Relationship with Allah
How To Make The Most Of Ramadan 2017 (+ 5 Awesome FREE Planners)
May 25, 2017
Focus On 1/2 Goals
What matters most to you this Ramadan?
I know the excitement of Ramadan makes us eager to take on a gazzilion things to do – and who wouldn’t? It’s the most wonderful time of the year. This is the month that can change your destiny. I don’t say that lightly. This is the month to obsessively ask Allah for all that your heart desires in this world and the akhirah. When it comes to setting up ourselves for a productive Ramadan, it’s better to focus on 1/2 areas that you want to improve upon versus a checklist of 30 goals which you quit after a week.
Which 2 areas in your life would you love to transform? Is it your relationship with the Quran or the way you serve your parents? Is it the charity that you give or how often you remember Allah throughout the day? Choose 2 areas of your life that you want to lovingly transform – not change. But a lasting transformation that will remain beyond this blessed month. Changing is too easy – it implies that once the period is over, you can go back. With a transformation, there is no going back. Set your heart upon 1 or 2 areas that you want to nourish and expand for life.
Clean Your Heart Every Night
This is such a wonderful hadith – I can’t even explain how beautiful this is! Every night, check in with yourself and gently release any pain or hurt.
The Messenger of Allah (peace be uppn Him) was sitting with a group of the Sahabah in the mosque and he said “A man will now enter [who is] from the people of Paradise.” and a sahabi (companion) walked in. Later it happened again, and then a third time. ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘aas (may Allah be pleased with him) wanted to find out what was so special about this man, so he asked the man if he could stay over his house for 3 days. The man allowed him to stay. ‘Abdullah noticed that the man didn’t do anything out of the ordinary: He didn’t fast all the time, he slept some of the night and prayed some of the night, and so on. So after the 3 days, ‘Abdullah told him the real reason why he requested to stay with him, and he asked him what it was that could be the reason why he was from the people of Jannah. The man couldn’t think of anything, but after a bit he said “Every night, before I go to sleep, I forgive whoever has wronged me. I remove any bad feelings towards anyone from my heart.”
(Kitab al-Zuhd by Ibn al-Mubarak – Number 694)
Use This Time To Make Up Qadha (Missed) Prayers
Most of my readers are women and whether it’s missing prayer due to starting menstruation really early (i.e. in primary school) or not taking a bath on time (i.e. you finish your menstruation at Zuhr prayer but shower after Maghrib) – this month is perfect to catch up on your missed prayers. Start with taking account of how many prayers you’ve roughly missed – and please don’t worry if it’s years. Gently catch up on those prayers – wherever you can complete a missed prayer.
Be Emotionally Fulfilled From Within
As a woman, you are the emotional leader of your family. If you’re easily agitated, frustrated and hormonal – you’re family will pretty much reflect that straight back to you (trust me, I’ve been there! oh plenty of times 😉 ). Half the battle of dealing with other people is dealing with ourselves. Make sure you’re rested and abundantly flowing with self-love. Even if it’s 5 minutes a day of slow breathing/ making dua/ taking a quick walk in nature – do something that lights you up from within.
Have A Plan/ Checklist That Works For You
A plan that gives you enough structure to be motivated and driven, but at the same the flexibility to live and enjoy each fasting day. (Yep, I said enjoy – fasting should energize you not deplete you). I love having the bigger vision in mind but the day to day freedom to do what I like each day – that what works for me. For you it might be structuring out chunks of time throughout the day or even managing your time by the hour. Perhaps you like to organise your schedule weeks in advance. Play around and find what works for you.
I’ve searched all over the internet and social media for a 2017 Ramadan planner + printable. These are my top 5 printables. 1) They’re free – who doesn’t like a freebie? 😉 2) They’re simple yet effective 3) They’re pretty – using visually beautiful planners, stationary, calendars really motivates and uplifts me.
Click on the planner you want and it will take you straight to the download page inshaAllah.
