The month of Ramadan comes upon us once in the Hijri year, as Muslims from the east and west of the earth await it due to the importance of this holy month and its greatness with Allah Almighty, and below we will get to know how to prepare for Ramadan. and how to prepare the Ramadan preparation checklist.
Ramadan preparation checklist for 1444 Hijri – 2023
Dear Muslim, if you are looking for how to prepare for Ramadan? here is a checklist, which includes:
1. Sincere repentance
It is obligatory at all times, but since a great and blessed month will be approaching, it is more appropriate for him to hasten to repent of the sins between him and his Lord.
2. Dua
It has been reported on the authority of some of the predecessors that they used to pray to Allah for six months to make them reach Ramadan, then they would pray to Him for five months after that until it was accepted by them.
Recommended reading: Ramadan Dua List: Essential Dua’s for the Holy Month
3. Set your intention
The intention for fasting is: that the fasting person intends to fast, and it is necessary for the validity of the fast, according to the agreement of the scholars. Because fasting is an act of worship, and worship is only valid with intention. For Allah Almighty says: {﴿وما أمروا إلا ليعبدوا الله مخلصين له الدين}.
Sincerity means intention, and in the hadith: “Actions are but by intentions.” Whoever fasts without intention, his fast is not valid by consensus. And the intention must be stated in the obligatory fast on the night of fasting according to the majority, contrary to For the tap, and as for supererogatory fasting; It extends until it disappears.
The time for the intention to fast begins at the beginning of the first part of the night, and the whole night is a time for the intention in it. And it is necessary to set the intention for the night in the obligatory fast. The Hanafis hold that it is permissible to extend the time for the obligatory and supererogatory intention until before noon.
Schedule your day between Salah, Zikr, Quran reading, and Dua
It should be noted that acts of worship in the month of Ramadan are not limited to a specific type of them, such as dhikr and reading the Qur’an. Rather, all acts of worship and good deeds are recommended, including supplication;
Therefore, it is worthy of a Muslim to be careful about it during the holy month of Ramadan, so that he does not forget it, or overlook it, with the need for knowledge and certainty that Allah Almighty will inevitably answer the supplication of His servant. By giving him what he asked for, or by saving the answer for a reward that he will receive on the Day of Resurrection, or by diverting harm, evil, or affliction from him.
As the Prophet- peace and blessings be upon him- explained in the Sunnah of the Prophet’s conditions and fire in the month of Ramadan, saying: “If the symbols of the rituals of Paradise are opened, the father of hell is closed, and the hell of the hell is closed. And the chapters of the chapters, month of Ramadan, and it announces that the supplications of those who are fasting will be answered, and their deeds will be accepted. Just as adhering to worship in the month of Ramadan is one of the best Ramadan preparation checklists.
Get organized and add an exercise routine
Turning from the acts of worship to the customs followed in the Ramadan preparation checklist. Usually, in the month of Ramadan, most of us have less physical activity, especially during the period before and immediately after Iftar. But nutrition and fitness experts are unanimous in the importance of exercise in Ramadan, whether during or after fasting, in order to maintain or prevent weight gain.
Sports in Ramadan are considered fuel for our bodies, as it helps the body to get rid of fat by consuming the stored fats from it, and thus turn into energy because the body during fasting lacks carbohydrates. And sugars necessary to provide the body with the required energy. When exercising, the body uses the stored and accumulated fats and thus helps maintain weight and health together.
Establish a Quran reading routine
If you are looking for how to prepare for Ramadan? Here, dear Muslim is the solution. As Muslims can complete the Holy Qur’an once in the month of Ramadan. By reading a part every day, as the part consists of twenty pages, and it is divided into four parts, which are read at four different times. Each part of which is five pages, so the first five pages are read after the Fajr prayer, and the second five after the noon or afternoon prayer, then five pages after the prayer. Maghrib, then the last five pages are read after Taraweeh prayer, or at the time of Suhoor, and thus the Muslim has completed the Qur’an once in the month of Ramadan easily and smoothly.
