Simple Ways to Prepare for Ramadan Spiritually and Mentally

Simple Ways to Prepare for Ramadan Spiritually and Mentally

Ramadan- the holiest month in the entire Hijri calendar. It is the month Muslims all around the world take part in by fasting, praying and practicing spiritual reflection. Their fasting consists of abstaining from food, any kind of drinks, and any other physical needs, instead they direct their attention towards self-discipline, gratitude, forgiveness and bettering their connection with Allah (SWT). There are many aspects that make Ramadan rank so high in significance, but the most important of all is the revelation of the Holy Quran. The Quran was revealed over a span of many years however, it was in the month of Ramadan that it first started being revealed to the Prophet (PBUH) in Cave Hira, as mentioned in the Quran itself, 

شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ هُدًۭى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَـٰتٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَٱلْفُرْقَانِ ۚ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ ٱلشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍۢ فَعِدَّةٌۭ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۗ يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ بِكُمُ ٱلْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ ٱلْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا۟ ٱلْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

"Ramaḍân is the month in which the Quran was revealed as a guide for humanity with clear proofs of guidance and the decisive authority. So whoever is present this month, let them fast. But whoever is ill or on a journey, then ˹let them fast˺ an equal number of days ˹after Ramaḍân˺. Allah intends ease for you, not hardship, so that you may complete the prescribed period and proclaim the greatness of Allah for guiding you, and perhaps you will be grateful." [2:185]

Despite its significance, Ramadan is so much more than just abstaining from food and drinks, it is a time of deep spiritual reflection to practise self-discipline and experience a renewal of faith. It is a highly sought after time that Muslims look forward to, in hopes of making the most of it. However, oftentimes this realisation only occurs once the month has started, leaving us no time to spiritually or mentally prepare. Why wait for the first day of Ramadan to set our intentions? Let's discuss a few simple ways we can prepare mentally and spiritually for the holy month of Ramadan. 

Strengthening Our Connection with Allah

First and foremost, one of the most important and easiest ways to prepare for Ramadan is by focusing on strengthening our connection with Allah (SWT). Given the commotion of daily life, oftentimes our daily prayers can seem rushed or we might not be able to set aside a particular time period where we practice the recitation of the holy Quran, dhikr and so much more. This is the perfect time to realign ourselves with our faith. Start by increasing your daily prayers, learn to incorporate non-obligatory prayers, or even simply elongating your current daily prayers by maintaining utmost focus in prayer, reciting longer surahs, etc. To learn more about voluntary prayers, have a look at one of our previous blogs, Beyond the Basics: Unlock the Power of Non-Obligatory Prayers. 

When it comes to supplication, it is yet another way you can strengthen your connection with Allah (SWT). Dua is an integral aspect of Islamic worship and spirituality, serving as a direct line of communication between a believer and Allah. Unlike formal prayer, Dua, or supplication, offers the unique flexibility of being practiced in any place, at any time, and in any circumstance. A hadith of the Prophet (PBUH) explains the definition and importance of Dua in Islam,

الدُّعَاءُ مُخُّ الْعِبَادَةِ  

“The supplication is the essence of worship.”[Sunan al Tirmidhi 3371]

In continuation of the hadith mentioned above, even the Prophet (PBUH) recommends to “ask Allah(SWT)”. The One who strengthens your heart, instills faith within you, and answers your prayers is the only One capable of renewing your worn-down faith.  So, ask Him to sustain and amplify your faith. Thus, when we attempt to sincerely ask Allah (SWT) for forgiveness, guidance, and steadfastness  in the month of Ramadan, we are effectively laying a strong foundation for a blessed and meaningful month. 

There is a beautiful and extremely powerful supplication, taught by the Prophet (PBUH),

يَا مُقَلِّبَ الْقُلُوبِ ثَبِّتْ قَلْبِي عَلَى دِينِكَ

"Ya Muqallib al-Qulub, thabbit qalbi ‘ala deenik"

"O Turner of hearts, make my heart firm upon Your religion."

This dua acts as a plea of the believer as it helps them plead to Allah (SWT) to make their hearts steadfast in faith, highlighting their reliance on Him. It is the indication of the believer begging the Creator to make them do all the things that would please the Lord and make them dislike anything that Allah displeases. 

While practising both of these methods, a believer also passively makes “Istighfar”. Istighfar is the Islamic practice of seeking forgiveness from Allah (SWT). We all are guilty of mistakes. However, it is more important to realize the mistake and seek forgiveness with intentions to not repeat the mistake again. Ramadan is the golden opportunity to repent but the habit of seeking forgiveness shouldn’t start on the first day of fasting; it should begin now. As per the example of the Prophet (PBUH). He himself used to make istighfar more than seventy times a day, as narrated by Abu Huraira in the following hadith, 

I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying." By Allah! I ask for forgiveness from Allah and turn to Him in repentance more than seventy times a day." [Sahih al-Bukhari 6307]

By drawing inspiration from the Prophet (PBUH) and incorporating the act of seeking forgiveness as an essential part of our daily routine, our hearts will already feel lighter and more at peace by the time Ramadan begins.

Training the Mind for Fasting

The most powerful and complex organ of the body— the human mind is responsible for numerous cognitive abilities such as; thinking, perceiving, feeling, and memory just to name a few. Its ability to complete said tasks authorises it to influence your physical and emotional state, effecting your thoughts in a positive or negative manner effortlessly. While positive thoughts can generate confidence and become a source of happiness, negative thoughts can weigh you down and become inwardly. This ultimately determines your health and well-being. 

Our mind, also known as our consciousness, actively directs energy that shapes our reality. To put it simply, our thoughts hone the ability to attract and manifest outcomes, with due action, to achieve a certain goal. This isn’t just philosophical musings; as even scientific research has started to validate this phenomenon. Stating how thoughts directly impact our relationships, mental health and overall well-being.

It is essential to understand this as fasting is not just about staying away from food and water. As a Muslim, you do not just fast from food or water, you most importantly fast from obscenities, temptations, immoderation, and indulgence. To accomplish this, we must gain control of our thoughts, emotions and action. Instead of leaving ourselves overwhelmed in the start of Ramadan by adopting all these changes in lifestyle all at once, its recommended to start beforehand. 

Practically start self-restraint by reducing unnecessary wastage of time, for example, If you catch yourself aimlessly scrolling on social media for hours, with no end in sight, start by limiting your social media usage. You can do this by setting time limits, enabling the “App Limits” or “Digital Wellbeing” feature on your devices to help reduce screen time. 

Start being mindful of your speech, actions and avoid arguments. Instead, opt for introducing positive acts such as charity, practising gratitude, etc.  The Prophet (PBUH) advised, 

"When one of you is fasting, he should avoid obscene speech and foolish behavior. If someone fights or insults him, he should say: 'I am fasting.'” [Bukhari 1904]

By gradually implementing these practices into our daily life, you can make the transition to Ramadan a lot smoother leaving you ample amount of time to focus and enhance your worshiping. 

It is important to note that many people tend to enter Ramadan with an extremely optimistic mindset as they set highly unrealistic expectations. While their intentions may be pure, it is important to maintain a positive mindset and actively avoid burnout. Set goals according to your own lifestyle, limitations and current habits. There is no need to compare your accomplishments with others as their situation isn’t the same as yours. Religion and strengthening faith is a journey that is subjective to each individual, an achievement that might be quite significant for you may seem miniscule to someone else. However, this in no way should act as a medium to devalue your sense of achievement. What is more important is that you maintain and continue to take steps to better yourself and your connection with Allah (SWT). Start small, start now, these small efforts will add up and make a significant difference.