As we all know that the the countdown has already begun. Less than two months remains for the arrival of Holy Ramadhan.

The very name of Ramadhan evokes a feeling of expectant joy and pleasure in the heart of the Mu'min. A restlessness overtakes the Mu'min in eager anticipation of the Holy month. Sometimes, this feeling even turns to fear and anxiety. "O Allah, will I see Ramadhan this year?" Allah alone knows who will live to see Ramadhan.

The reassurance comes in the form of a fervent Dua, "O Allah bless us in Rajab and Sha'baan and let us make it to Ramadhan." The Dua for this must continue with vigorous fervour - "O Allah! Let us reach Ramadhan.!" The anticipation of this great month is not just a matter of emotion and thought.

It requires action and activity. Preparation for receiving the honourable guest of Ramadhan must start in earnest right away. Where do I start? What am I to do? Well, a good starting point can be to spare a bit of time daily for preparation of Ramadhan.

A person needs to start by making adjustments to the current lifestyle. The daily timetable must be altered, allowing more time for spiritual rejuvenation. Can I take out quality time from my present busy lifestyle? How much of time and when? Sit down and work it out. Maybe half an hour before Fajr and another half-hour before going to bed? Or will half an hour before and after Isha be more appropriate? Whatever it may be, at least an hour out of 24 hours must be set aside with discipline and consistency from today onwards.

This is time dedicated to Allah and Allah alone. Unless for an emergency, no intrusion in this time must be allowed - no phone calls or other distractions. This time should be spent in developing a strong bond of love and affinity with the Noble Qur'an, with Dua and Zikr. A lot of time must be spent in introspection and self-appraisal. What is my current state of Islam? Strong or weak? What are my main weaknesses? How do I overcome these? Who do I turn to for spiritual help and guidance? Deep, soul-searching questions have to be posed. This is one of the highest form of Ibadah. It is the Ibadah of Fikr or Tafakkur, a moment of which equals many years of Nafl Ibadah.

Finally, all the "T's" of Ramadhan Shareef must be kept in mind so that when Ramadhan comes, "everything is to the T!". These "T's" are: Tilawah, Tahajjud, Taraweeh, Tasbeehat, Tadharru' (fervent Dua), Tatawwu' (Nafil Ibadah), Tasahhur (eating Sehri), Taubah (repentance), Tawadhu (humility) and Tafakkur (contemplation).

May Allah Ta'ala make us & all muslims ummah this Ramadhan a turning point in the life of the long-suffering Ummah. Aameen.

AMEEN!!!! :brother: I CANT WAIT!!!!

My Plans for this Ramadaan

By Ayub Hamid

I would like to share with you a simple sample plan which I have been following over the years so that you can use for that purpose:

• This Ramadaan, I shall start with establishing a close relationship with the Qur'aan. I will gave the top priority to knowing and understanding the contents and message of the Qur'aan. I will recite and study the Qur'aan with translation and tafseer regularly and steadily throughout the month, inshaa'Allaahu, from a good, authentic translation and tafseer by a reputed scholar. From the start and right to the end of Ramadaan, I will not sleep after Fajr, but instead study the Qur'aan until I am ready to go to school or work. Throughout the day, I will find time to revise and re-learn the Soorahs and Aayaat I already know. Once that is completed, I will learn at least one Aayah a day from a Soorah that I do not already know.

• This Ramadaan, I will sleep early, soon after Taraweeh Salaah. I will go to bed with clear and conscious intention of fasting the next day, as well as with the intention of getting up early for Tahajjud. Then, while remembering Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala, I will fall asleep. I will get up well before Suhoor time, thanking Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala for giving me life, offer Tahajjud and then make special Du'a for the mercy of Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala on our Ummah, Allah Ta'aala's help for its success and well being, and Allah Ta'aala's interference to foil the plans of Shaytaan. I will also make special Du'a that Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala protects this Ummah, my loved ones and me from the Dajjaal and his Fitnah.

