Are you ready for Ramadan? As this blessed month comes, many Muslims around the world are rushing to get their Ramadan preparations in order.

This Holy month itself is a marathon that rewards you for doing your best and participating in it from start to finish. As the Prophet (ﷺ) said,

“When there comes the month of Ramadan, the gates of mercy are opened, and the gates of Hell are locked and the devils are chained.”

Sahih Muslim

As such, make this month a more fulfilling experience by ensuring you’re ready to embrace the trials and blessings that lie ahead.

But if you’re not sure where to start, don’t worry! Here are some easy-to-follow Ramadan preparation tips to help you enter and emerge from this beautiful month as a stronger and more confident Muslim.

Get Spiritually Ready for a Blessed Month

Performing more acts of worship towards Allah (SWT) during Ramadan brings great rewards. Prepare for this blessed month spiritually by spending some time beforehand perfecting your prayer and Quran recitation.

Build up your confidence by leading prayer amongst your family and friends. Encourage yourself to learn new surahs to recite during prayer to make your prayers (obligatory and sunnah) more spiritually fulfilling.

Likewise, make finding recitation time easier on yourself by reading the Qur’an after prayer. Even if it’s looking at the translation and listening to a recitation, any effort to improve your understanding of the Holy Qur’an will surely bring you closer to Allah (SWT).

Plan Your Ramadan Gatherings with the Community

The month of Ramadan gathers everyone together to draw them closer to Allah (SWT). This month, take some time to get to know your neighbours through participating in local initiatives that support and uplift others.

From donation drives to event planning to learning from your elders at the local Masjid and sharing their knowledge with others, there are many ways to give back to your local community and get more involved for Ramadan.

Get on Top of Your Health

As Muslims, it’s important that we look after health and wellbeing, especially during Ramadan, where it helps to be physically and mentally prepared for a month of fasting. Before Ramadan arrives, check up on how your mind and body is feeling and ask if you need to see a health professional. Likewise, if you have a medical condition that requires you to take medication, visit your doctor to help you figure out a schedule that works best for you while fasting.

Even if you don’t have any outstanding medical conditions, it’s still important to take the steps you need to take to ensure you’ll be able to stay healthy throughout Ramadan as well as after it. Fasting has many benefits which can help you reach goals such as losing weight, decreasing stress levels and preventing further health conditions. By preparing early and allowing your body to get ready for fasting before Ramadan, you’ll get a head start on your health goals and be better at maintaining them for the rest of the year.

Get Rid of Negativity

As Muslims, it’s important to be mindful that our words and actions do not hurt others. As said by the Prophet (ﷺ):

“Do not say anything on your tongue except what is right, and do not stretch out your hand except to do good.”

Shuab Al-Iman

This is especially true during Ramadan, as, while we fast, we don’t just abstain from eating and drinking, but also from anger and hurtful acts. As such, before Ramadan would be an ideal time to monitor and figure out strategies to help manage the stressors in our lives.

Do as Much as You Can to Prepare for Ramadan

Regardless of how you’re getting ready for Ramadan, having a checklist to go over things means you’re already taking the steps to help make this month less stressful. While preparing for Ramadan can get overwhelming, having the tools in place to overcome the month’s hardest obstacles gives us a chance to improve our productivity and keep these helpful habits even after Ramadan ends.

So take the time you have left before Ramadan and make the most of it by reorganising your schedule, maintaining a good character and staying on top of your health. As the month of blessings as well as trials, have trust in Allah (SWT) to keep you steadfast in your preparations for Ramadan and see these efforts bring you rewards in this life and the hereafter.