5 Useful Steps to Excel this Ramadan

**jameelash** · 07-21-2011

salam

5 Useful Steps to Excel this Ramadan

5 Useful Steps to Excel this RamadanIn past years, Ramadan came, Ramadan passed, and perhaps not much may have changed. Even if we thought we had a ‘good’ Ramadan, why didn’t we aim higher to have an outstanding Ramadan?

To begin, let us make the intention to make this Ramadan better than the last – better yet, how about we come out of this Ramadan inshaAllah feeling that it was the best Ramadan we had?
Appreciating Ramadan

Ramadan is truly a gift, a blessing from Allah during which the doors of Jannah (Paradise) are open while the doors of Jahannam (Hellfire) are closed. Ramadan especially gives us the opportunity to renew ourselves, recharge our iman, purify our hearts, and set our goals and priorities – to improve and excel insha’Allah. In case our minds and hearts became distracted, Ramadan is the time for us to redirect our focus to the akhirah, to join the race for Jannah as reflected in the verse below.

“And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a garden as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for the Muttaqeen (righteous).” (Quran 3:133)
How to Excel this Ramadan

So how can we can reap the benefits of this blessed time? How can we ensure that we come out of Ramadan more righteous and pious than we began?

Here are five top tips:
1) Make Du’a

Before Ramadan, ask that Allah allows you to witness Ramadan this year. Then during Ramadan inshaAllah, make your personal dua and supplications to improve, for forgiveness, so on and so forth. After Ramadan keep making dua, and ask that Allah accepts your Ramadan and the deeds you put forth.
2) Make a Conscious Decision

Make the intention to change for the better in Ramadan. Decide which habits you would like to drop and which you would like to adopt. Be specific, ambitious and realistic. You may wish to keep the following categories in mind when it comes to forming habits or improving your acts of worship: prayer, charity, Quran, community work, family ties, dhikr, and dua.
3) Start Now

Start forming your good habits and increasing your good deeds from now. It is reported the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to fast most of the month of Shaaban (which is the month that precedes Ramadan, ie. the month we are currently in) except the last few days and when asked why he did, he (peace be upon him) replied:

”That is the month people neglect. It comes between Rajab and Ramadan. It is a month in which the deeds are raised to the Lord of the Worlds. I love that my deeds be raised while I am fasting.” [An-Nasaa’i]
4) Beware of Distractions

Be aware of distractions before or during Ramadan – turn off or minimize the TV, Facebook, and other social media. Prioritize your commitments so you can get the best out of the few days of ramadan. Also remember Ramadan is not a month to spend all our time at elaborate iftar/dinner parties, but rather it is intended to be a month of worship and drawing closer to Allah, The Most High.

If you find it necessary, you can create a buddy system where you arrange with a family member or friend to keep each other in check and on track during Ramadan – use the Ramadan Taskinator on this website!
5) Maintain Consistency

Maintain the intention that you will continue to do the good deeds and habits you began to do after Ramadan. In fact, continuing to do those good deeds is one of the indications that your good deeds have been accepted, inshaAllah. If you do slip, just renew your intention and get back up and on track again!

Brothers and sisters, this is the time to race for good deeds and for the forgiveness of Allah; this is the time to resolve to make a new start that is filled with righteous actions for Allah, The Exalted.

Let us make this new start in Shaaban, increase it in Ramadan and continue for the rest of the year inshaAllah. Let us not deprive ourselves of this profound opportunity to be amongst the inhabitants of a Paradise that spans the heavens and the earth, by the Mercy of Allah.