Step 8 and 9 towards preparing for Ramadhan

8) You need the ajar (reward) and the poor need the money

Save money in a charity box to spend on the needy and destitute during the auspicious month of Ramadhan. And spending money as charity is a deed that is very dear to Allah. Even if it is a small amount that you can save, it will bring a load of ajar your way if spent with the right niyyah (intention).

من ذَا ٱلَّذِى يُقْرِضُ ٱللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا فَيُضَـٰعِفَهُۥ لَهُۥ وَلَهُۥٓ أَجْرٌ كَرِيمٌ

Who is the one that will give to Allah a goodly loan, so that He may increase it manifold to his credit and give him a liberal reward besides it. [Quran Surah 57: Ayah 11]

Due to the countless blessings provided in the Holy month of Ramadhan, Muslims tend to donate generously in this month and pay Zakaat whole heartedly. For the most part, they spend Ramadhan in a state of prayer and meditation but they also invest equally in helping others. Whether it’s a child charity of their choice or assisting a relief aid organization to provide aid to other Muslim countries, Muslims feel salvation by giving Zakaat. One of the many great things about Ramadhan is Eid-ul-Fitr when the entire Muslim Ummah reunites and celebrates the occasion together, enjoying all the festivities that follow afterwards.

In Ramadhan, when we experience the effects of hunger during our fast, we establish a closer association with those people who usually go through the condition due to a lack of food. So fasting serves two purposes. It tests your obedience and devotion to Allah and how well you can restrain yourself from the pleasures of life and it also reminds you of the people who are starving and living in famine. This feeling inspires and enables us to help others. Charity to these families in this month will not only help them financially but will also help them out spiritually.

قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏ “‏ اتَّقُوا النَّارَ وَلَوْ بِشِقِّ تَمْرَةٍ ‏“

“Save yourself from Hell-fire even by giving half a date-fruit in charity.” Sahih al-Bukhari

عن زيد بن خالد الجهني، رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال‏:‏ ‏ “‏من فطر صائمًا، كان له مثل أجره غير أنه لا ينقص من أجر الصائم شيء‏”‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه الترمذي وقال‏:‏ حديث حسن صحيح‏)‏‏)‏‏

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “He who provides a fasting person something with which to break his fast, will earn the same reward as the one who was observing the fast, without diminishing in any way the reward of the latter.” [At-Tirmidhi].

9) Put aside all the shopping and grocery lists

While you are preparing for Ramadhan, buy and store food items for the entire month of Ramadhan.

So preparing all those savouries before Ramadhan can actually come in handy in the sense that once Ramadhan arrives all that`s left is to only fry or bake them.

Also, if possible buy your Eid clothes and anything else you need beforehand. Prices are in most cases cheaper! One might argue that some stores only get their latest Eid garments halfway into Ramadhan and if you going to buy before Ramadhan, chances are you not going to have the latest fashion or the trendiest cloak on Eid day. This might be true, but keep the bigger picture in mind, keeping up-to-date with fashion comes at a cost, you losing out on precious Ramadhan moments and a cost to your pocket as well.

You don’t want to spend your precious Ramadhan time out in the marketplace hunting for food or clothes. You have been doing that all year!