- management@smallchangesmy.org
By Rushdina Sofea and Maira Athirah
Our days never look the same as the people around us although we have the same 24 hours. Some of us attend classes in the mornings and afternoons because we’re students, some are busy working their corporate jobs and some might be running errands for their families.
Even so, when Ramadan comes around we all share a routine of fasting from dawn to dusk because it’s one of the obligatory acts of worship that we practice in order to uphold one of the five pillars of Islam.
This holy month is where Muslims race to do as many good deeds as possible to reap the rewards that Allah s.w.t. has promised us alongside fasting. It can be a challenge to find time to do extra prayers in the daily schedule that we have been so accustomed to. However, it is also important to remind ourselves that the arrival of Ramadan is not meant to burden us but to provide us with ease.
Umar Ibn Al-Khattab said that he heard the Prophet PBUH say; “Innamal A’malu Binniyat” (Sahih Bukhari), which means actions are dependent upon their intentions. One of the best reminders I receive in Ramadan is that the Almighty is The Most Generous and he will reward us for our intentions as he looks upon our sincerity.
We can look at this month as a reset button for those of us who have been too caught up with the hustle and bustle of today’s culture. Here are 3 ways to make Ramadan easy for you:
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Have focused goals.
In goal setting, the most important element is for it to be personalized and meaningful to you and your spiritual journey. Inspired by Dr. Omar Suleiman’s recent video, here are a few things he suggests we do to refine these goals. There are two that have stuck with me: creating a “to not do list” and a “to do list”. It is more important for us to focus on the former list because we need to remove the barricades that are in the path of His guidance -
Do what works for you.
A little goes a long way, so the best thing we can do for ourselves is make it simple for us to participate in acts of worship that fit seamlessly into our busy lives. Listen to your body; if you feel you can do more in the evening, take a power nap during the day to reenergize yourself. For example, if you want to take a nap, set the intention of resting so that you are able to power up and perform 8 rakats of taraweeh. Setting your intentions and realizing you’re doing it for Allah s.w.t. is a simple example of transforming an activity into an act of worship. -
Press the restart button.
You can restart at any time. Your day may look different from others and that is completely fine. If you feel you have fallen behind in your Ramadan goals, give yourself permission to press the restart button tomorrow. It doesn’t make you less of a muslim if you fall short on a few goals. Be gentle with yourself. This month is a spiritual journey that is a secret between us and our creator.
I hope this Ramadan will help us to restore balance and tranquility in the spiritual aspect of our lives. With the days that remain, we can work on our routines and make Ramadan easier for all of us by tailoring the good deeds that best suit our needs.
