• The National Missioner of Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Abdur-Rahman Ahmad (middle) discussing with the former Governor of Lagos, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National President of the Society, Alhaji Bisiriyu Onisarotu at the Ramadan lecture of the Lagos State branch of the society at Tafawa Balewa Square, Onikan Lagos on Sunday. PHOTO: MOSHOOD RAJI

Sunlight of Islam Index

This Ramadan, I will establish a close relationship with the Quran. I will give the top priority to knowing and understanding the contents and message of the Quran.

I will finish the whole Quran with translation and tafseer by studying it steadily throughout the month from a good, translation and Tafseer.

I will not sleep after Fajr, but instead study the Quran until I am ready to go to school or work. Throughout the day, I will find time to revise and re-learn the Surahs and Aayah I already know. Once that is completed, I will learn at least one Aayah a day from a Surah I do not already know.

This Ramadan, I will sleep early, soon after Ishaa. I will go to bed with clear and conscious intention of fasting the next day, as well as with the intention of getting up early for Tahajjud. Then, while remembering Allah, I will fall asleep.

I will get up really early, thanking Allah for giving me life, offer Tahajjud and then make special Duaa for the mercy of Allah on our Ummah, His help for its success and well being, and His interference to foil the plans of the enemy. I will also make special Duaa that Allah protects me, my family and my Ummah from the Dajjaal and his Fitnah.

Just for this month, I will not watch TV or movies at all. I would rather spend the month on my personal improvement, personal spirituality and building a close, personal relationship with Allah, rather than on such an activity, which will not benefit me at all.

While fasting, I will make a special effort to speak only to add value and to say only what is true, factual, positive, meaningful and useful. When I do not have anything good and useful to talk about, instead of saying anything else, I will remember Allah through the beautiful words taught by our Prophet, while paying attention to their meanings and feeling the impact of the words on my heart, my mind, my thoughts and my attitude. Or, if I do not know them, I will learn those words of remembrance or prayer. Or, I will spend those moments to recite the portions of the Qur’an that I know or learning those I do not. I will not lend my ears to anything that is useless, indecent, negative, spiteful or inappropriate. In my car, I will listen to the Qur’an or some good speech of a reputed scholar.

Similarly, while riding the car or bus or on board the aeroplane, I will use my pocket-sized Qur’an or book of Prophet's Duaas to recite, practise or revise those I know or learn those I do not know.

This Ramadan, I will particularly watch my gaze. While glancing on a member of opposite sex, I will move my gaze away before I start evaluating or assessing the attractive features of looks, appearance or personality or before I start paying attention to or begin enjoying those attractions. I will not participate or listen to the comments of sexual nature that my colleagues, peers or friends make.

While remembering Allah in many other ways, I will more frequently ask for Allah's mercy in the first 10 days of Ramadan, invoke Allah's forgiveness in the second 10 days, and seek salvation from the Fire in the last 10 days. During the last ten nights, I will frequent the Duaas.

This Ramadan, I will be exceptionally charitable. The tears that fill my eyes when I see the scenes of devastation, disease, starvation, agony, displacement, killings, blown up bodies and severed limbs of poor, helpless people of Afghanistan, Palestine, Chechnya and Kashmir and elsewhere in the world will touch my heart and open my purse. I will send all my Zakah to them right at the beginning of Ramadan through trustworthy Islamic charities.

In addition to my Zakah, I will pay whatever I can spare from my family's necessities for helping those in dire need. I will avoid spending money on my home decoration etc, so that those who are in more need then me and my family can be helped.

Also this Ramadan, I will be generous and forgiving to my family, friends and the Muslim community at large. I will clear my heart from anger complaints, suspicion, jealousy, grudges or dislike against any of them.

I will be extra kind, accommodating, courteous, supportive and helpful to my non-Muslims neighbours and colleagues. I will find ways to have them participate in the blessings of Ramadan and happiness of Eid by sharing my food specialties with them or giving gifts and chocolates to them.

I will kick at least one of my bad habits such as arriving late for appointments or breaking promises. I will show up or do what I indicate I will do and I will show up or do so on time. If I am a smoker, this Ramadan, I will not smoke even after Iftaar, before Sahuur or at night. I will keep my mouth odour free for prayers and Allah's remembrance and my lungs, blood and heart from disease.

If I am a university student whose final exams are falling in Ramadan, my act of worship is to do my utmost best to study hard and get the best possible results, given that any moment that is not spent on studying is not spent in any other pursuit except in the remembrance of Allah or study of the Qur’an.

While travelling to/from or within campus or while taking a break from studies, I will automatically shift to remembrance of Allah or recitation of the Qur’an. For my studies, I will keep timings that are consistent with the spirit of Ramadan, i.e. sleep early and get up very early.

Instead of staying up late at the risk of missing Sahuur or Fajr, I will adjust my body clock to Islamic lifestyle instead of the western lifestyle. When I get up to study at 2 or 3 a.m., I will start with two Raka'at of Tahajjud and then continue with my studies. After Fajr, I will still spend 15-20 minutes on the study of Tafseer even on exam days. If I succeed this Ramadan in living as planned above, I will be able to look back and rejoice on the day of Eid and will work more hard towards hasanat through out the year insha Allah.
May Allah help us with our pious plans.