Umm Maryam, Author at ProductiveMuslim.com https://productivemuslim.com/author/almusaafira/ Meaningful Productivity That Connects This Life With The Hereafter Thu, 03 Jan 2019 18:26:36 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.2 https://productivemuslim.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/favicon-180x180.png Umm Maryam, Author at ProductiveMuslim.com https://productivemuslim.com/author/almusaafira/ 32 32 8 Ways to Revive Your “Ramadan-Relationship” with the Qur’an https://productivemuslim.com/revive-your-ramadan-relationship-quran/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=revive-your-ramadan-relationship-quran https://productivemuslim.com/revive-your-ramadan-relationship-quran/#comments Mon, 28 Aug 2017 05:00:55 +0000 https://productivemuslim.com/?p=15359 It has been two months since the blessed month of Ramadan. During this time, and for the next two months, the companions of the Prophet Muhammad would make Du’a that their Ramadan was accepted from them. What about us? Have we forgotten about the progress we made? Have we continued the beautiful actions we did?

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It has been two months since the blessed month of Ramadan. During this time, and for the next two months, the companions of the Prophet Muhammad ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) would make Du’a that their Ramadan was accepted from them. What about us? Have we forgotten about the progress we made? Have we continued the beautiful actions we did? What is your motivation to continue once this blessed month has long passed?

The month of Ramadan is widely known as the month of the Qur’an. One of the many beautiful things about Ramadan is that it is the month where almost everyone makes an extra effort to have a special relationship with the Qur’an, whether it is increasing recitation, or pondering more over the meaning of the great verses.

This year, Ramadan flew past and left us within a blink of an eye. Although we may feel saddened, Ramadan is a training period for the rest of the year – it shows you your potential for worship, good character, and avoidance of sin. But, as Ramadan goes further away from us, it is easy to feel the temptation of sin, and the laziness to continue to do good. Therefore, we need to continuously remind ourselves of the benefits of Ibadah, so that we feel that we truly cannot live without it.

So, with the aim of inspiring you to continue your revived ‘Ramadan-relationship’ with the Qur’an, I wanted to share the ways you could use the Qur’an to its maximum potential to benefit you in this world and the Hereafter. Knowing the benefits of the Qur’an will enable you to renew and make multiple good intentions every time you recite it and what better way to return to the Qur’an than during the blessed days of Dhul-Hijjah! RasulAllah ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said,

“There are no days during which the righteous action is so pleasing to Allah than these days (i.e., the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah).” He was asked: “O Messenger of Allah, not even Jihad in the Cause of Allah?” He ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) replied, “Not even Jihad in the Cause of Allah, except in case one goes forth with his life and his property and does not return with either of it.” [Sahih al Bukhari]

And one of the best actions for a believer is to recite Qur’an, understand it, and act upon it. So let’s make the Qur’an an essential part of our lives – starting now!

Change the way you think about time

Unfortunately, for many after Ramadan, time with the Qur’an can seem like a chore or time that could be spent doing something else.

“Reading Qur’an can be done at any time! I mean, I read enough Qur’an during Salah! Right now, I need to answer my emails, revise for my exam and complete the housework!”

The first thing we need to do is change the way we think about time. Time well spent does not always have to be in doing something that will further your career, help you in your exams, or make your house cleaner! Why do we rush Salah and give up time for Qur’an recitation, but we are meticulous when it comes to our errands or work? We must internalise that any time spent reciting and pondering over the Qur’an can never be wasteful or better replaced, the same way charity does not decrease wealth. It is a trick of Shaytaan that when we are reciting Qur’an, we suddenly remember something we had forgotten for so long, suddenly thinking of all the things we need to do, or we unexpectedly feel so sleepy.

The truth is, is that there are so many divine blessings (barakah) in reading Qur’an, that this act of worship will make the rest of your day seem so much longer, and make your tasks seem much easier. Your productivity will increase because you put the worship of Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) above all material things. Most importantly, regularly giving time to the Qur’an will bring you lasting peace and tranquillity – soon enough, your heart will feel incomplete when you miss a day of reading Qur’an.

