Salaam readers, so I know I'm a tad bit late with this post as were already in the middle of Ramadhan (can you believe it?) but I thought it would be nice to share with you my experiences so far. I admit I have found Ramadhan this year some what a struggle. I don't know weather it's the lack of sleep or the fact that the UK was experiencing a heatwave the week Ramadhan started. Nevertheless I am trying my best to make the most of such a blessed month we've been gifted with, Alhamdulillah.
(Iftar time in Saudi Arabia)
So here's what I decided to do, at most peoples work places there should be some sort of contemplation/prayer room, I've been spending my dinner and breaks in there.. Being far far away from the nice smelling food the better, trust me! (Is it just me or does food seem to smell that little bit nicer when your fasting?) haha.. But seriously it does help, pray some Nafl salah, read the Quran, make dua, dhikr or even read a book. I promised myself at the start of Ramadhan that I wanted to learn something new everyday, and by going to the prayer room at work I'm managing to do just that, Alhamdulillah. Also just recently I have become inactive on twitter which maybe to some is unnecessary as there's alot of fellow Muslim brothers and sisters on there that tweet very beneficial things, but I felt like I was spending too much time on there re-tweeting when I could be reading the Quran and gaining ilm in that time.. We shall call it a twitter fast! :)
I've also been carrying around with me a tally counter or dhikr counter as I like to call it, which I was gifted with before Ramadhan. It's become so useful, I don't leave the house without it. When I find myself doing nothing it comes in handy. A tasbeh is used for the same purpose also.
I always remember the Hadith..
“Keep your tongue wet with the remembrance of Allah.”
'Verily in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find peace.'
- Surah Ar-Rad, verse 28
and the verse in the Quran..
- Surah Ar-Rad, verse 28
I've also been trying to attend as many Islamic talks and lectures as I can at a local Islamic centre. In Ramadhan they tend to hold alot more classes and talks then usual. I'm making the most out of them, they can be so beneficial and again it's another way of learning new things about my deen. If there isn't a masjid or centre near you that holds talks then watch Islamic videos on YouTube, channels like TheMercifulServant and TheDailyReminder upload videos frequently of talks and lectures by sheikhs and imams that I personally learn alot from. May Allah be pleased with them.
I've also started to write notes when reading the translation of the Quran. By going through each surah and breaking it down, you start to truly understand the words of Allah, Subhana'Allah. I would tell everyone to do this insha'Allah. I feel like because I'm writing the translation down in my own words it makes it that much easier to understand. Alhamdulillah we've been blessed with really good technical gadgets these days, why not use them to best of there ability? I have various Quran apps on my iPad and iPhone but iQuran has got to be my favourite. It has different reciters but also different translators too so it's easier for us to choose which translator we understand best and on top of that, if your learning to read the Quran in tajweed or already read the Quran in tajweed, iQuran colour codes the rules of tajweed for you, making it easier to not forget to do idgham for example in certain parts.
Lastly I've been reading books.. A whole load of books! I would trade anything in to just sit and read all day. My advice.. Bury yourself under books, obviously come out at salah time but then go straight back haha. Being an ultimate philomath, learning, discovering and gaining knowledge about new things is my favourite thing to do so books are my best friends. Take heed and gain ilm whenever and wherever you can, it will only strengthen your Iman insha'Allah.
So I leave you with this humble message..
I pray Allah {SWT} accepts our fasts, our Zakah and Sadaqah, our Umrah and Hajj, our repentence, our good deeds and insha'Allah multiples them and lastly accepts all of our duas made during this blessed month. I pray whatever good changes we've made to our lives, we carry them on after Ramadhan with the will of Allah.
Aameen
Remember the reason why as Muslims we fast. Knowing that Allah's mercy is wide open to us during this month, truly is a blessing. Keep the less fortunate in our duas and give abundantly.
Those who spend (in the cause of Allah) privately or publicly, by night and day, have their reward with their Lord. And (on the Day of Resurrection) they shall neither fear nor grieve.
- (Al-Baqarah 2:274)
Until my next post,
As-Salaamualaikum x
