite gender, and abstaining from raising their voices and engaging in backbiting and gossip. These Muslims work hard to purify their spirits of impurities and demonstrate to Allah (SWT) that they are genuinely deserving of His love and mercy. The month of Ramadan is the one period of the year, though, when the genuine beauty of Islam is manifest. There will never be a time when the kuffar may genuinely perceive and feel the mercy that Allah (SWT) has shown to humanity. There is never a period of the year when Muslim families recite aloud from the holy Quraan’s wonderful words. There is seldom a time during the year when Muslim families truly take time away from their useless and hectic activities to spend time together and actually listen to one another. Except for the month of Ramadan, there is never a time when Muslims really repent of their actions and seek forgiveness from Allah (SWT). Unfortunately, it is a cruel twist of fate to discover that during the month in which EVERY LITTLE DEED COUNTS, Allah would allow even the most disobedient of believers to become pious and humble, serving as a visible reminder to everyone of the fact that Allah (SWT) leads whomever He Wills.
Strengthening Bonds
Ramadan is a time to increase spiritual awareness, but it may also be a period when familial ties are strengthened. A family can become stronger by spending time together while worshipping and reading the holy Quraan. While there is never a bad time to spend time with your family, you have four blocks of time to utilize throughout Ramadan.
Suhour ( Sahūr, Suhūr, or Suhoor also called Sahari, Sahrī)
During this moment, many blessings are present. Eat suhour because there are blessings in it, said the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. [Reported in Muslim and al-Bukhari]
We all are aware that sharing activities and experiences with others nurtures a unique affinity. What could be more special and useful than participating in religious rituals with your loved ones? Make an effort to worship more during this Ramadan by rising early with your family. You are aware that a family that rises together, stays together.
Iftaar
Iftaar is enjoyed by all. It’s time to break our fast, slake our thirst, and feed our bodies. “Every action of the son of Adam is given multiple rewards, with each good deed receiving ten times its kind, up to seven hundred times,” the Prophet, (PBUH), remarked. Except for fasting, which is done for Me and in exchange for which I will reward him, Allah the Most High said, “He abstains from his wants and his meals for Me.” A person who is fasting has two happy moments: when he breaks his fast and when he sees his Lord. According to Allah, the smell emanating from a fasting person’s mouth is preferable to the scent of musk. [According to al-Bukhari]
Nevertheless, most mothers must spend the entire afternoon in the kitchen preparing and cooking before they can enjoy this pleasant moment. Have the family pitch in during this time to give mothers the break they need.
It is simpler for everyone when everyone pitches in and spends time in the kitchen. Also, as the saying goes, a family that dines together, stays together.
If you have done cooking an hour prior to iftaar, gather the family, read from the holy Quraan, and then wait for iftaar as a group. You get to spend more time together while making it more enjoyable and relaxing for everyone.
Taraweeh
A portion of the Taraweeh should be said by you and your family throughout Ramadan as it is a particular prayer. A family that prays as a unit remains as a unit. The statement is almost there, but this version works much better.
If you have older adolescent children, you could have them take turns leading one Taraweeh prayer as a means to pray together. Children are given responsibility and enjoy the prospect of becoming the family’s next imam as a result.
Likewise, alternate putting one youngster in control and letting them choose their own topic for their discussion during the Khutba that is delivered in between the taraweeh. Every day throughout Ramadan.
After that, you can alternately read from the holy Quraan and interpret the ayahs. To make the Prophet Muhammad, (PBUH), more likeable to your family, you could even have everyone take turns reading his biography. Read any Islamic literature, in fact. Simply schedule time for reading and learning together.
Prayers & The Holy Quraan
Parents should encourage their children to pray more and read more the holy Quraan during Ramadan in an effort to strengthen their spiritual ties to Allah. It is best to encourage them to set their own daily goals for prayer and Quraan reading, just like they should with other goals.
Ramadan can be the time to inspire individual challenges to finish prayers on time for kids who don’t pray often or have trouble doing so on time. Spend a brief period of time reading the Quraan aloud to kids who may not routinely read it so they can form an emotional connection to the text and its message. You can do this in Arabic or English. Children should be assisted in understanding the message Allah has given us in the Quraan, and reading the Quraan should be more than merely a ritual for them. Taraweeh prayers at the mosque should be promoted for kids older than 10. They will feel more a part of the neighbourhood after praying in the mosque. Let the kids choose their own taraweeh duration once more, and don’t make them stay any longer than they feel comfortable.
Foster Generosity
Parents must give their kids opportunities to learn generosity, including methods to share with siblings and friends and to give extra during Ramadan. The majority of American communities have food banks for the poor, which are constantly in need of donations and assistance with packing food for the hungry. Families can prepare lunches at home and deliver them to the local homeless population or a shelter. Encourage your family to participate in a local meal programme for the homeless. One illustration is the Ilm Foundation’s nationwide initiative Humanitarian Day. According to reports, young adults who collect canned goods and personally deliver them to beneficiaries develop a stronger sense of connectedness to the idea of giving and improving the lives of others.
Children who assist other kids learn empathy for their peers and become more conscious of the predicament of less fortunate families both locally and globally. Families should also take part in Eid toy drives that encourage kids to donate new and used toys to the less fortunate in order to help youngsters learn to appreciate the toys they get on Eid.
Aitakaf
Make a smaller version at home if your family is unable to spend the final 10 days of Ramadan in aitakaf at the mosque.
Nurturing Relationships
Parents must provide an environment where children can reflect and ponder in order to develop an intrinsic potential for a strong spiritual connection to Allah.
Children should use Ramadan as an opportunity to reflect on themselves. Most children of any age can start by asking “Why do we fast?” Assist your kids in realizing that fasting is more than just going without food and liquids. Spiritual purification results through reflection on our deeds, life, and creativity.
Children who are old enough for fasting, even for a portion of the day, may also associate hunger pains with those who are less fortunate globally. Children should be taught that fasting is a personal act of worship that is done voluntarily for Allah rather than as a punishment.
It’s possible for older kids to consider what it means to forgive and be forgiven. They can start thinking about their relationship with Allah and His Mercy as they approach adolescence. Children will be more focused and understand the meaning of the acts of worship undertaken during Ramadan if given the chance to reflect on Allah and the space to grow a personal relationship with Him.
Final Thoughts
The month of Ramadan is not only a time for prayer and fasting, but it also provides a platform for character development, allowing Muslims to reach new heights of spirituality and moral excellence. Ramadan provides us a comprehensive self-training for being practical as Islam has a complete code of life and a practical religion that promises success in life of both worlds i.e. worldly and Heavenly.