This Ramadan, if all you have is 15 minutes a day to increase your ibadah, pour your heart and soul into that. Make sure your heart is trembling in awe of Allah and your eyes weeping in fear of Allah in those 15 minutes. I hope this post has inspired you and given you a few ideas to try out. If you’ve found this blog post inspiring, please share it with your family and friends and as always, let me know your thoughts below – I love hearing from you.
From my heart to yours, have a blessed and wonderful Ramadan!
Great content ma sha Allah. However I don’t understand what you mean by repaying missed salah. Can you please enlighten me more on that! JazaakiLlaahu khoyr!
Thank you lovely, sure! so for example any missed prayers would be lets say you weren’t practising at the time and salah was obligatory upon you/ if a girl starts her period at 12 and misses her prayers because she’s at school all day/ if you finish your period in the morning and bathe at night – those prayers after which you’re period finished are for you to make up – in all these cases salah was obligatory upon the person but for whichever reason they weren’t able to pray it – hence to make those up xx
subhan Allah this posts looks like it is written for me! I loved what you said about transformation & change – so true.
and I loved the line ‘women are emotional leaders of family!” how profound & true.
Of few posts that actually helped me reflect on myself- this is one for this Ramadan
Masha Allah..very useful post ,,worth reading it..thanks for sharing..so many pints are heart touching..
http://www.afreenskitchen.com
Jazakillah Khair for your kind words xx
This post is jam packed full of useful content. It always seems easier to focus on bettering yourself during Ramadan so I like your idea of choosing 2 things to transform and continuing with them after Ramadan. The Hadith is a lovely one. Forgiveness is so important. The free printables look great!
Thanks for your lovely comment ?
Masha’Allah some lovely advice and Jazaka’Allah khair for sharing the freebies.
In sha Allah your ramadan is going well.
It’s going good alhumdulilah not without it’s challenges though. I hope your having a blessed ramadan inshaAllah xx
Mashaa Allah such a beautifully written post ❤
Loved the freebies as well?
Thank you sweetie ? Hope you enjoy the goodies xx
Omw these are so cute!!!! Thank you for sharing! (www.spicyfusionkitchen.com and http://www.beautywithzainy.com)
Your welcome sweetie x
Love this post sis! I think, unfortunately, a lot of people stress quantity over quality during Ramadan. It’s truly not about that. It’s about making lasting changes, it’s about de-stressing and reflecting. Some people think they need a huge list of things to accomplish, but what’s the point if your stressing trying to cram it all in and not even letting it sink in your heart? I love the idea of just working on two aspects of your life, because you can give it your all and let it carry out after Ramadan, in shaa Allah.
I love what you just said “but what’s the point if your stressing trying to cram it all in and not even letting it sink in your heart?”Yes Girl!!! ????
Barakallahumma fih. Great tips! Assalamu in prayers! These are better rectified immediately.
I love the way you differentiated between change and transformation.
Jazak Allahul khair for the beneficial post.
BarakAllah fee I’m so glad it was of benefit xx
JazakiAllah khairan katheeran.
BarakAllah fee xx
Thanks this is a very good read. Do you have any advice for sisters who are feeling discouraged and disconnected?
Thank you darling ✨ Start where you are – do what you can do. Instead of trying to overwhelm yourself with extra Ibadah, especially when it’s hard to feel motivated, do what you can 🙂 If that’s 1 page of quran daily or an extra 2 rakat nafl salah – that’s way better than nothing at all.
Start easy with wherever you are – there is so much barakah and power in daily, small consistent actions.
I hope that helps xx
U don’t need to complete missed prayers due to periods. They’re forgiven.
Oh let me clarify, so after you’ve finished your period – the time in between you’ve finished your period and then bathe. For example, if you finish your period on Friday morning but have a bath on Saturday afternoon, the prayers missed in between those two times need to be made up (so not whilst your on your period). Hope that makes sense xx
Ma sha Allah such beautiful inspiring tips. Everything made simple! Jazak Allahu Khairan sis ❤
Alhmdlh..such soul warming advice..may Allah make us among those who practice with steadfastness..ameen…
Ameen 🙂 Thank you for your kind words, have a wonderful ramadan inshaAllah x
BarakAllah fee ????