Beating the biggest time-waster: Smartphones and social media

How much time do you spend during the day on entertainment? How many social media accounts do you own? Instagram? Facebook? Twitter? Snapchat? Tumblr? All of the above?! Any I’ve forgotten?

The answer to this requires some honesty with yourself. We may spend most of our day working, studying or taking care of our families, but how many times do you log on to social media for a quick scroll? A person might check their Facebook or Instagram with the intention to spend two or three minutes, and then look to see that more than ten minutes have passed! In this wasted time, just think of how many ayahs of the Qur’an could have been recited! Think of all the bad you may have seen, and all the good you missed out on.

Now, it is not practical to try and abandon social media completely, as it has inevitably become a huge part of our lives. But I truly believe that social media has become the biggest source of time wasting nowadays – and it will only get worse! We reach to social media to relax and unwind when actually it probably does the exact opposite.

The key is to be able to assess yourself and do everything in moderation. If you check your social media four times a day, for ten minutes at a time, you could aim to reduce that to three times a day, for five minutes at a time, and use the time saved to recite just a few verses of the Qur’an. When you dedicate yourself to this, in time you will find that spending that much time on social media seems so worthless, your mind feels unstimulated, and you will feel as if you gain no benefit from it.

Now, let’s explore all the ways we can “use” the Qur’an for our own benefit…

1. Use the Qur’an as an intercessor

One of the great benefits of keeping the Qur’an off the shelf, through regular and plentiful recitation and pondering on the Ayah’s, will cause It to intercede for you on the Day of Judgement, bringing you closer to a good reckoning in sha Allah. The Messenger of Allah ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said,

“Fasting and the Qur’an will intercede for a person on the Day of Resurrection. Fasting will say: O Lord, I kept him from his food and desires during the day; let me intercede for him. And the Qur’an will say: I kept him from sleeping during the night; let me intercede for him. And they will be allowed to intercede.” [Sahih Muslim]

Action point: Read the Qur’an often; you can recite from the Mushaf or your phone; revise the chapters you have memorised while sitting, standing and walking, and lengthen your salah with a variety of different chapters of the Qur’an.

2. Use the Qur’an as a proof for you

In a similar way to the Qur’an interceding for you, keeping your relationship with the Qur’an alive will be used as a proof for you on Yawm al-Qiyamah. The Messenger of Allah ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said,

“The Qur’an is evidence for you or against you.” [Jami` at-Tirmidhi]

So, if you read the Qur’an with conviction, believed in all its verses and stories; obey its commands and prohibitions within it, and respect the Qur’an as it should be, then it will be in your favour, on a Day where we will desperately need every single good deed on our scales. In contrast, if we neglect the Qur’an, we don’t ponder on its verses, fail to act upon it and do not fulfill our obligations towards it, the Qur’an will speak against you and be an opponent for you on the Day of Resurrection.

Action point: If you do not have a habit of reading Qur’an regularly, start by reciting one ayah a day for a week. Then increase to two ayahs a day for a week, and so on. Chances are, you will end up reciting more anyway!

3. Use the Qur’an to bond with Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)

The Qur’an is our first and main source for whenever we have any questions about anything – whether it is something like how and when to pray, about the history of those before us, or why we were created – the beautiful thing is that Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) is speaking directly to *you*. Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) says of the Qur’an:

“And We have sent down to you the Book as clarification for all things and as guidance and mercy and good tidings for the Muslims.” [Qur’an: Chapter 16, Verse 89]

So, to strengthen your connection with Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) by making a sincere effort to understand what you recite. This is particularly important for those who cannot understand Arabic. Whilst the recitation of Arabic is highly rewarded, we need to make the effort to read the translation and the Tafseer of the Qur’an whenever it is possible. The words of Our Creator should have a direct impact on our hearts to soften them, and understanding the verses and its complex meanings is crucial for this. A priority would be to read it in your own language to actualise its impact; often it can become ritualistic and the meaning isn’t given the awe it deserves.