• For the month of Ramadaan, I will not watch TV at all, with a view of kicking this habit completely. My knowing of what is shown in the news does not affect any affairs of the world. Watching the news causes only frustration, despair and anxiety. If I do not watch for a month, it will not have any impact either on me, this Ummah or the world at large. I would rather spend the month on my personal improvement, personal spirituality and building a close, personal relationship with Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala , rather than on an activity where I cannot make any difference. (Unless I am one of those few Muslims who write letters, articles / anchors, paper editors / columnists, politicians and media in general to make Islamic points or to stand up for the Ummah. If I am one of those, I should continue this Jihaad in Ramadaan).

• While fasting, I will make a special effort to speak only to add value and to say only what is true, factual, positive, meaningful and useful. When I do not have anything good and useful to talk about, instead of saying anything else, I will remember Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala through the beautiful words taught by our Prophet Sal-Allaahu alayhi wa sallaam, while paying attention to their meanings and feeling the impact of the words on my heart, my mind, my thoughts and my attitude. Or, if I do not know them, I will learn those words of remembrance or prayer. Or, I will spend those moments to recite the portions of the Qur'aan that I know or learning those I do not.

• I will not lend my ears to anything that is useless, indecent, negative, spiteful or inappropriate. In my car, I will listen to the Qur'aan or some good speech of a reputed scholar. At my computer I would repeat the same piece over and over again, I will use it to help me learn a few verses or a Soorah. Similarly, while riding the transit or subway, I will use my pocket-sized Qur'aan or book of Prophet Sal-Allaahu alayhi wa sallaam's adi'yah (plural for du'a) to recite, practise or revise those I know or to learn those I do not know.

• This Ramadaan, I will particularly watch my gaze. While glancing on a member of opposite sex, I will move my gaze away before I start evaluating or assessing the attractive features of looks, appearance or personality or before I start paying attention to or begin enjoying those attractions. I will not participate or listen to the comments of illicit nature that my colleagues, peers or friends make.

• While remembering Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala in many other ways, I will more frequently ask for Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala's mercy in the first 10 days of Ramaadan (Yaa Hayyu Yaa Qayyoomu, bi-rahmatika astagheethu), invoke Allaah's forgiveness in the second 10 days (astaghfirullaah-al-Azeem-alladzi laa ilaaha illaa Huwa-al Hayyu-l-Qayyoomu wa atoobu ilayh) and seek salvation from the Fire in the last 10 days (Rabbanaa aatinaa fi-ddunyaa hasanatanwa fil-aakhirati hasanatanwa qinaa adzaab-annaar). During the last ten nights, I will frequently make the Du'a: Allaahumma innaka 'afuwwun, tuhibbul 'afwa, fa'fu 'annee.

• This Ramadaan, I will be exceptionally charitable. The tears that fill my eyes when I see the scenes of devastation, disease, starvation, agony, displacement, killings, blown up bodies and severed limbs of poor, helpless people of Afghanistan, Palestine, Iraq, Chechnya and Kashmir will ameliorate my heart and open my purse. I will send all my Zakaah to them right at the beginning of Ramadaan through trustworthy Islamic charities. In addition to my Zakaah, I will pay whatever I can spare from my family's necessities for helping those in dire need. If I have been paying my Zakaah to my relatives, this Ramadaan, I will help my relatives from my other savings and resources, so that I can pay Zakaah to the victims of state terrorism. I will avoid spending money on my home decoration or getting new clothes for Eid or buying more video games and toys for my children, so that those who are in more need than me and my family can be helped. I will even pay my Fitrah very early in Ramadaan so that it can reach those displaced from their homes before the severity of winter.

• Also this Ramadaan, I will be generous and forgiving to my family, friends and the Muslim community at large. I will clear my heart from anger complaints, suspicion, jealousy, grudges or dislike against any of them. I will be extra kind, accommodating, courteous, supportive and helpful to my non-Muslims neighbours and colleagues. I will find ways to have them participate in the blessings of Ramadaan and happiness of Eid by sharing my food specialties with them or giving gifts and chocolates to them.

