Are you dreaming of paradise? Is it your goal? Are you eager to see Allah? If yes, prepare yourself, and do your best in the month of worship. Ramadan is your way to success. Ramadan is your way to paradise. So, make your regular supplication this month that Allah gives you patience and strength to fast this Holy month of Ramadan and worship Him in the best manner.

What is Ramadan actually about?

Ramadan is the most sacred month of the Islamic calendar. The Prophet Mohammed reportedly said, “When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of heaven are opened and the gates of hell are closed and the devils are chained.” So, Ramadan is a Muslim’s golden chance to increase his/her good deeds. Moreover, Muslims believe that during this month, the first verse of the Quran was revealed to Prophet Mohammed, on Laylat al-Qadr. During the whole month of Ramadan, Muslims fast every day from dawn to sunset. Ramadan is not only the month of fasting but also the time of spiritual discipline, and deep contemplation of one’s relationship with Allah, extra prayers, limitless generosity, and charity, and intense study of the Quran.

The holy month of worship:

When you receive a beautiful guest, how will you prepare to greet him/her properly? You will clean, decorate your home, and vary your food. Then you will open your guest with a big smile and warm welcome. This is like Ramadan which is only one month away. How do you prepare for these 30 days? First, put the intention that this month will be a positive turning point in your life not only a temporary change. Second, purify your heart from any whims that may corrupt your heart. Third, renew your relationship with Allah’s book the Holy Quran.

7 Interesting facts about Ramadan:

• Ramadan is the month of mercy, forgiveness, and freedom from the hellfire.
• In the Holy month of Ramadan, Allah shows great mercy to His creation.
• In Ramadan, Allah opens the gates of Paradise and closes the gates of the hellfire.
• Devils are restrained in Ramadan.
• Ramadan has a day that is better than a thousand months (the day of destiny).
• Fasting is a special act of worshipping as Allah said ” Fasting is for Me and I reward it. Every good action is rewarded by ten times its kind, up to seven hundred times, except fasting, which is for Me, and I reward it.’ “
• Lots of worshiping acts are recommended in that month, for example: giving charity to the poor and needy, praying night, optional prayers, returning to Allah in repentance, supplication, reciting Quran and Zakat al Fitr.

How should your day in Ramadan be like?

• Muslims have a special way of dealing with each day of Ramadan to make the best of it. As it is only a month a year but it has a special impact on our relationship with Allah and His book Quran as well as our soul and bodies.
• Firstly, Muslims wake up well before dawn to eat the first meal of the day (Suhur), which can last until sunset. After that, you can’t eat or drink anything.
• At dawn, we perform the morning prayer, and then you can say morning supplications.
• After that, you can wait till sunrise as it is recommended by the Prophet to recite the Quran. The Prophet said, ” If anyone, prays the dawn prayer in a company, then sits making mention of God till the sun rises, then prays two rak’as, he will have a reward equivalent to that for a hajj* and an ‘umra.” He reported God’s Messenger as adding, “A perfect one, a perfect one, a perfect one.”
• After sunrise, it is recommended to perform forenoon prayer (Salat al Duha). Allah said in Hadith Qudsi ” Messenger as stating that God who is blessed and exalted said, “Son of Adam if you perform four rak’as for me at the beginning of the day, I will supply what you need till the end of it.”
• It is recommended to pray all optional prayers as they increase your reward and compensate for your shortcomings in your prayers.
• After performing afternoon prayer, you can say afternoon supplication.

What shall we do when sunset prayer is due?

• When sunset prayer is due, it is recommended to hasten to break our fast as the Prophet said “The people will continue to prosper as long as they hasten the breaking of the fast.”
• After family gatherings on iftar to break the day’s fast, this is a special moment in Ramadan Muslims cares about having it.
• When sunset prayer is due and Muslims are about to break their fast, it is highly recommended to pray to Allah. As the Prophet ” There are three whose supplications are not turned back: A just ruler, and a fasting person until he breaks his fast…”
• After evening prayer, there is the night optional prayer (Taraweeh). Also, Taraweeh is a confirmed act of Sunnah.

To sum up, Ramadan is a month full of acts of worship that help Muslims to be closer to Allah and to gain great rewards. Ramadan also is your chance to make these acts of worship not only in this Holy month but to be daily your habits.