Action point: Read the English translation alongside the Arabic – using an app is especially effective for this purpose. Make bookmarks of the verses you want to explore in more detail later. Also, look in your local area for Tafseer classes that you can attend weekly, which will give you the opportunity to ask questions about things you don’t understand, whilst being in a blessed environment. Alternatively, there are a wealth of tafseer courses available for free online.

4. Use the Qur’an to give you light in your heart

The prophet Muhammed ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) taught us a beautiful supplication for when we feel grief or sorrow:

“Whoever was afflicted with grief and distress and says (see the following dua), Allah, the Exalted and Ever-Majestic, will remove his grief and will change his sorrow into happiness.” It was said, “O Messenger of Allah! (Do) we have to learn these words?” He said, “Yes, whoever hears them should learn them.”

“O Allah, I am your slave, the son of your slave. My forelock is in Your Hand. Your judgment of me is inescapable. Your trial of me is just. I am invoking You by all the names that You call Yourself, that You have taught to anyone in Your creation, that You have mentioned in Your Book, or that You have kept unknown. Let the Qur’an be the delight of my heart, the light of my chest, the remover of my sadness and the pacifier of my worries.” [Ahmad]

In his commentary of this supplication, Ibn al Qayyim (may Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) be pleased with him) said:

“In this expression, the word ‘spring’ means “rain”, which brings life to earth. The Qur’an is compared to rain because it revives the hearts. The slave when making this dua, makes a similarity between water, which is the cause of life, and between light, which is the cause of brightness. So, the supplication implies that the heart is revived (elimination of worries and sorrow) by the spring of the Quran, for it is the light of the chest, a concept, which combines life and light.

This Dunya is full trials and injustices, so it important to nurture your heart to not feel despair. This Dua shows that the Messenger of Allah ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) recommended that we strive to make the Qur’an a source of peace and serenity, in a world where it is so easy to lose hope and be overcome with sadness.

Action point: Learn this Dua!

5. Use the Qur’an as a protector

There are many ways recorded in Sunnah about how the Qur’an can protect you, both from punishment in the Hereafter and from evils in this world too. For example:

 Action point: Make a list of the recommended verses or chapters from the Qur’an that are known to protect the human being, and memorise them. Reciting these should not form part of your daily portion of Qur’an – we should aim to make these a part of our day when leaving the home or before sleeping, for example.

6. Use the Qur’an as a cure

Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) says of the Qur’an,

“And We send down of the Qur’an that which is healing and mercy for the believers…” [Qur’an: Chapter 17, Verse 82]

The words of the Qur’an are a spiritual cure for all types of ailments – whether they are physical (e.g. a cold or flu), psychological (e.g. anxiety and depression) or spiritual (e.g. evil eye and magic). Although Islam does not prohibit the use of other treatments like medication, the Prophetic tradition is to seek the cure from the Qur’an. Surah al-Fatihah is also known to be a cure for illnesses.

“It was narrated from ‘Aa’ishah [ra] that the Prophet Muhammad ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) used to recite al-mu’aawidhaat [last three chapters of the Qur’an] and blow over himself during his final illness, and when he became too ill (to do that), I used to recite them and blow over him and wipe his hand on him for blessing.” [Sahih al-Bukhari]

Action tip: If you get ill, use the verses from the Qur’an alongside your other treatments. You can have many intentions when using the Qur’an as a cure; you will be reviving a great sunnah, you will be gaining reward from placing your trust in Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He), and you will be reciting the Qur’an!

7. Use the Qur’an to fill your scales

One of my most favourite things about reading Qur’an is that it is such an easy to way to gain millions of rewards – which is why it is recited so much during Ramadan. But this reward is available to gain during the rest of the year too! Prophet Muhammad ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said,

“[Whoever recites a letter] from Allah’s Book, then he receives the reward from it, and the reward of ten the like of it. I do not say that Alif Lam Mim is a letter, but Alif is a letter, Lam is a letter and Mim is a letter.” [Jami’ at-Tirmidhi]

Action point: Choose an ayah, count the number of letters in it and multiply it by ten. This is the reward that will fill your scales from simply reading one ayah. SubhanAllah!