• This Ramadaan, I am going to take my vacations in its last 10 days, so that the precious opportunity offered by those days can be fully utilized for developing my spiritual relationship with Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala.
• I will kick at least one of my bad habits such as arriving late for appointments or breaking promises. I will show up or do what I indicate I will do and I will show up or do so on time. If I am a smoker, this Ramadaan, I will not smoke even after Iftaar, before Suhoor or at night. I will keep my mouth odour free for prayers and Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala 's remembrance and my lungs, blood and heart from disease.

• If I am a university student whose final exams are falling in Ramadaan, my act of worship is to do my utmost best to study hard and get the best possible results, given that any moment that is not spent on studying is not spent in any other pursuit except in the remembrance of Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala or study of the Qur'aan. While travelling to/from or within campus or while taking a break from studies, I will automatically shift to remembrance of Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala or recitation of the Qur'aan. For my studies, I will keep timings that are consistent with the spirit of Ramadaan, i.e. sleep early and get up very early. Instead of staying up late at the risk of missing Suhoor or Fajr, I will adjust my body clock to Islamic lifestyle instead of the western lifestyle. When I get up to study at 2 or 3 a.m., I will start with two Raka'at of Tahajjud and then continue with my studies. After Fajr, I will still spend 15-20 minutes on the study of Tafseer and recitation of Qur'an every day.

If we succeed this Ramadaan in living as planned above, we will be able to look back and rejoice and feel inner joy and true happiness knowing that our Eid day will be the day of celebrating rewards from Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala.

subhan'Allah
Ramadan is almost here : )

Imma tryna best fo Finish Qur'an wid tafseer like I did last year Allahmdulillah. I hope I don't get involved with useless things insha'Allah.

man there is lotttttt of stuff to do in Ramadan...I just can't wait.

wasalmaualaikum wr wb : )

Yeh a good month away, It'll be strange this year as I start university for the first time on 3rd October (gonna be 19 day before an all!). Anywho adjusting to eductaion (which i've been out of since may), new surroundings, new people, higher learning, new routines are all gonna be mixed in there as well. However as usual I'll turn up with the biggest smile in the lecture room - and of course the loudest gob too!

Originally Posted by minaz

Yeh a good month away, It'll be strange this year as I start university for the first time on 3rd October (gonna be 19 day before an all!). Anywho adjusting to eductaion (which i've been out of since may), new surroundings, new people, higher learning, new routines are all gonna be mixed in there as well. However as usual I'll turn up with the biggest smile in the lecture room - and of course the loudest gob too!

umm interesting...seems fun.

Thank you, when people find out that i'm gonna go study contemporary history for 3 years they go like "get away from me wierdo"

Originally Posted by minaz

Thank you, when people find out that i'm gonna go study contemporary history for 3 years they go like "get away from me wierdo"

lol thats not weird...history lovers are cool.
May Allah swt make it easy for you Ameen.

i can't wait till ramadaaaaaaaaaaaaaan

wasalamualaikum wr wb : )

JazakAllah khair for this thread zAk

cant wait til ramadhan it comes then goes so fast

Alhamdullilah it almost here. just a little over a month now Inshallah

What is Tahajjud?

Tahajjud = Salaat ul Layl !
Prayed in night after Isha n b4 Fajr.

chk out :
http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/referenc....TAHAJJUD.html

also chk :
http://www.alinaam.org.za/library/tahajjud1.htm
http://suficenter.org/Practices/tahajjud.html

Inshallah this greatest month of ramadan will soon approach us! :sister:

he very name of Ramadhan evokes a feeling of expectant joy and pleasure in the heart of the Mu'min. A restlessness overtakes the Mu'min in eager anticipation of the Holy month. Sometimes, this feeling even turns to fear and anxiety. "O Allah, will I see Ramadhan this year?" Allah alone knows who will live to see Ramadhan.

The reassurance comes in the form of a fervent Dua, "O Allah bless us in Rajab and Sha'baan and let us make it to Ramadhan." The Dua for this must continue with vigorous fervour - "O Allah! Let us reach Ramadhan.!" The anticipation of this great month is not just a matter of emotion and thought.

Ameen ! :brother:
can't wait ! :brother:

Barak Allâhu fiik bro zAk..