Your guide to Ramadan

[Voodookid]

The blessed month of Ramadan...

Did you know that...

1. the month of ramadan is a month in which the mercy and blessings of Allah descends upon us continuously.
2. fasting is a complete purification and a means to developing the consciousness of Allah's presence.
3. the first ten days are of mercy, the second ten days are for forgiveness and the last ten days are of being freed from hell.
4. in this month the doors of paradise are opened and the doors of hell are closed.
5. the smell from the mouth of a fasting person is sweeter in the sight of Allah than the fragrant smell of musk.

Preparing for Ramadan...

• prepare an action plan - what are your aims and desired acheivments for this month? set specific targets and plan your time wisely.
• evaluate yourself each day before going to sleep. How can you improve yourself? what good deeds can be repeated and what bad deeds should be avoided?
• make a personal duaa list - include everything! small and big, this world and the hereafter.
• ensure that you have made up for any missed fasts from the previous Ramadan.
• Train yourself to goto bed early to avoid missing Fajr prayers.
• buy all necessities to avoid wasting precious time.
• read more, listen more for inspiration and motivation
• technology diet - less TV, internet and unnecessary phone calls - less distractions! more Qur'aan, Prayers, Dhikr and Charity.
• Plan Dawah activities in your community - feed the homeless, charity work etc...

Top 10 Deeds of Ramadan

1. Reflect, contemplate & evaluate...
2. Make tawbah - repent and ask that your sins be forgiven.
3. Pray Nafl - grab this dear opportunity to increase your iman, piety and gain more reward!
4. Strengthen your relationship with the Qur'aan by reading, reflecting on the meaning and acting apon it.
5. Attend your local mosque - 5 prayers, Tarawih, Iftar, Quranic circles...
6. Dua - deep, long and sincere. Open your heart to the Almighty Allah and maximise the use of this time and opportunity.
7. Charity and Sadqah - give what you can regularly and witness the blessings of your actions.
8. Family - spend time with loved ones and text, call or e-mail someone you have not contacted for a long time.
9. Focus on good works that would move our community forward to rightousness, glory and success
10. Stop swearing, backbiting - penny in a jar for each time you do - then send the money to charity.

Health & Diet in Ramadan

• Eat and Drink in moderation! remember, fill your stomache with 1/3 food, 1/3 water and 1/3 breathing space
• Suhoor/Sehri - keep it light and healthy to keep you going throughtout the day, cereals, vegetables and basmati rice are good examples.
• reduce your fat intake, less of the fried, greasy and sweet stuff to avoid feeling dense and bloated. opt for healthy alternatives such as baked samosas and whole grains like chick peas, potatoes and yoghurt!
• Avoid over eating at sehri and iftari to prevent indigestion.
• eat fruits and mixed nuts, they are rich sources of a variety of vitamins and minerals.
• Drink plenty water at sehri and at iftari to avoid dehydration.

Hope this helps.

Sources from the Islamic Relief Magazine

[shelim]

a good little read.. thanks voods.. hope you have a good ramadan bro

[Sunshine]

Good read like Shelim said... some good tips too.

[RockStarr]

Thanks for that. Nice wee tips/reminders.

[Guji-Ji]

1. Reflect, contemplate & evaluate...

I like that.

Thanks.

[Cheeky_Princess]

Thanks for that...
LOL @ dont eat so much food at iftari and sehri... its true we shouldnt but we scoff our faces making ourself feel bloated and sick for the whole day...

[Voodookid]

no worries people, i read this in the lil booklet i got in the post from islamic relief and fort it was an interesting read, then decided to type it up for you guys to read too!!

glad you found it interesting and beneficial!

[Voodookid]

BUMP BUMP BUMP

[Iroquois Pliskin]

penny in a jar.. good one.. should try that.. well not a penny.. probably more..

[Voodookid]

So.. you find yourself browsing the internet during ramadhan..

give this website a visit and just let the beautiful voice of a selection of imams reciting the holy quraan just play in the background whilst you check your emails, chat on AP or as you twitt all your friends..

Quran Explorer

the site above is just too cool!!

[Rab C Nesbit]

If you're going to listen to the recitation of the Qur'an, you should only focus on that.
There's no point in going about your daily business, and listening to the Qur'an, too.

[Iroquois Pliskin]

Originally Posted by Rab C Nesbit If you're going to listen to the recitation of the Qur'an, you should only focus on that. There's no point in going about your daily business, and listening to the Qur'an, too.

What about shopkeepers blasting Quranic verses whilst running their store?

[Voodookid]

what about when you're driving and listening to the verses?!

[Scrooge]

Originally Posted by Voodookid So.. you find yourself browsing the internet during ramadhan.. give this website a visit and just let the beautiful voice of a selection of imams reciting the holy quraan just play in the background whilst you check your emails, chat on AP or as you twitt all your friends.. Quran Explorer the site above is just too cool!!

Imam Sudais, has an amazing voice.

[Zero]

Nesbit's right, you're not supposed to treat Quran as nasheeds. When it's being played, then you should listen intentively. Having it playing in the background is considered "disrespectful" but its not on the level of "haram" or "makruh".