8. Use the Qur’an to bring barakah in your life

I briefly discussed the link between the Qur’an and barakah in our time. The Qur’an is a fountain of barakah, especially when recited at blessed times, for example, after Fajr and during the last third of the night. Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) says,

“And this is a Book which We have sent down, blessed and confirming what was before it…” [Qur’an: Chapter 6, Verse 92]

Small, consistent recitation everyday ensures that the divine blessings will radiate in your daily life. As we have nurtured our connection with Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He), in sha Allah, He subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) will make everything in your life easy, whether you are experiencing ease or hardship.

Action point: Read the ProductiveMuslim’s articles on gaining maximum barakah from the Qur’an and how the Qur’an is a major source of blessings from Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He).

So, that seems like more than enough motivation for you and I to continue cultivating a relationship with the Qur’an and making it our most beloved companion. My last action point is to have a sincere intention to continue the efforts you made with the Qur’an during Ramadan. Even if you cannot commit to reading as much you did, having a dedicated time for the Qur’an everyday will be enough in sha Allah. Don’t forget to make multiple intentions by remembering all the ways we can “use” the Qur’an for our own benefit!

How will return to the Qur’an in these blessed days of Dhul Hijjah? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!

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How To Sustain the Spirit of Ramadan During Non-Fasting Days https://productivemuslim.com/ramadan-during-non-fasting-days/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ramadan-during-non-fasting-days https://productivemuslim.com/ramadan-during-non-fasting-days/#comments Mon, 23 May 2016 05:00:26 +0000 https://productivemuslim.com/?p=11016 Ramadan is a time we all prepare for in anticipation for all the extra rewards and closeness to Allah we can gain during this precious month. Although we may be fasting, Ramadan should be the most productive time of the year, spiritually, socially and personally. However, sisters face a different productivity challenge due to menstruation

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Ramadan is a time we all prepare for in anticipation for all the extra rewards and closeness to Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) we can gain during this precious month. Although we may be fasting, Ramadan should be the most productive time of the year, spiritually, socially and personally.

However, sisters face a different productivity challenge due to menstruation or post-natal bleeding. As we are unable to fast, pray taraweeh or qiyam or read Qur’an from the mushaf, the non-praying period can often lead to a feeling of distance and spiritual loss from the benefits of Ramadan.

Think about it: you have started Ramadan in full swing, with good habits and ibadah, enjoying fasting and the spirit that comes with it. Then all of a sudden, you can’t pray and fast for the next week! How do you proceed? How can we continue to feel the spiritual high, instead of slacking and becoming lazy?

In this article, I will share practical tips and advice on how you can use the non-fasting days to sustain your spirituality during Ramadan, and make the most of the short, invaluable time that we have.

 

Realise the blessing of Ramadan

When we realise the value of the month of Ramadan, we see that not one second can go to waste, as every second can be spent in gaining reward, by both intention and physical action. It is difficult enough for sisters to maintain ihsan (excellence) in all the roles we have during a normal month in the year, let alone Ramadan, and the non-praying period adds yet another productivity challenge! So, this is an ideal time to remind ourselves of the virtues of Ramadan:

Allah’s Messenger ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said:

“When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of the heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained.” [Sahih al Bukhari]

What we must remember is that praying salah, reading Qur’an from the mushaf and fasting are not the only ways to worship Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He). This is especially important for women who are in their post-natal period, as they have a much longer time without obligatory acts of worship. As Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) has granted this concession Himself, we do not lose out on the reward when we are unable to fast or pray! However, we will be held accountable for any time wasted during the non-praying period, especially if it is not spent with the intention of worshipping Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He). Ramadan does not unfortunately make us immune to committing sinful acts; just as in the rest of the year, the non-praying period can often lead sisters to slipping into bad habits and laziness, due to the the sudden break we get from our obligatory duties. This has a domino effect as it can make it twice as hard to return to good ibadah when the menstrual or post-natal period is over. When we remind ourselves of the blessings attached to worship in Ramadan, it provides more motivation to fill our non-praying days with other acts of ibadah.

