Day 3 – Ramadan Preparation Checklist: Last Minute Planning

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The month of Ramadan is already a few days in. Have you considered putting together a Ramadan preparation checklist for yourself yet?

By now, most brothers and sisters in Islam are in the swing of waking up in the early hours of the morning for suhoor and fasting throughout the day.

Joining Muslim friends and families for iftar is on your agenda, as well as nightly Taraweeh prayers.

But…

This is the blessed month of Ramadan. It’s the month in which you want to give your acts of ibadah 100%.

Did Ramadan creep up on you so fast that you didn’t have time to prepare thoroughly?

Do you feel like you could be doing extra?

Don’t fret, my Ramadan preparation checklist can help you get on track.

 

Remove Distractions

Removing distractions should be the #1 priority on your Ramadan preparation checklist. It’s only then that you can start to use your time more productively.

If you haven’t already, look into doing the following:

  • Reduce the amount of time that you spend on social media. You can do this by setting a schedule. Allot a certain time of the day to check your social media. For example, after praying dhuhr, you can set aside half an hour to check and then put your phone or tablet aside.
  • Better yet, give up social media completely for the month. Reduce your temptation to check by temporarily deactivating your accounts. You can also delete social media apps off your phone or tablet. Just re-download them when Ramadan is over.
  • Switch off your TV. You can set aside some time to watch the news and leave it at that.
  • Give up going to the movies. Those few hours you spend watching a movie could be put to much better use.
  • Avoid hanging out with bad company. By this, I mean people who invite you to be distracted. There’s no need to do this coldly, you can just let them know that it’s Ramadan and you’re going to be more spiritual this month. Invite them for coffee once Ramadan is over.
  • Set aside time to study at the masjid. There, you can recite the Qur’an or read Islamic books, all the while, avoiding distractions that you’d otherwise face at home.

Schedule More Time For Ibadah

One of the best things you can work on during Ramadan is setting more time aside for your salah and Qur’an recitation. Especially at the time of Fajr.

In Surah Al-Isra, Allah commands Muslim believers to pray Maghrib salah at its set time. In the same ayah, Allah highlights the value of reciting the Qur’an at Fajr time.

> Establish prayer at the decline of the sun [from its meridian] until the darkness of the night and [also] the Qur’an of dawn. Indeed, the recitation of dawn is ever witnessed.

Qur’an 17:78

Brothers, after eating suhoor, should strive to pray Fajr in congregation at the masjid.

> Narrated `Abdullah bin `Umar:

The reward of the congregational prayer is twenty seven times greater (than that of the prayer offered by a person alone).

Sahih al-Bukhari

Sisters can pray Fajr at home.

> Ibn ‘Umar reported the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying:

Do not prevent your women from visiting the mosque; but their houses are better for them (for praying).

Sunan Abi Dawud

After praying Fajr, you can set aside some time to recite the Qur’an. Those sleeping might not witness your salah and Qur’an recitation at Fajr, but Allah and His angels will.

Gather Learning Materials

Make Ramadan the month in which you enrich your mind with Islamic learning resources.

You can do this by adding the following to your Ramadan preparation checklist:

  • Brainstorm topics that you feel you need to learn more on. Examples include the fiqh of fasting, attaining khushoo during salah, the importance of dhikr, the seerah of the Prophet, tajweed, tafsir of the Qur’an, etc.
  • Gather reading material. Keep these books in your sight, not stowed away in your cupboard or bookshelf. You’ll feel more motivated to read them that way.
  • Create an Islamic lecture or podcast playlist. You can listen to these while multitasking. Say, on the morning commute to work or while cooking dinner.
  • Make a list of halaqas to attend. You can check with mosques or search on Facebook for upcoming halaqas in your local area.

 

Make A List Of Ramadan Du’as

 

No Ramadan preparation checklist is complete without a list of Arabic du’as you can make.

You can write down du’as on post-it notes and place them around the house. This will help remind you to make du’a more often. You can also jot down du’as on a notepad or keep a list of them in your phone.

Here’s a few examples:

Make Ramadan Exciting!

Ramadan should be a special time of the year to look forward to. Especially for young children.

You can add these to your Ramadan preparation checklist to help make it that way:

  • Create an Eid countdown calendar. Let your children cross off each day to add to the excitement. You can download a free Eid countdown printable from In My Studio here.
  • Hang Ramadan decorations. Pinterest is full of inspiration for Ramadan decorations. For free printables, check out a list that The Muslimah Guide has put together here.
  • Create Ramadan traditions. Muslim Mummies has compiled a list of Ramadan traditions practiced by other Muslim bloggers here.
  • Give Ramadan books to your children. Check out With A Spin’s list of 12 must-have Ramadan children’s books here.
  • Make Ramadan iftar boxes for the non-Muslims in your life. Gain inspiration from Modern Muslim Home here.

Plan For Eid Now

[IMAGE CREDIT: Muhammad Ghouri / CC BY 2.0]

In the last ten days of Ramadan, what would you rather be doing?

  • Running around getting Eid planned?
  • Increasing your recitation of the Qur’an?

Make the last ten days of Ramadan really count!

Add the following to your Ramadan preparation checklist to get Eid sorted now:

  • Make plans with your family. Will you spend it at home or out? Who will cook? Who will host? Don’t leave these plans until the last minute.
  • Gather Eid decorations. Ayeina have put together a great list of free Eid printables here.
  • Buy new Eid outfits. Do it now before shopping centres become overcrowded! Get inspiration by checking out my Muslim fashion board on Pinterest here.
  • Buy Eid gifts. Make a list of who you need to buy gifts for – family members, friends, colleagues, neighbours, etc. Check out MarocMama’s list of creative Eid gift ideas here.


Author Bio

Katie Quirk is a Muslim revert from Melbourne, Australia. She started blogging in order to help others become better practising Muslims. Whether you’re a revert or are simply improving yourself in your own spiritual journey. You can check out her blog at katietokhadijah.com.


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Showing 3 comments
  • Royala Safdar

    I was thinking of ways to make this Ramadan more productive for me and the pointers on here have already helped me put a few things together! Jazaka Allah for the reminder!

  • Dinel zimmer

    I have read your article and i like your post

  • Hamza

    Ramzan is just coming and how lucky I am who accidentally visited your web site and get an information about how to make your ramzan productive.

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