Allah SubhanahuwaTa’alaknows that the level of Iman doesn’t remain constant for us; hence, Allah gives us the gift of Ramadan to train ourselves and raise our Taqwa, for Allah says in the Qur’an (2:183): “Oh you who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may attain Taqwa.”
While we fast, our Taqwa is at its peak; the coffee that we take on the go disappears for a month. Why? Only because Allah said so. We refrain even from the halal things while fasting, as we are more conscious of Allah. If we want to attain the same level of Taqwa outside Ramadan and for it not to be a month’s routine, we must spend our days before Ramadan as though in Ramadan.
Ramadan before Ramadan
Let us take it this way. You have certain highly reputed guests arriving at your home, and pleasing them would make or break your career. Would you wait until the guests arrive at your doorstep to start the preparations, or will you prepare for it day in and day out, cleaning, decorating, and preparing snacks and meals?
Similarly, the most reputed month that can make or break our akhirah is arriving, and we are waiting for the moon of Ramadan to be seen to begin our preparation. No, we would be overwhelmed otherwise. To make the most of this month, we should start preparing ourselves from the inside out. Habits are not made in a day; hence, to be steadfast, have khushu and khuzu in all our acts that we perform; the work begins in Rajab and Shaban. Fasting and doing good deeds in Shaban is encouraged, as we see in the hadith of Sunan al-Nasāʾī (2357).
Usāmah ibn Zayd رضياللهعنه asked: “O Messenger of Allah, I do not see you fasting in any month as much as in Shaʿbān.”He ﷺ said: “That is a month people neglect between Rajab and Ramadan. It is a month in which deeds are raised to the Lord of the worlds, and I love that my deeds are raised while I am fasting.”
Identifying our loopholes and anchoring ourselves so that we do not fall for our desires before Ramadan, so that we do not get back to our old selves as the month passes by. This can be attained by preparing oneself for Ramadan spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically.
Spiritual Preparation
Spiritual preparation happens slowly, intentionally, and early. Prophet Muhammad ﷺand his companions used to wait, prepare, and make dua and spiritually gear up to witness Ramadan. Starting the preparation in the month of Shaban, one can build habits that are sustainable, cultivate consistency, and embrace the spiritual depths of this month.
Let us not wait for the moon of Ramadan to dust off our Mushaf, reconnect with it today, start a tafsir, and set realistic Ramadan goals. Make voluntary prayers like Tahajjud a habit. Many of us wake up to prepare for suhoor but miss out on the most magical hour of the night to make prayer and make dua. Making it a habit now will give us a time alignment to manage suhoor and our voluntary prayers.
The month of Shaban is a great opportunity to complete missed fasts, if any, and train our bodies for a smoother fasting experience. This will help our body adapt to longer periods without food and water and minimise initial fatigue often experienced at the start. Adjusting meal timings, avoiding eating late, and fixing our sleeping schedule will make us physically ready for Ramadan.
Understanding the Importance of Ramadan
Ramadan is the month of fasting (Sawm), increased worship, devotion, charity, and compassion. It consists of the magical Night of Decree, Laylat al Qadr, which is like hitting a jackpot even if witnessed once in a lifetime, as mentioned in Qur’an (97:3): “The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.”
Qiyam ul-layl or Taraweeh (voluntary prayers) is highly recommended and rewarded. This month is also a time of social and community bonding, fostering patience, self-control, self-improvement, and reflection. This is a month to attain the love of Allah Azwajal, seek forgiveness, and gain mercy.
Apart from understanding the importance of Ramadan, it is important to understand that it is a mercy and not a burden. Many of us enter this month with guilt for not being perfect. We have been there. Set realistic keys of improvement and work on them now; take the month as an opportunity for connecting, cleansing, and immense reward.
Recommended things before Ramadan
Clean your heart before your kitchen: We should refrain from draining ourselves with all the not-so-required kitchen attic cleaning or crockery changing. Allah wants to see our hearts shining with Taqwa and Iman, and not our kitchen and dining tables. Yes, cleaning is half of deen; do it, but do not forget what is needed.
Focus on feeding your soul rather than your body: We have the whole of the year to feed our bodies, but Shaban and Ramadan are the months that our souls need nourishment. Our ruh, which is an amanah of Allah and will return to him, urges us to feed it with not only fardh prayers but also with sunnah and nawafils. Making dua at the dome is highly recommended over focusing on whether the samosas are hot or not. We will get hot samosas later, but that hour may never come in our lives again.
Start Sunnah routines now: Start giving small charity daily, be it a small amount; this purifies wealth, opens doors of blessings, and instils compassion. Asking Allah for everything, even for small things, be it a lost match, a favourite dessert, or a job, builds connection and reliance on Allah SubhanahuwaTa’ala. Practise small sunnah acts of charity like smiling often, helping others, controlling anger, and wishing well for others. This enhances one’s spiritual state.
Ramadan begins before the moon is seen: Preparing early for Ramadan is an act of Ibadah. It shows our desire to make the most of this spiritual opportunity. One step today is a great leap tomorrow. Making up missed fast or fasting sunnah days, starting with one page of the Qur’an, memorising the smallest Dhikr, and filling our hearts with shukr is a step to the transformative journey we aim for in this Ramadan.
Let’s not wait for the moon to be sighted to begin our preparation, beginning today with intentions and consistency, and take this time as a ground for spiritual excellence.
[The writer is BE CiviI, Former Lecturer, Content Writer, Local President GIO Hubli]