By Shaykh Yūsuf Badāt
(a piece written for the Canadian Council of Muslim Theologians’ Ramaḍān Journal)
Did you know ‘Othmān bin Affān (may Allāh be pleased with him) completed the recitation of the entire Qurʿān every day in Ramaḍān? Ḥammād bin Abī Sulaymān (may Allāh’s mercy be upon him) would feed ifṭār meals to 500 people daily in the blessed month. Imam Mālik (may Allāh’s mercy be upon him) postponed all his academic meetings for Ramaḍān so he could dedicate individual quality time with the Qurʿān.
These lofty examples are inspiring even though many of us may believe these are super-human role models.
The fact of the matter is they were ordinary humans just like you and I. They had the same 24 hours that each and every one of us have. The reality is, they did things differently which gave them explosive results. We too, and I’m serious, you could also do similar great things with your time in and also out of Ramaḍān.
Here are some powerful stimulants that will make it happen, In-shā Allāh!
Applying these rituals will allow you to maximise Ramaḍān. You will reap lucrative blessings that are promised by the Almighty.
Know the Merits and Virtues
Know the virtues of deeds and acts. Educate yourself. Study a ‘Virtues of Ramaḍān’ book. Ask your local scholars to share their knowledge. Knowing such virtues will motivate you to practice. For example one day of Ramaḍān fasting is like fasting 1000 days, in rewards. Fasting with this in mind is absolutely motivational.
Set Clear and Realistic Goals
Write down all your goals for Ramaḍān. The Qurʿān, you intend to recite, the amount of charity you plan to give, the number of people you want to feed and how much qiyām you want to conduct. These are some examples.
Have a Schedule
Set your schedule for all your goals. Once established, stick to it! Be consistent and stay motivated. Set your alarms and reminders.
Say No!
Turn down and respectfully decline unnecessary activities, meetings and appointments.
Take Advantage of Untouched Gaps
Utilise times of the day that you didn’t capitalize before. For example, recite dhikr or Qurʿān during your commute. Engage in daily supplication while waiting for ifṭār at sunset. Now that you are fasting, use your lunch break for a power nap.
Remove the Interruptions
Distractions drain our time. Turn off screens and gadgets. Avoid entertainment. Disconnect from things to connect with the Almighty. This will give you the time required to maximise and exploit every moment available for your true potential.
Abū Hurayrah (may Allāh be pleased with him) along with his wife and worker would divide the night in to three segments. Every one of the three would have a turn to keep the night lively with worship and vigil prayers. What a beautiful way to adopt time management and time mastery!
You have it in you! Rise to your true ability to progress and succeed. Maximise the best month of the year with your committed actions and hard work. The results are simply astounding.
Have an awesome, fulfilling and blessed Ramaḍān.
