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Keep hold of that Ramadan feeling and Allah’s love
The blessed month of Ramadan has come to an end. A sacred time of worship and dedication to Allah (SWT). After such a special time, we feel elated – and a little sad – that the holy month has come to an end.
With our spirituality renewed, we all want to keep hold of that feeling even after Ramadan has passed – that closeness to Allah (SWT). Ramadan may sadly be over, but that closeness doesn’t have to be.
SubhanAllah, the deeds most loved by Allah (SWT) are those done regularly – even if they are small.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
The most beloved deed to Allah is the most regular and constant even if it were little.
Hadith | Sahih al-Bukhari
So don’t let go of that feeling.
By offering a regular donation to Islamic Relief, you can give thanks to Allah (SWT) and provide critical support for some of the world’s most vulnerable people.
Give just S$5 a month and hold on to Allah’s love. Donate now and help save lives.
Maintaining good habits post-Ramadan
Ramadan is a great time for self-reflection, as we draw on what we can change in ourselves and our actions in order to gain closeness to Allah.
Many of us implement additional forms of worship and good deeds into our lives during Ramadan, to make the most of the blessed month.
However, it can be difficult to maintain our new habits once the holy month comes to an end. There are many explanations as to why this happens.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
When the month of Ramadan begins, the gates of heaven are opened, the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained.
Hadith | Bukhari and Muslim
Therefore, after Ramadan we are more susceptible to the tricks of Shaytaan, and are also devoid of the extra Barakah (blessings) that accompany Ramadan. Many of us also set unrealistic expectations of the new actions/ deeds that we are able to implement in our lives.
We’ve put together some tips to hold on to Allah’s love and help keep the Ramadan momentum strong all year round!
1. Always remember your destination
It’s important that we keep in mind our journey to Allah at all times. The reality of life is such that we don’t know if we will witness another Ramadan. Our purpose in life should be to worship Allah and seek His pleasure.
And I created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (alone).
Qur’an | 51:56
However, our daily lives are very busy and we are connected to one device or another most of the time. It’s important to create spaces that are calm and quiet to allow you to reflect and reconnect.
Consider taking just 10 minutes every day to sit alone in a quiet space to reflect. It may feel strange at first, but guide your thoughts towards your relationship with God, your purpose in life and how you could improve.
Also make sure to try to be steadfast in the additional worship we incorporated into our lives during Ramadan. Whether that’s waking up and praying Tahajjud, engaging in more Dhikr and Salawat, and reading Qur’an daily.
2. Give regular Sadaqah
Ramadan is also known as the month of charity, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) was the most generous during this blessed month.
Giving Sadaqah can also help purify our wealth, hold on to Allah’s love, and bring blessings to our lives and families’ throughout the year.
There are several Hadiths on the benefits of giving Sadaqah, as Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
Sadaqah extinguishes sin as water extinguishes fire.
Hadith | Tirmidhi
The believer’s shade on the Day of Judgement will be his charity.
Hadith | Tirmidhi
A great way to give to charity all year round is by setting up a regular monthly donation. This will help automate your giving, allowing you to save time and be part of creating long-term change.
Providing clean water is one of most rewarding of ways of giving charity. Water is the key to all life, as Allah (SWT) says in the Qur’an:
By means of water, we give life to everything
Qur’an | 21:30
Currently, a staggering 785 million people are going thirsty each and every day. Islamic Relief has been able to provide clean water and infrastructure to over 844,000 people across 19 countries. When we build a water system, we ensure communities have a sustainable source of clean water for years to come.
We bypass short-term interventions and high running costs. Instead, we provide long-term sustainable solutions such as installing irrigation systems, building water tanks, training communities, distributing hygiene kits, and rehabilitating viable water systems.
Your donation has the potential to save lives while holding on to Allah’s love.
The best charity is giving water to drink, and He was the most generous in giving charity.
Hadith | Ahmed
Your water donation is a vital means of survival for so many who don’t have access to this basic human necessity. Find out more on our incredible clean water projects and how they are impacting communities around the world.
3. Fast regularly
Fasting is considered to purify our bodies and souls and helps us to gain closeness to Allah.
While we are obligated to fast during the holy month of Ramadan, we can also fast regularly throughout the year.
Aishah (RA) narrated that:
The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to try to fast on Mondays and Thursdays.Hadith | Tirimdhi
As well as helping us to earn great rewards in following the Sunnah, fasting regularly also helps us to think of those less fortunate. Their everyday reality means facing long periods of time without food and water.
Islamic Relief supports those in need by providing essential food support and clean water facilities to communities most in need around the world throughout the month of Ramadan and beyond.
Fasting regularly also reminds us of the spirit of Ramadan, and helps reignite that special feeling.
4. Set realistic goals and make a plan
A mistake that many of us make is that we over-commit to the level of new habits and good deeds that we can incorporate into our daily lives.
It’s important to set realistic goals and expectations so that we do not become demotivated if we can’t stick to them. We should aim to set our goals according to our situation now, not according to our Ramadan routine. This may mean making some alterations to our Ramadan goals, so that we can continue them throughout the year.
With work, family commitments, meal preparation and many more things that we need to squeeze into the day, it can be difficult to put our good intentions into practice.
However, by making a schedule you can plan you will be able to set realistic goals for the year ahead. This can involve how much Qur’an you will read in a day, when you will have a quiet period to make Dhikr, reflect and make Du’a.
With a clear idea of when and what you will be doing, you can ensure that you can fit your goals and stick to them Insha’Allah.
5. Take care of your health
Our bodies are are an Amanah, entrusted to us by Allah (SWT). Ramadan is an important time to reflect on our lifestyles and how we are taking care of our bodies. Many of us amend our eating habits throughout the month, ensuring to make healthier choices so we have the strength to engage in more Dhikr, fulfil our obligations in the best way, and to make the most of this blessed time of year.
After Ramadan has passed, it’s important to continue improving our eating habits. The food we eat can help us maintain a good immune system, reduce our stress levels, keep our energy levels up and help us to stay healthy.
As well as enhancing our physical health, eating well is important for our mental health and cognitive function, helping to maintain good mood, concentration, and mental clarity.
Make an effort to maintain a balanced diet consisting of carbohydrates, protein, healthy fats, fibre and essential vitamins and minerals.
Having spent the month of Ramadan fasting throughout the day, it’s important not to over-indulge post-Ramadan and to eat in moderation. Over-eating can lead to laziness, which can mean that we have less energy and dedication to engage in Dhikr. Our Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
A human being fills no worse vessel than his stomach. It is sufficient for a human being to eat a few mouthfuls to keep his spine straight. But if he must (fill it), then one third of food, one third for drink and one third for air.
Hadith | Sahih al-Bukhari
It’s common to exercise less during the Holy month, because of experiencing lower energy levels while fasting. However, exercising has great health benefits. It can help us maintain higher energy levels so that we can become more productive and use our time in the best way. Try creating a good exercise routine that you can maintain once Ramadan has passed.
By following the above tips, you can help maintain the spirit of Ramadan, and make lasting changes which can bring you closer to Allah throughout the year. May Allah accept our efforts and allow us to strengthen our worship in Ramadan and beyond, so we remain close to Him. Ameen!