Additionally, overall productivity and barakah in other areas of our lives – professional, social and personal – are dependent on how we worship Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He). When we invest time into actions to worship Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) during the non-praying period, we ensure that we not only sustain our spiritual productivity, but our worldly productivity too, and this is especially important during Ramadan. When you can start fasting and praying again, you will find it so much easier to get back into the flow of Ramadan, and you won’t feel detached from that ‘Ramadan feeling’.

Three women, different challenges

Muslim women face a number of productivity challenges due to the number of different roles they play on a day-to-day basis. Have a look at the challenges faced by three fictional women and think of ways they can make the best of their non-fasting days.

Case 1: Salmah Mahmood – The Overtime Mother

Salmah is a stay-at-home mother to Abdullah and 9-year-old Hafsah. Abdullah was born a few days before Ramadan, so Salmah is not fasting or praying due to post-natal bleeding. Between breastfeeding her new son, homeschooling Hafsah and cooking iftar for her husband, Salmah barely has time to think about ibadah during Ramadan, let alone schedule in more acts of worship!

Case 2: Fatima Omar – The Pregnancy Dilemma

Fatima is pregnant for the first time and is due to have her baby in the third week of Ramadan. So far, her pregnancy has been normal but coming to the end of her pregnancy, Fatima is beginning to feel more tired and is looking forward to the start of her maternity leave from her office job. Having done lots of research and after speaking to medical professionals, Fatima has decided to fast on alternate days to keep her energy up, especially with long hours of fasting in hot weather. She still wants to keep up her ibadah until the birth of her baby, but is finding it difficult to be fully productive both spiritually and professionally between her job and the fatigue she is feeling from being heavily pregnant.

Case 3: Zahra Ali – The Working Muslimah

Zahra is a midwife at a nearby hospital where she works long hours, both during the day and at night. Zahra is fasting but she is due to start her menstrual period around 15th Ramadan, during which she is hoping to get extra sleep and rest as she won’t be going for taraweeh prayers or wake up at Fajr time for suhoor. However, she doesn’t want to lose the ‘Ramadan feeling’ and get lazy during her non-praying period.

What advice would you give to these women to sustain their spiritual productivity during non-fasting days? Let’s take a look at the following actions and see how these busy women can implement some of them when they are not fasting or praying.

Alternative ways to worship Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)

The key to sustaining productivity when you are not praying is to realise the innumerable ways we can worship Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) aside from fasting and salah.

An important thing to remember is that with all the roles that we play, whether you are a mother, wife, student or a professional (or all of the above!), fulfilling these roles with ihsan (excellence) and with the intention to please Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) makes it worship! For example, in the case of Salmah Mahmood who cannot fast and pray due to post-natal bleeding, when she feeds her baby, changes nappies and generally supports her child, she is being rewarded for those acts. Even if you can only fit in one of the following acts of ibadah, whatever you do out of longing for the pleasure of Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) is a form of worship. It may not be possible to do all of the following actions, but have the intention to do a few select ones that are easy for you, and focus on those this Ramadan.

1. Purify your intention

Everything begins with intention, whether you are fasting or not. The greatest deed could be rejected by Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) if we did not have the correct intention to begin with. When I feel like my intention is not pure, I say out loud “my intention is solely for the pleasure of Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)” and repeat this until the doubt is removed. All three of the women above can gain reward using this method as much as they can during Ramadan, to make sure every deed has a refined intention behind it.

2. Block out time for ibadah

It may not be easy for Salmah, Fatima or Zahra to plan a comprehensive schedule for the second half of Ramadan. To optimise your non-praying days, block out a certain amount of time (it doesn’t have to be at the same time everyday) to fulfill at least one of the actions listed here and make a firm intention to complete this everyday. This will keep the spirit of Ramadan alive even when you cannot pray and fast, In sha Allah.