Read also: Reading the Quran During Ramadan: Benefits & Etiquette
Create healthy eating habits
Breaking the fast with three dates is a traditional and healthy way to start your iftar meal, as dates are rich in fiber. And eat a lot of vegetables for breakfast to provide your body with vitamins and nutrients, in addition to whole grains to provide your body with energy and fiber.
Enjoy lean meats, skinless chicken, and fish, whether grilled or baked, for a good portion of healthy protein. In general, avoid fried or processed foods that are high in fat or sugar. Enjoy your meal and avoid overeating by eating slowly.
Further reading: 5 Health benefits of fasting during Ramadan
Cut Down on Caffeine
One of the best ways to Ramadan preparation checklist is not that Cut back on caffeine gradually and slowly. A sudden stop shocks your body and makes your symptoms worse. So you have to eat some of it in the first days of Ramadan so that you can get used to completely getting rid of its withdrawal symptoms if you want to stop using it permanently.
Keep your body hydrated with enough water; Dehydration increases caffeine withdrawal symptoms such as headaches and fatigue, so you should drink adequate amounts of water when you decide to stop consuming caffeine.
Decorate your home with Ramadan touches
Ramadan decorations are among the most important Ramadan preparation checklist as well as one of the most important things that bring joy and pleasure, and it does not have to be very expensive, but you can add inexpensive elements and implement them yourself to add a Ramadan atmosphere to the home.
Read also: 8 Ideas For Ramadan Gifts: Both Friends And Kids
Make a Ramadan calendar
There are a lot of good deeds that you can include in the Ramadan preparation checklist, so if you are looking for how to prepare for Ramadan? here are the steps:
1. Fasting
It is a duty that must be completed daily, and it has 3 grades:
- The common fast: abstaining from things that break the fast only (one degree).
- The fast of the elite: like the fast of the common people, in addition to preventing the limbs from committing sins (two degrees).
- The fasting of the elite: like the fast of the elite in addition to preventing the heart from what distracts it from Allah.
2. The obligatory prayer:
And its reward is seventy times double in Ramadan, and it is either performed in the congregation or prayed individually
3. Sunnahs of prayer:
Certain Sunnahs of prayer are the Sunnahs preserved by the Prophet, may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him, and they are 12 rak’ahs (2 before dawn – 4 before noon – 2 in the afternoon – 2 after sunset – 2 after dinner). The other is the forenoon prayer.
4. Qiyamullail:
The Qiyamullail are those that are performed after dinner until before dawn, and they have a special virtue in the month of Ramadan, and they can be performed in groups or individually, and their best times are in the last third of the night.
5. Reading the Qur’an:
Those who fast accept the recitation of the Noble Qur’an in Ramadan because of its double reward in Ramadan, so they complete the Qur’an one after the other.
6. Dhikr “Zikr”
Allah has praised the men and women who remember Allah a lot, and Allah has commanded the Muslims to remember Him a lot, and the dhikr extends throughout the day and night. It is done 5 times after each prayer (concluding prayer), and twice at sunrise and sunset (morning and evening remembrances). And in the conditions of the day and night (sleep and wakefulness – exit and entry – beginning and ending – before and after food).
Conclusion
In our article today, we discussed how to prepare for Ramadan. and that was through the Ramadan preparation checklist that does not include fasting, prayer, remembrances, and supplications, as well as healthy eating habits.
FAQs
What do you do on the first day of Ramadan?
Religious scholars have confirmed that the intention is a definite condition for the validity of fasting Ramadan, and therefore everyone who intends to fast must make the intention with his tongue or with his heart in any part of the night. Even a moment before dawn, and it is also permissible to make the intention once for all days of the month of Ramadan. Or every night, because the Prophet – may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him – said: “He who does not spend the night fasting, then there is no fasting for him.”