~!~ Practical Tips in Preparation for Ramadan ~!~

[naz]

Responding to the question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a Senior Lecturer and Islamic Scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada states: Ramadan is an event that occurs in the life of the faithful, as individuals and as an Ummah, once a year. It is intended by Allah to help us to recharge our spiritual batteries and thus prepare us for the great mission of realizing His will on earth. Therefore, in order to benefit from Ramadan, we may do well to prepare for it by opening our hearts and minds to embrace it. Let me offer a few tips:

1.We should empower ourselves by learning as much as we can about the precise laws as well as the benefits of fasting.

2.We should ensure that we gain true benefits from our fasting, let us make sure to realize the spirit of fasting: this can only be done by abstaining, not only from food, drink, and ***, but also by strictly restraining our minds, hearts as well as our eyes, ears, hands, tongue, and so on.

3.We must embrace the spirit of fasting as stressed in Hadith: to be charitable and compassionate as much as we can.

4.We should strengthen our relationship with the Qur’an; for Ramadan is the month of the Qur’an.

5.We should engage in dhikr and condition ourselves to make it second nature.

6.Last but not least, we should build up our community through acts of charity and compassion and extending help to those in needs as much as we can.

Let us pray that we come out of Ramadan with our faith recharged, gaining strength in our faith and commitment and relationship with Allah.

[naz]