3. Make a dua list

Write two dua lists: one that contains personal desires and wants, and another with duas from the Qur’an and sunnah (all the ‘Rabbana’ duas from the Qur’an, for example). Make these duas at the recommended times, like during the last third of the night, at iftar time and during rainfall.

4. Engage in constant dhikr

Dhikr is a beautiful way to remain connected to Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) at a time when it is so easy to feel distant. Try and complete your morning and evening adkhar, increase salawat upon Prophet Muhammad ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) and fill your minutes with precious istighfar. Dhikr is an especially effective tool for busy mums like Salmah, as you can feel connected to Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) even when you are running around after your kids.

5. Stay connected to the Qur’an

Stay connected to the Book revealed during this month by listening to your favourite reciters and/or reading easy translations and tafseer. Ponder the meaning of the Qur’an and aim to implement one ayah every day or to the best of your ability. Listening to a good, medium-paced recitation is a fantastic way to aid with memorisation too. This is a great action for all three busy women in our case studies above, as Salmah can listen to Qur’an while breastfeeding, Fatima can read an easy translation when she is resting, and Zahra can read tafseer from an app on her phone during her commute to and from work.

6. Seek knowledge

Fatima, who isn’t fasting due to pregnancy, can select a book or watch a series of lectures to gain and apply as much knowledge as possible. She can do this while lying down and relaxing, or when she is heading home after work. Even Salmah and Zahra can watch one of many YouTube Ramadan series and podcasts by renowned scholars at their convenience.

7. Earn the reward of fasting!

When Zahra Ali returns from a long shift at the hospital, all she can think about is putting up her feet and relaxing! However, she remembers that there is a huge reward in giving iftar to the one who is fasting. So make the most of the extra time and energy you have during non-fasting days to help your family prepare iftar, send iftar over to the neighbors or to those breaking their fast at the local mosque as Prophet Muhammad ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said:

“Whoever gives food for a fasting person to break his fast, he will have a reward like theirs, without that detracting from their reward in the slightest.” [Sunan Ibn Majah]

Similarly, Fatima and Salmah can plan to make simple iftars, and Salmah can enlist the help of her daughter when preparing food or doing household chores.

8. Get socially productive

Contributing on a social level is often neglected during Ramadan as we all focus on personal actions, but Ramadan is an ideal time to invest back into the community, especially with the extra energy and time you have during your non-praying days. Getting socially productive may be easier for working sisters to make the best out of their non-praying days.

  • Have spiritual boosters sessions at work. For example, when Zahra is working at the hospital, she can gather Muslim and non-Muslim women on her lunch break and have short 10-minute iman boosters about the virtues of Ramadan.
  • Fundraise for a charity that is close to your heart. This can be done so easily with social media and websites like JustGiving, or you can organise a productive iftar party to raise money.
  • Offer some iftar food to your neighbours or work colleagues. If they are non-Muslim, take the opportunity to give them information about Ramadan. All three of the women in the case studies, especially Fatima and Zahra, can make the most of this sunnah during their non-fasting days.

Making up missed fasts

Once Ramadan is over, we have to organise how we will make up the fasts we missed. Use a simple method to count missed fasts from previous Ramadan months. Begin making them up in small chunks soon after Ramadan, rather than waiting for the winter months; you will feel less overwhelmed as you check off your missed fasts during the year.

There you have it sisters! Follow these tips to invest in having a spiritually uplifting Ramadan even whilst you are not praying or fasting. Ensure you plan your time as effectively as you can and up your game on these days by doing more iman-boosting activities to remain connected to the spirit of Ramadan. May Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) fill your Ramadan with blessings and make it the most productive Ramadan yet! Ameen!

P.S: Benefited from this article? Join our Productive Ramadan Online Coursea simple, practical and complete blueprint for leading a Productive Ramadan inshaAllah!

 

Productive Muslim Academy Ramadan Online Course
http://productiveramadan.com/

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