Ramadan is the holiest month of Islam, and encourages Muslims the world over to look deeper within themselves spiritually and find deeper resonance in their faith. If you are new to Islam, and would like to know more, this article is a gentle introduction to making the most of the month.
Ramadan is most notably recognised as a month of fasting – otherwise known as ‘Sawm’. Fasting involves abstaining from all food and drink during the hours of daylight. Typically the day starts at dawn, when a Muslim will start the fast after eating Suhoor. Fasting then begins, and is broken only at sundown, when Iftar is served.
Fasting requires a great deal of willpower and discipline, particularly when you consider that it lasts for up to 30 days. To this end, it is important to have a number of other acts that you can carry out that feed your sense of devotion and discipline, elevate you spiritually, and embrace mankind on a wider level.
The following are a number of activities and good deeds that will help you to complete your fasting within the rules of Islam, strengthening your commitment to Allah, and ensuring that Ramadan 2023 is completed ensuring that every opportunity to connect with Allah (SWT).
Feed The Fasting
“Whoever gives iftar to one who is fasting will have a reward like his, without that detracting from the reward of the fasting person in the slightest.” – (The Prophet PBUH)
Ramadan is as much about the food, as it is about the fasting. In communities across the world there are people who cannot afford to eat, and donating to charities that are dedicated to feeding the hungry is an important part of understanding your role and responsibilities as a Muslim.
Read The Qu’ran
Spending time in contemplation of the Qu’ran is an essential part of the month’s activities. Reading this holy book, discussing it, and praying, are part of the pathway to deepening your knowledge and commitment to Islam.
Through memorising certain passages, such as the Surah of the Qu’ran, which allows you to recite the Nafal prayers will increase the blessings and rewards that you can earn.
Donate Food And Goods To The Homeless
Homelessness is a problem that seems to be worsening year after year – and this current cost of living crisis is only exacerbating the problem. Regardless of their faith, helping the homeless extends your charitable contributions and place you in a position of greater reward and blessings.
Pay Zakat And Give To Charities
Zakat is a charitable payment that is made annually by all Muslims whose net wealth exceeds a certain limit (known as the nisab). Zakat is also one of the five pillars of Islam, and all Muslims are obliged to pay Zakat. Although it is an annual payment, Muslims are also encouraged to donate to charity during Ramadan, as during this month rewards and blessings can be amplified – particularly during the last ten days of Ramadan, during which the Night of Power means that any good deeds and prayers will amplify rewards by a thousand months.
Spend Time With Friends And Family
Finally, make sure that you spend quality time with your friends and family. Too often in our modern life we can all get caught up in busy lives – work, money, paying the bills, dealing with the cost of living crisis. Ramadan gives you the opportunity to take a step back and be grateful for everything that is good in your world.
