Fareeha was beaming from head to toe, and why not! It was her wedding day today! Although she had to make preparations for it,  her first stop was the wedding halls.  Most were already booked, but at last, after hours of roaming around, she finally found an empty one for the day.  However, she had to pay double the price. With a sigh of relief, she then rushed to a dress designer. The magnificent ones she admired needed to be ordered days before so she could only choose from the readymade ones. Next, she rushed to…..

I’m very sure this does not happen! Preparations for such a grand occasion are not left for the last moment! The risk is not taken.

Beautiful days, splendid nights, a thirty-day bonus spree in the malls of Jannah, buy one, get seventy free! 75% discount on every item purchased! A huge sale will so be open to everyone.  However, everyone will get a share only according to their effort.

Yes.  Rajab is here and Ramadan is just around the corner!  Do you want to make the most out of this opportunity? Then, get ready and plan! Prepare your hearts for the imaan recharging journey in the month of Ramadan. Our pious predecessors used to start preparing for Ramadan days before it arrived.

Rajab is one of the four sacred months. Although there is no particular act of worship prescribed in the Sunnah for the month of Rajab, the salaf used to increase in their ibadah and recitation of Quran.

Abu Bakr Al-Balkhi said: “The month of Rajab is the month for planting, the month of Shaban is the month of irrigating the crops and the month of Ramadan is the month of harvesting the crops.”

Below are some pointers for Ramadan preparation:

1. Dua: Start making dua for good physical health and a healthy imaan to carry out good deeds in the month of Ramadan.  Ask AllahSWT to allow you to see Ramadan, give you the ability to do good deeds and accept it from you.  Moreover, make a list of duas you are going to ask during the month of Ramadan, at the time of Iftar and on the night of Qadr.
2. Islamic Knowledge: Decide and collect all the Islamic lectures and books that you aim to listen to and read during Ramadan.
3. Quran: Ramadan and Quran are two inseparable friends.  Increase your time with the Quran from now and plan your relationship with the Quran in Ramadan; how much recitation you will do each day, which tafseer you’re going to read and how much time you will spend on recitation and contemplation.
4. Gain Knowledge about Ramadan: Read books about Ramadan; the virtues of this month and the rulings of fasting. This way, we can avoid making mistakes and spend the month in the manner most loved by Allah.
5. A productive Taraweeh: In these two months, try and read the summary of each Surah/Juzz in the Quran so that you get the gist of what you’ll be hearing in the Taraweeh.
6. Activities for Children: Plan the special activities you’ll be doing with kids and what you’ll be teaching them.  For example, reading the tafseer of particular Surahs, doing some charity work, or activities about the phases of the moon etc. Many Ramadan activity books are available on the Internet for free.
7. Laylatul Qadr: Plan how you’ll be spending the last ten nights. What adhkar will you do? What duas will you make? What type of ibadah will you perform? How will you engage your whole family to make this night productive?
8. Making up obligatory fasts:

It was narrated that Abu Salamah said:”I heard Aishah (may Allah be please with her) say: “I would owe fasts from the previous Ramadan and I would not be able to make them up except in Shaban.”” 1

Scholars comment that from her keenness to make up her fasts before Ramadan it may be understood that it is better not to delay making them up until another Ramadan begins.
9. Fasting in Shaban: Train yourself for fasting by practicing for a few days in Shaban. The Messenger of AllahSAWS used to fast a lot in Shaban.

It is reported that Aisha (may Allah be please with her) said: “I never saw the Messenger of AllahSAWS complete a month of fasting except Ramadan, and I never saw him fast more in any month than in Sha’baan.”2

It was narrated that Usaamah ibn Zayd said: “I said: “O Messenger of AllahSAWS , I do not see you fasting in any month as you fast in Sha’baan?” He said: “That is a month that people neglect between Rajab and Ramadan, but it is a month in which peoples’ deeds are taken up to the Lord of the Worlds and I would like my deeds to be taken up when I am fasting.”” 3

Please share your ideas and suggestions on how we can start preparing ourselves for Ramadan in the comments section below. We would love to hear your thoughts. 🙂

  1.   Bukhari & Muslim
  2.   Bukhari & Muslim
  3.   Sunan an Nisai -Authenticated as Hasan by Albani

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24 replies on “From Rajab to Ramadan”

  • habeebishola25@gmail.com'
    habeeb
    May 13, 2014 at 6:36 am

    Jazaakum Allah khaer for the beautiful reminder. Can’t wait to experience this year Ramadan.

