Ramadan is a month every Muslim anticipates fasting for the forgiveness of sin and Allah’s blessings. The month of Ramadan, unknown to many is the 9th month of the Islamic Lunar Calendar and it has a lot of significance for Muslim faithful. During the month, Muslims fast from dawn to dusk and engage in spiritual reflection of on God and it’s one of the most easily identifiable aspects of the religion.
Though fasting, which is typically the avoidance of food and drink is one aspect of most world’s religions, fasting in Ramadan is a special part of the Islamic faith. One of its five pillars, and a time when rewards for fasting and worship are bountiful.
Fasting in the month of Ramadan is an injunction from God to the Muslims. It is stated in Quran 2 verse 183 where Allah says: “O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may develop God-consciousness.” (Quran 2:183).
It’s made compulsory for every mature Muslim to embark on fasting during this month for a duration of either 29 or 30 days depending on the sighting of the moon, marking its beginning and ending just like every other month in Islam.
As this year’s Ramadan begins in a few days, Muslim faithful have already started intensifying their preparation for the Holy month. City People revealed what popular Islamic scholars, Sheik Ibrahim Abd. Wahid Adangba advised Muslims to do in preparation for the annual religious exercise.
Sheik Ibrahim Abd. Wahid Adangba is the Assistant Chief Missionary on Programme, Asalatu and Social of the noble Al-Fat’hul Quareeb Islamic Society of Nigeria. His Friday lecture series on social media have been what his followers look up to every week as they enlighten Muslims on the religion and its practices.
In one of his recent lectures, he identified what Muslims must do while preparing for Ramadan. In his words, “Muslims must have two forms of preparation ahead of Ramadan. The first is the preparation of their mind and soul, while the second is the preparation for activities to be carried out during the blessed month.”
On preparing the mind, he said purification of the mind is key while taking care of one’s health is also important. He advised Muslim faithful to do medical check-ups to know the state of their health. He said this would help them get necessary attention and treatment for their ailments before Ramadan starts, adding that only the healthy could fast during Ramadan.
The scholar also advised Muslims to recite a couple of prayers in preparation for Ramadan. These prayers, he said, could be found in the Hadith and were said by the companions of Prophet Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him) during his lifetime and beyond. He, therefore, recited the prayers as follows:
“Allahumma barik lana fi Rajab wa Shaban wa ballighna Ramadan”
Translation: “O Allah! Make the months of Rajab and Sha’ban blessed for us and let us reach the month of Ramadan.”
“Allahumma sallimni li Ramadana, wa sallim Ramadana li, wa sallimhu li mutaqabbala.”
Translation: O Allah! Preserve me for Ramadan, safeguard Ramadan for me and accept it from me.
He, therefore, added that Muslims must intend on embarking on good deeds at all time.
Meanwhile, he said; “my findings revealed that there are things Muslims must try to do to prepare for Ramadan.”
The below are things mentioned:
Muslims must have the intention of reading the entire Quran once, twice or more in the month of Ramadan. It’s important to note that the reading of the Quran must not be done in a rush. It should rather be done with the motive of understanding its message.
As a way of preparing for the blessed month of Ramadan, every Muslim must seek forgiveness of his/her shortcomings. It’s important to seek repentance for sins and turn up a new leaf and after Ramadan make it an intention never to return to those sins.
Muslim faithful awaiting Ramadan must have the intention of embarking on doing good deeds and helping others to the best of their capacity in the month. They should make it a point of duty to continue the act of benevolence in other months of the year and make it a lifetime habit.
It is important for Muslims to prepare their minds that they would embark on lots of service to humanity. Such acts would attract bountiful rewards from Allah.
Every Muslim must also resolve to mend their ways by improving on their interpersonal relationship with people around them, starting from home and extending same to their neigbourhood and the society at large.
As a Muslim, you must be willing to propagate the message of Islam by making an impact on the lives of fellow believers. This can be done by sponsoring programmes such as Ramadan lectures, prayer sessions, breaking of fast gathering, distribution of religious materials, among other things, that would help enhance the spread of the religion and its understanding. Doing these in Ramadan attracts bountiful rewards from Allah.
Muslims must be prepared to organise and attend programmes that could inspire them to worship God and be obedient to their Maker.
He said Ramadan is an annual month of fasting, which always comes on the train to the believers on how to live a life in dedication to Allah and become a worthy servant to Him and by extension be a blessing to the society.
