PRE-RAMADAN CECKLIST
If we fail to plan ---->then we are planning to fail.
(Any preparation done for Ramadan becomes acts of worship, so do it happily)
1) DO ALL NECESSARY SHOPPING.
Purchase all Ramadan groceries, necessities, Eid clothing & Eid gifts so that in Ramadan shopping trips can be limited or even better.. avoided. Keep in mind all the little odds & ends that we usually run to the shops for..
2) SALAAH CLOTHES
Have a special set of clothes to use for reading salaah at home. The 5 salaah are the most important appointments of our daily lives. We are standing before the King of kings & should be dressed in our finest clothes, definitely not in our pj’s, worn out smelly kaftans & kurtas.
(Buy/ make new ones or wash, iron & perfume existing ones)
3) PRAYER PLACE
Dedicate a space in ur home for ur daily worship – clean & ‘attar’ it.Stock it up with all that u need for ur ibadah- dua kitaabs, tafseer/ explanation of the Qur’aan , Ramadan literature/ q & a, Seerah lectures of our beloved Rasulullah sallallaahu alayhi wasallam ,Qur’aan cds. …For sisters in particular!
4) PLAN MEALS
Make a menu for Ramadan day1 until Eid Day. Prepare as much as u can so that the least amount of time will be spent in the kitchen. Keep in mind to keep meals simple & healthy & in moderation Ramadan is definitely not about gluttony & over-eating!
5) MAKE AN IBADAH (WORSHIP) SCHEDULE
Plan ur daily schedule ,how to fit in maximum ibadah time with the rest of ur daily responsibilities.
Set simple targets that u can manage & achieve.What is it that u want to achieve in Ramadan? How will u go about doing it? Write down everything then make dua to اللّه Subhana Ta’ala to enable u to meet ur goals.Its not about how much u can do but the consistency & quality u put into each act always for the pleasure of اللّه Subhana Ta’ala
6) DUA LIST
Make a complete, comprehensive list of what u desire for this dunya but more importantly for the Aakhira. |
Include in ur list who u need to make du’a for like ur loved ones, teachers, people who supported u in ur life , the sick, deceased, the oppressed & for the entire Ummah. Make dua for ur progeny too that اللّه
Subhana Ta’ala Grant them always the best in this world & the Hereafter
7) SUPER SPRING-CLEANING
Clean ur home thoroughly before the month starts. Ramadan is a very important Guest & u need to make ur home welcoming & comfortable for the Angels that will descend in large numbers during the blessed month. Don’t forget to get rid of any frames/ photos/ curtains/ throws/ pillows etc that have pictures of people,animals or anything animate as the Angels will not enter homes that contain such pictures & objects.. Also keep covered all toys & literature that have eyes.
8) SADAQA PREPARATION
Prepare the stuff u will donate. Make a note of people / institutions u will donate to. Go through every room of ur home & take out all the things that’s not in use for the last 3 months – the less u have, the less cluttered ur life becomes & the better u feel.
9). SPRING CLEAN UR HEART
The most important one on the list!!
Tie up loose ends socially. Make up with those u are not speaking to. Forgive even if u were the wronged one. Remember It takes a really great person to forgive first.
Get on the good side of parents, in-laws, husband/ wife, siblings, neighbours.
Our ultimate aim should be to go to sleep each night with a humble heart free of menace, revenge, envy & ill- feelings towards anybody. Start emptying ur heart out now!
10) COMPLETE UR CURRENT QUR’AAN KHATAM
If u currently reading the Qur’an, aim to finish the khatam so that u can start afresh in Ramadan.
11). LIST UR DEBTS – INTEND & TAKE ACTION TO FULFIL THEM
This includes:
debts to اللّه Subhana Ta’ala like ur missed salaah & fasts,
debts to Creation like money owed, things not belonging to u to be returned & promises made to honour.
