A noble month and a magnificent season is approaching—a time God has honored above all other months. It is the month in which the Great Quran was revealed, and fasting was made obligatory as one of the five pillars of Islam.

Allah the Almighty says:

“O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.” (Surah Al-Baqarah: 183)

He also says:

“So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it.” (Surah Al-Baqarah: 185)

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) confirmed its status, saying:

“Islam is built upon five: testifying that there is no deity save Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishing the prayer, paying the Zakat, performing the Hajj, and fasting Ramadan.”

Essential Tips for Welcoming Ramadan Perfectly

My fellow Muslim, strive to welcome Ramadan with the following spiritual preparations:

1. Joy and Celebration

It is established that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to give glad tidings to his companions upon the arrival of Ramadan, saying:

“Ramadan has come to you, a blessed month. Allah has ordained for you its fasting. In it, the gates of Paradise are opened, and the gates of Hellfire are closed.”

Our righteous predecessors (Salaf) used to care deeply for this month and rejoice at its arrival. What joy is greater than the news of the approach of the season of goodness and the descent of mercy?

2. Gratitude and Thanksgiving

Imam Al-Nawawi said: “Know that it is recommended for anyone who receives a visible blessing or has a visible harm repelled to prostrate in gratitude to Allah (Sujood al-Shukr), or to praise Him as He deserves.”

One of the greatest blessings Allah can bestow upon a servant is guiding them to obedience. Merely reaching the month of Ramadan while in good health is a tremendous blessing that deserves deep gratitude and praise to the Bestower.

3. Sincere Intention (Niyyah) and Spiritual Readiness

Part of proper preparation for Ramadan is resolving to fill the month with acts of obedience, increasing good deeds, and abandoning sins. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

“Actions are but by intentions, and every man shall have only that which he intended.”

4. Sincere Repentance (Tawbah)

Repentance is obligatory at all times for every sin, but it is even more essential and binding at this time. You are approaching a season of worship, and a person weighed down by sin is often denied the ability to perform good deeds.

Therefore, one must engage in Sincere Repentance that fulfills all its conditions, including returning rights to their owners. One must show a desire for acceptance through supplication, constant seeking of forgiveness (Istighfar), and pleading with Allah to be among those accepted before Ramadan begins and among those freed from the Fire by its end.

5. Recognizing the Value of Time

Ramadan constitutes some of the most precious moments of a lifetime. To ensure not a single moment is wasted, remember Allah’s description of it as:

“…[Fasting for] a limited number of days…” (Surah Al-Baqarah: 184)

This indicates that the days are few and will pass quickly. Precious seasons depart swiftly, and the winner is the one who is prepared and awake to its potential.

6. Learning the Jurisprudence (Fiqh) of Fasting

To ensure one’s fasting is performed in a manner that Allah loves and is pleased with—and to attain the ultimate goal of Taqwa (God-consciousness)—one must learn the rules. Many people fast without truly fasting because they are ignorant of the conditions and etiquette of the act. A believer must worship Allah based on knowledge. Ignorance of obligatory duties is not an excuse. Allah says:

“So ask the people of the message if you do not know.” (Surah An-Nahl: 43)

7. Competition and Serious Resolve

Seriousness is the foundation of worship. Allah says:

“And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a garden as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for the righteous.” (Surah Ali ‘Imran: 133)

In a Hadith, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “The ‘Mufarridun’ have gone ahead.” The companions asked, “Who are the Mufarridun, O Messenger of Allah?” He replied: “The men and women who remember Allah often.”

8. Turning a New Page

We should welcome Ramadan by opening a clean, bright white page with:

  • A) Allah the Almighty: Through sincere repentance.
  • B) The Prophet (peace be upon him): By obeying his commands and avoiding his prohibitions.
  • C) Family: Showing kindness and maintaining ties of kinship with parents, relatives, spouse, and children.
  • D) Society: Being a righteous and useful member of the community. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “The best of people are those most beneficial to people.”

9. Internalizing the Great Reward

One must deeply feel the immense reward promised for fasting. Some fast out of habit without sensing the spiritual return. In the Sahihain (Bukhari and Muslim), the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

“Whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and in anticipation of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.”

10. Key Actions to Maximize Rewards

  • Praying Tarawih: Maintain the night prayers with the Imam until he finishes. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever stands (prays) with the Imam until he leaves, it is recorded for him as if he spent the [whole] night in prayer.”
  • Feeding the Fasting: Be generous with charity and providing Iftar. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever provides food for a fasting person to break his fast, he will have a reward like his, without that detracting from the reward of the fasting person in the slightest.”
  • Reciting the Quran: Increase your recitation and reflection upon the Quran. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Read the Quran, for it will come as an intercessor for its reciters on the Day of Resurrection.”
  • Making Dua (Supplication): The verse regarding Dua (Baqarah: 186) appears directly amidst the verses of fasting, indicating the importance of supplication in this month. Allah says: “And when My servants ask you concerning Me, indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me.”
  • The Last Ten Nights: Dedicate extra effort to worship in the last ten nights, seeking Laylat al-Qadr (The Night of Decree), which is better than a thousand months. The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to tighten his waistbelt (exert himself), isolate himself from worldly intimacy, and stay up the night in worship during this time.

By Abdul Haq Hamich