10 tips to prepare for Ramadan
The blessed month of Ramadan is fast approaching, and Muslims must follow the example of our pious predecessors to approach Ramadan in the best way.
We are currently in the lunar month of Rajab, which will follow the month of Chaabane and the month of Ramadan In Sha Allah.
More info: When is Ramadan 2023 ?
Why prepare for Ramadan?
Abu Bakr al-Balkhi says:
“The month of Rajab is the month of cultivation of the land. The month of Chaabane is that of irrigation and the month of Ramadan is that of harvesting.”
He adds :
“The month of Rajab is like the wind and the month of Chaabane like the cloud and the month of Ramadan like the rain. He who does not plant or cultivate in Rajab and does not water in Chaabane, how could he harvest in Ramadan?”
During the month of Ramadan, the gates of Heaven are opened, the gates of Hell are closed and the demons are chained.
At-Tirmidhi, Ibn Maja and Ibn Khuzaïmah reported from the Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa salam):
“From the first night of Ramadan, the demons and the most wicked of the jinns are chained, the gates of Hell are all closed and those of Paradise are all open. This will be called: “O seeker of good! Advance. O seeker of evil! Retreat.” And, every night, Allah frees people from Hell.“ [declared good by Al-Albani in Sahih al-Jami 759]
Steps to prepare for Ramadan
1. Have a perfect intention
And not just for fasting in the month of Ramadan, but for all acts of worship. All our acts of worship must be done for the sole purpose of gaining the pleasure of Allah.
2. Experience the joy
Reaching the month is one of the great blessings that Allah bestows on the faithful Muslim.
Indeed, Ramadan is an opportunity to do good. The gates of paradise are opened there and the gates of hell are closed.
It is the month of the Koran and decisive expeditions in our religion.
Allah Most High says: “Say: [This is] from the Grace of Allah and His Mercy; That’s what they should be happy about. It is far better than all they amass” (Quran, 10:58)
3. Do self-criticism and introspection
What are my relationship to Allah and his worship?
What are my sins? What are my religious failings?
What is the lack of religious science that penalizes me the most?
Am I for others, as the Prophet (alayhi salam) said, like a seller of perfumes (which we like to rub shoulders with) or like the blacksmith (which we avoid because of the dirt)?
4. Sincere repentance
Once this assessment has been made, the time is now for repentance.
Let us leave these sins, big and small, behind us by sincerely asking Allah’s forgiveness and having the firm intention to preserve ourselves from them definitively.
5. Invoke to achieve Ramadan
As we learned in the previous email, the pious predecessors used to ask Allah to allow them to fast for the month of Ramadan 6 months in advance.
“Allahuma ballighna Ramadan, wa barika Lana fih, wa takabalhu minna”
6. Study the merits of Ramadan
How to prepare for the month of Ramadan if we do not learn from these merits, why fast, read the Qur’an, watch the night, and seek the night of destiny?
All these adorations have a religious reason that must be known.
7. Forgive and reconcile
To approach this blessed month with a light heart, and emptied of any resentment or enmity, let us now forgive those who have hurt us, let us renew the bonds of kinship and fraternity.
8. Complying with the obligatory fast
According to Abou Salama: I heard Aicha (P.A.a) say: I sometimes had to catch up on the fast and could only do it in Chaabane. (Reported by al-Bukhari, 1849 and by Muslim, 1146).
9. Multiply acts of worship
Educate his soul, his tongue and his body to multiply acts of worship for Allah.
10. Prepare your family and especially the children
If you have children who are approaching the age of reason, educate them on the merits of the month of Ramadan and prepare them to fast.
Remember to Repeat often:
“Allahuma ballighna Ramadan, wa barika lana fih, wa takabalhu minna”
“Lord, bring me to Ramadan! Allow Ramadan to seize me and Ramadan to seize me and accept it from me!”
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