ensara's corner

Salams Beautiful People, 

As spring is upon us, and the world is regenerating, Muslims across the world are welcoming Ramadan. This is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community.

For a while, I was really worried that since Ramadan was going to be in the middle of the school year, I would not be able to worship and take full advantage of this blessed month. Since the Islamic calendar is based on the lunar calendar, the timing of Ramadan shifts every year, approximately, 11 days, so previously it has usually fallen during summertime. Because of this change, I thought to write down some reflections on what helped me prepare and increase my worship during this blessed month, while also leading a busy life. 

Sharing these goals and reflections might be helpful for people who have also been overthinking about how much they will be able to do in Ramadan, but it can also be something interesting for people who don’t observe Ramadan to see how life can change for Muslims throughout this month.

Journal

Journaling has proved to be valuable for me during past Ramadans, and I believe that it will be even more beneficial this year. Putting one’s aspirations into written form can truly enhance the likelihood of accomplishing them. To fully take advantage of Ramadan, it can be highly rewarding to document the specific goals one wishes to accomplish throughout this month. Myself, I keep a monthly checklist, as well as write down daily goals and reflections. Reviewing this journal after a year has provided insight into individual growth and it allows for the evaluation of one’s objectives. Moreover, daily entries can aid in monitoring one’s progress, and provide an opportunity to reevaluate goals for the next day.

Take Advantage of Every Minute

Utilizing every moment will look different, depending on an individual’s daily schedule, priorities, and surrounding circumstances. In my experience, making use of every minute means using the small moments of daily life, such as during public transportation, waiting in line, or short breaks between classes, to increase my worship. Engaging in dhikr, reading Quran, listening to lectures, or any other means of fostering personal growth can serve to purify one’s soul and broaden their knowledge. Whether during Ramadan or not, misusing time is a harmful habit. However, it is especially crucial during this month to cultivate healthy productivity and work on spiritual enhancement.

The Little Things

Something I have been recently discussing with my friends is forgotten Sunnahs and habits that we as Muslims should have in our daily routine or maybe already do, but we should recognize them and do them with the correct intention. During the sacred month of Ramadan, it is crucial to identify and implement these practices with pure intention. Using kinder words, being more patient, keeping our environment clean, helping with setting up Iftar or Suhoor, and being more conscious of our actions overall affect our overall spiritual growth. Even the smallest acts of kindness hold great importance in Islam, as shown by the simple practice of “a smile is charity.” Good actions, no matter how small, matter and improve our Iman. 

Attend Islamic Classes

Some may find this challenging due to their day’s schedule, but attending Islamic classes during any time of the year, especially during Ramadan, keeps you connected and refreshes your soul. My strongest recommendation is to attend classes at a mosque near you. However, if in-person classes do not fit into one’s schedule, consider tuning in for online classes offered by various institutions throughout Ramadan. Miftaah Institute, Yaqeen Institute, Rabata, etc offer lectures online throughout Ramadan. These are online platforms that offer the option to participate in a class actively or listen passively. Unlike simply watching or listening to lectures online, active engagement in a class allows for inquiry and discussion, which can enhance comprehension and retention of the material.

Disconnect

In my opinion, this is the most demanding step to implement. When I say “disconnect,” I am referring to reducing one’s social media consumption, limiting interactions that are not essential, and setting aside time for reflection with the Creator. Given our hectic and fast-paced lifestyles, we seldom take time to think and rejuvenate our souls and minds. Thus, it is crucial to make use of Ramadan by spending time away from this world, and more time in worship. However, it is not easy to do so as our phones and other means of communication have become crucial to our daily existence. Nevertheless, setting certain limitations for different times of the day permits us to benefit from a much-needed reflection period.

May this month be filled with blessings, and our worship be accepted! 

Ramadan Mubarak!

Ensara Sejko