    • fhkhatibi@yahoo.com'
      FATIMA
      May 13, 2014 at 12:38 pm

      Barakallahu feeqi!!! This is armament for the Ibaadur Rahmaan. Let us arm ourselves to make the month of Ramadaan devoid of regrets.Almighty Allah (swt) blessed us with these preceding months so we can harness our actions, character , Ibadaat to achieve a splendid outcome… Jazakillahu khairan for reminding us and adding to our anticipation.

  • sweetsimple63@hotmail.com'
    saleem
    May 26, 2014 at 6:05 pm

    Very nice knowledge I got

  • tokku2000@gmail.com'
    Haizan
    May 31, 2014 at 12:34 am

    Alhamdulillah.

  • tokku2000@gmail.com'
    Haizan
    May 31, 2014 at 12:38 am

    Barakallahu feek..

  • ather1977@yahoo.com'
    Ather Ghias
    May 31, 2014 at 1:19 am

    Good Reminder

  • […] From Rajab to Ramadan | Islamic Online University Blog. […]

  • wakasoalameen@yahoo.com'
    Aminu wakaso
    May 31, 2014 at 5:28 am

    I’m looking for something like this since and I got this. Alhamdulilah

  • amatuz_zehra@yahoo.com'
    May 31, 2014 at 7:52 am

    Subhan Allah!I liked this article so much.It is really helpful.

  • rabeyapenny22@gmail.com'
    Rabeya Penny
    May 31, 2014 at 8:14 am

    Alhamdullilla very good reminder jazaakum allha. ..

  • justicehajara@yahoo.com'
    hajara
    May 31, 2014 at 8:39 am

    Ma sha Allah this is very educative Jazakillah khairan

  • Assia1010kias-gherzi@hotmail.fr'
    Assia Kias
    May 31, 2014 at 11:35 am

    Jazak ALLAH kheiran

  • Shaziash1@yahoo.com'
    Mrs Shazia
    May 31, 2014 at 11:45 am

    Mashaallah

  • osman.kamara45@yahoo.com'
    osman kamara
    May 31, 2014 at 11:36 pm

    PEACE,be upon u brothers.I will like to get more information about Islam,the holy Quaran and hadith,especially during the holy month of Ramadan.I will also like for u to share with me,how Muslim shall behave during and after Ramadan.THANKS,it,s osman.

  • wiylahnyuyabubakar@gmail.com'
    Wiylahnyuy Abubakar
    June 1, 2014 at 11:19 am

    JAZAK ALLAHU KHAIRAN

  • […] Original Post: Islamic Online University Blog […]

  • ishola__kabeer@outlook.com'
    abdulkabeer jimoh
    April 30, 2016 at 2:51 am

    Oh Allah bless muslims worldwide aamin

  • haroonwaris@gmail.com'
    Haroon waris
    April 30, 2016 at 4:53 am

    Mashallah a good reminder at the right time

  • zahara.ambreen@gmail.com'
    Zahra
    April 30, 2016 at 8:17 am

    Thankyou for reminding and inspiring.

  • hmdd14@gmail.com'
    Hussain
    April 30, 2016 at 10:11 am

    Maa shaa Allah, Jazaakumullah Khair

  • amansulaiman92@gmail.com'
    April 30, 2016 at 11:44 am

    Barakallahu fiki ya utana fil islam

  • fullmeshcomputer@gmail.com'
    Musa Aliyu
    May 1, 2016 at 2:15 pm

    Jazakumullahu khairan.

  • reshki75@gmail.com'
    Rehema
    May 3, 2016 at 10:15 am

    Jazakallah kheir