Ramadan preperation
assalamaulaikum wa rahmatullah,Ramadan is coming up soon! Here is something i recieved from Munzareen (http://musaafir.wordpress.com).
Ramadan Preparation Program 2006
When the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) sighted the moon of Rajab (two months before Ramadan) he used to pray to Allah in the following words:
Allahumma barik lana fi Rajab wa Sha'ban wa ballighna Ramadan
O Allah! Make the months of Rajab and Sha'ban blessed for us, and let us reach the month of Ramadan (i.e. prolong our life up to Ramadan, so that we may benefit from its merits and blessings)
[Narrated by at-Tabarani and Ahmad]
21st – 27th August: "Wake up your Heart" Week
This week inshaAllah we'll work on "polishing our hearts" from the lazy state of summer vacation, so they would sparkle again like last Ramadan.
* Learn and recite Adhkar, Istighfaar & Tasbeeh every free moment of our time and learn their benefits.
* Focus on improving our relationship with Allah:
- By concentrating during prayer
- By reading articles and listening to lectures on the greatness and graciousness of Allah and how we should worship Him, about Jannah and what we get there if we leave this world in the right state.
* Learn the steps of Tawba and take a decision NOW to quit any sins we're committing.
* Polish the dust off our Quran and try to finish it all at least once before Ramadan,
* Buy a good Tafseer book so we'll know what we're reading
* Make a serious decision to be better Muslims this year
* Ask Allah to support us after showing Him we mean what we say in ACTIONS not just in words
* Quit smoking/ drinking
* Be regular in praying
* Stop using bad language and backbiting/slandering
* Lower our gaze
* Think about the purpose of Creation, meditate,
* Evaluate ourselves in the past year
28th August - 3rd September: Fasting & Quran Week
* Make up lost fasting days from last Ramadan starting this week,
* Those who don't have days to fast can start fasting Monday & Thursday to get physically conditioned for Ramadan.
* Start reading/ listening to Quran more each day,
* Start learning tajweed and reciting loudly at least 5 minutes each day,
* Focus on reading one chapter everyday with tajweed
* Try to finish the Quran before Ramadan.
* Remember to Keep up the activities from last week! :)
27 Aug – 3 September: Fajr / Zakah & Sadaqa Week
* Start praying Fajr on time (before sunrise!)
* Those who already do: add in at least a couple of Rakat before Fajr.
* Set aside your Sadaqa money
* Calculate your Zakah and decide where you're going to spend it (no obligation to give it in Ramadan, but do make your calculations this week to remind yourself.)
* Learn the Islamic rulings of Zakah so you're sure you're doing the right thing and spending in the right venues. (Sending to Lebanon is approved by Fatwa as a Zakah outlet).
* Learn the various ways of Sadaqa other than donating money (ex: good manners, teaching, lending your items, talking nicely about people behind their back, preparing food packages for the poor).
* Keep up the activities from the previous weeks! :)
4th–10th September: Night Prayer & Sunnah Week
* Start practicing Qiyam Al Lail prayer at least 3 times in the week,
* Start by adding in 2 Rakat after Isha before you sleep
* Advance into waking up 30 minutes before Fajr for the last 3rd of the night, you can read from your Quran during night prayer so you could finish the Quran.
* Start adding in 12 Rakat of Naafilah / Sunnah prayers in total to your 5 prayers daily as follows:
- 2 before Fajr,
- 4 before Dhuhr & 2 after it,
- 2 after Maghreb,
- 2 after 3esha, followed by 2 Rakat of Shaf' + 1 Raka of Witr at the end [NB: You might call it 3 Raka of Witr. We call the first 2 Shaf', but that's confused some people. It's a Maliki and Shafi'i thing, I guess]
* You can also start praying 2 Rakat of Dhoha everyday between sunrise and Dhuhr prayer.
* If you wait up reading Quran after Fajr until sunrise to pray Doha, this is the Thawab of an Umrah! Try it at least once on the weekend, and in Ramadan you can do it more often inshaAllah: imagine the Thawab of an Umrah in Ramadan!
* Keep up the activities from the previous weeks!
11th – 18th September: Connecting with Family & Friends week
Selat el Ra'hem [maintaining the ties of the womb] is a very important activity that could either multiply or erase your Thawab! So give it full attention this week!
* Compile small packages of simple Ramadan gifts of useful & educational material (booklets, tapes, stickers, kids books) and offer to everyone around you
* No food gifts please :p
* Call or email those who are far away to wish them a blessed Ramadan, start with those you don't like or those you haven't talked to in a while, this way you're sure of the great rewards.
* Keep up the activities from the previous weeks! :)
19th – 24th September: Duaa & Tawba Week – Ramadan Night Family Dinner
* Concentrate on reciting Istighfaar, Tasbeeh, Adhkar and Duaa for Allah to grant you and your loved ones the fast of Ramadan and accept it from you.
* Make a sincere Tawba and quit any sins we're committing.
* Try to finish Quran this week.
* Give Ramadan food packages to poor families [or the homeless on the streets!]
* Plan a simple family & friends dish party dinner to wait for the announcement for the night of Ramadan and be happy together receiving our beloved month.
* Keep up the activities from the previous weeks! :)
posted by Iqra Bismi Rabbika @ 1:18 PM
Comments: 2
