Ramadan Mubarak

As this month of holiness aproaches us I would like to share a few ideas that may probably help you create a little difference each day.

1. Make a list of Duas that you want to ask.
2. If you have phone calls to make or other matters to follow up on, try to do them before the month starts
3. Groceries and even Eid clothes for the family should be ready before the month starts in order to prevent waste of time.
4. use your freezer. Stock up on groceries and easy to prepare foods that save time and effort.
5. Try to read Quran with understanding even if it be a little each day.
6. Set goals for yourself and plans on how you will achieve them. For example you can say that you will make time for Sura mulk on Sundays, Sura kahf on Fridays and Sura yaseen on thursdays. Try to read the meanings of these suras before the month approaches
7. Make iftar a special time for family and dua. Encourage everyone to be there even if they are not fasting.
8. Make zikr all the time. Even when washing dishes or sweeping the floor
9. Prolong your sajda – make as much dua as possible during Sajda
10. Do as many sunnah prayers as possible.
11. Give Charity

In preparation of Ramadan

Back in the days I remember all the fuss and fun about Ramadan. Picturing the samosas with ketchup and yummy food on the table all day long. How I miss the warmth of the extended family and relatives coming in, sharing food, talking, praying together and reading Quran. The invitations for iftars and ramadan shopping, house cleaning and preparation for worship. The hustle and bustle in the Masjids and Bazars. The patient seeking of reward. The yearning to please the lord of the worlds!

During Ramadan there is a special feeling that we sense. Everyone talks about the giving and the sharing and the extra prayers and the recitation of the Quran. But what I am talking about is that sense deep within your soul. Ramadan gives you a chance to connect with yourself; to test your limits and to be patient. Self control and worship takes an upper hand during this month. Our physical needs and materialistic motives are put to rest. Our true purpose of life is what we want to fulfill so every extra time that we have, we spend in prayer and worship.

This is the first time that we will be spending Ramadan just as a family of four. I miss having family with me. I miss the food, conversation and Ibada. I want to make this one of the best Ramadans I have had. I want to live through it with smiles and constant remembrance of the creator and our true purpose here. Insha Allah

In order to make the most of these 30 days lets try to finish our preramadan shopping as early as possible. Lets try not to watse too much time preparing foods. Frozen foods and plenty of snacks should be convenient and time saving. Lets switch off the TV, close out the silly novels and magazines and open up the books of true knowledge. Lets fill our ears with the Quran and Tafsir... Lets keep our tongues busy with the zikr. Lets teach our children the beauty and practicality of Islam and lets change our hearts to be better people!

Oh Allah answer my prayers during this month

Oh my lord make it easy for me to give

Lengthen my life and bless it

Protect and guide me, my family, my children and my friends

Make our deaths easier on us and Give us the light in our graves

Helps us to worship you in the best possible manner

Bless us with Jannathul Firdouse


Ameen

You Decide!

Watch it twice!