The holy month of Ramadan starts with the appearance of the new moon and brings blessings to Muslims worldwide. Greeting each other with Ramadanul Mubarak or Ramadan Kareem, Muslims welcome this month. Fasting begins with Sahur and ends with Iftar. As devoted Muslims fast for 29-30 days continuously, they need to take some preparations for Ramadan. Let’s find out some tips to prepare for Ramadan.
Ramadan`s Meaning and significance
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar which is very promising and holy. The holy Quran is the supreme religious scripture for Muslims in Islam. Muslims believe this holy book is a revelation from Allah (God). According to the holy Quran, Fasting (Roza) during Ramadan is mandatory for each adult and healthy Muslim.
According to Islam, fasting or Roza is the practice of abstaining from all kinds of foods, drinks, smoking, and sexual activity for some period. During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims observe fasting or Roza every day from dawn (before the Fazr prayer) to the Maghrib prayer time. And, the Muslim devotees will be rewarded by almighty Allah for enduring the pain of thirst and hunger during fasting.
In Ramadan, besides fasting, Muslims offer prayers to Allah in Salat, read passages from the holy Quran, donate to charity, and maintain a good lifestyle.
10 Useful Tips to Prepare For Holy Ramadan
Finish All Pending Fasts
If anyone has any pending fast which was missed in the previous Ramadan, she or he needs to complete that first. When someone is unable to complete the pending fastings due to some reasons like pregnancy, travel, sickness, etc., then it is imperative for that person to pay Fidyah as compensation for not fasting.
Fidya or Fidyah system is a kind of donation that must be paid through feeding the poor for not making up fasts missed in the last Ramadan on time.
Create a Ramadan To-Do List
As preparation for Ramadan, an individual can write down everything he or she needs to do for his or her own self or own family. The list can also include things he or she wishes to do for needy people. The checklist may include plans for donation, shopping, food processing, cleaning, etc.
Processing of Raw Food Ingredients
During cooking diverse kinds of ingredients are applied like onion paste, ginger paste, chili paste, etc. These raw ingredients can be preserved in the freezer for months. Preparations of these raw ingredients at home need time and effort. Making this preparation in advance can save an individual valuable time and energy during fasting hours.
Maintain Nutritious Diet
During the holy month of Ramadan, devoted Muslims fast (Roza) from dawn to dusk. Fasting throughout the whole of Ramadan is a challenge for both mind and body. It is essential to maintain a well-balanced diet before and during Ramadan.
Maintaining a balanced diet can help to keep blood sugar normal and supply energy. Consulting with a doctor or nutritionist, whole grains, fresh fruits, vegetables, milk, yogurt, eggs, nuts, etc should be added to the regular diet to prepare the body for Ramadan fasting.
Donate Clothes and Goods
Ramadan is the month when many devoted Muslims do charity which is a great way to help others. It would be nice to arrange clothes and other items for donation and start the holy month with a little act of kindness.
Grocery Shopping for Ramadan
Besides maintaining a healthy diet before Ramadan, Muslim devotees can make meal plans for what to eat in Sahur and Iftar. A perfect diet for Ramadan may include oatmeal topped with fruit and nuts, bread with a boiled egg, vegetable soup, chicken soup, whole-grain toast with a glass of low-fat milk, etc.
Therefore, it is wise to do the grocery shopping for one or two weeks before starting Ramadan. It will save fasting Muslims from the stress and fatigue of visiting kitchen markets physically.
Recite the Holy Quran
Muslims are suggested to recite the Quran and reflect on the verses in their real life to get closer to Allah Almighty. Therefore, before Ramadan starts, Muslims can preserve a flexible time and cozy place to recite the holy Quran. This habit can be easily continued during Ramadan fasting hours.
Adopt good habits
Ramadan is the time when Muslim devotees can form excellent religious routines. Muslims are encouraged to use the month of Ramadan to set Islamic resolutions and good habits. Ramadan is the ideal time and perfect time to cultivate and create healthy habits to continue throughout the year and the whole of life. However, practicing good habits before Ramadan can make the fasting hours cozier and healthier.
Before starting Ramadan, Muslims can follow some good practices like enjoying each meal by offering grace to Allah, being polite with others, taking time to offer prayers to the creator, performing charity, and more.
Clean the House
Depending upon the pre-Ramadan checklist, a Muslim devotee starts doing various chores in preparation for Ramadan. Thus, he or she can stay relaxed during the fasting hours during the holy month.
Not to mention, one of the most important chores is cleaning the house. Depending on the size of the home space, an individual can make a plan to carry out absolute cleaning attempts throughout the home including the kitchen, and dining. The home appliances like refrigerators, ovens, blenders and other necessary electronic equipment should also be cleaned before Ramadan.
Visit the Doctor
Visiting a doctor is another important thing to add to the Ramadan preparation checklist. If an individual experiences health concerns like cholesterol, diabetes, or high blood pressure that can hamper his or her fasting. Therefore, it would be wise to consult with a doctor beforehand.
Thus, Muslim devotees can minimize the risk of health problems during Ramadan. However, if someone is already taking medication, he or she needs to visit the doctor and take advice on how to revise the timings to fit himself or herself into the Ramadan fasting routine.
Bottom Line
Ramadan is a nice and holy time for self-analysis, self-improvement, kindness, and spirituality. Hence, Muslim devotees can begin Ramadan preparations in Shaban to stay healthy during the fasting month, and successfully enjoy the blessings of the holy month.
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