Ramdan Daily Reminders

Self-Cleansing
As you are in the last days of Ramadan, make a serious effort to cleanse yourself of vices, particularly anger. Living in fast-paced cities can make us angry and frustrated, but we must remember the hadith of the Prophet (saw) where a man asks him for advice and he replies, “do not get angry.” Anger (while necessary at times) can be a huge corrupter of a person’s soul if one is enveloped in it. So, look in yourself and see if you can expel any deeply-held anger within yourself, turning to Allah for aid in this, and replacing that anger with mercy and love for your fellow Muslims.

Remembering Allah

As you are fasting, it is important to remember Allah throughout the day. There are numerous ahadith pointing out forms of dhikr we can do, whether saying alhamdulillah, subhanAllah, la ilaha illa Allah, astaghfirullah. Yet the best form of dhikr we can do is to recite the Quran, and the best way to do that is in salah. From there, make a concerted effort to make tasbih and istighfar throughout the day, wherever you are. 

What is your Direction in Life?

Everyone says they want to be a good Muslim, but these words require action in order to achieve. But what is a “good Muslim?” We must ensure that we live up to our intentions of being a good Muslim by orienting our direction in life towards submitting to Allah fully and completely. Our wealth, relationships, and even maintaining good health should be for the sake of Allah. If we achieve this orientation, we can Insha’Allah find complete satisfaction and success, in this life and the next.

Laylatul-Qadr
The rewards of Laylatul-Qadr are known and immense. This night is greater than 1000 months, and the Prophet (saw) said, “whoever stands in prayer on Laylatul-Qadr, out of iman and anticipation, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.” The night will most likely be in any of the last ten nights of Ramadan, but we cannot say for certainty on which one. Achieving the benefit and reward of Laylatul-Qadr should make us further intensify our efforts in the last ten nights. Ensure you are at the masjid or spending your nights in Qiyamul-Layl!

I’tikfaf-اعتکاف
The Prophet (saw) used to spend the last ten days of Ramadan in the masjid. It is a highly recommended and rewarded act, and many who have performed it can speak to the benefit of performing it. While it may not be feasible for many to perform, if you are able to, consider going to a masjid and performing it. It is a great opportunity to make the most out of Ramadan.

Praying in the Night
Qiyamul-layl is to spend some of the night in worship, which in Ramadan includes the taraweeh prayers. There is immense reward in praying in the night, as the Allah (SWT) said, “And rise at ˹the last˺ part of the night, offering additional prayers, so your Lord may raise you to a praised station (Jannah).” (Quran, 17:79). 

Furthermore, the Prophet emphasized the taraweeh prayer, saying “whoever stands (in night prayer) in the month of Ramadan, then his past sins will be forgiven.” As we approach the last nights of Ramadan, make sure to pray taraweeh!

Akhlaq – Morals
The Prophet (saw) said, “I have been sent to perfect good character.” Unfortunately, we live in times when good character is lacking among many, especially in the hustle and bustle of urban British life. However, good akhlaq is at the centre of our faith. You must make an effort to follow the sunnah of the Prophet in his character – make an effort to smile more, humble yourself, help others when they need it and control your emotions. Focusing on akhlaq will bring immense benefit to your soul, within Ramadan and outside of it.

Conflicting Objectives
Humans all have desires, but it is essential that we control them and pursue them in a halal manner, as Allah allows us to. One is what we see, it is essential we are not looking at what is haram to us. This can be started by lowering your gaze in front of the opposite sex. If you can refrain from food and drink, then surely you can find the strength to lower your gaze when the time requires! Failing to do so could compromise your spiritual wellbeing in Ramadan, which would be a terrible failure.

Learning from the Battle of Badr
The Battle of Badr can teach us many things, but one major focus is to rely on Allah in all circumstances. At Badr, the Muslims faced 1000 soldiers of the Quraysh, despite having only 313 men of their own. They prevailed, largely due to their belief and reliance on Allah. It was their faith that gave them the strength to fight on against overwhelming odds, and we can follow their example to know that whatever challenges we may face, if we rely on Allah, we can find success, Insha’Allah.

Fasting is a Shield
Fasting gives you time to reassess your life choices. The Prophet said, “a person is on the same path as his close friend, so let each one of you look at to whom he befriends.” As you refrain from food, drink and bad habits, you should also be asking yourself if you spend time with people who benefit you. Reassess your environment, your relationships, your general direction in life. If you see khayr in your path, then alhamdulillah. But if not, then take advantage of this month to get rid of any negative influences in your life.