Smoothies can be a great idea for a very healthy iftar and since it does not require a lot of time of preparation, you can use the time before iftar best for making duas, asking for istighfar and taking advantage of every Ramadan special evenings. Smoothies can be best prepared for breakfast, but we are suggesting them for iftar because it is not a heavy meal for your stomach. Because when you are fasting and have your stomach empty for hours, it is not a good idea going with a meal that is overloaded into fats or carbs. Keep it simple, just something to break your fasting and take it easy before getting into a huge meal.
With that having said we are sharing with you three smoothie recipes with ingredients that you can easily find by this time of the year.
Smoothie #1 Banana Dates Smoothie
For one person you will need:
One banana;
3 Dates;
2tbs Oats;
1 cup of milk;
Preparation: Into a blender add the banan, dates, oats and milk. Blend till smooth. Then pour into your smoothie mug and enjoy!
Smoothie #2 Banana – Strawberry Smoothie
For one person you will need:
One banana;
Frozen Strawberries;
Ice;
1 cup of milk (any type of milk);
Preparation: Into a blender add the banan, dates, oats and milk. Blend till smooth. If your smoothie seems too thick, add in a bit of extra milk or water.If it seems too thin, add in more strawberries or banana.Then pour into your smoothie mug and enjoy!
Smoothie #3 Kiwi – Banana – Spinach Smoothie
For two persons you will need:
Three kiwis;
1 sliced banana;
2 cups of spinach or 60g;
1 cup of milk
1 cup of yogurt;
Preparation: Add milk and spinach into the blender first. Blend until the spinach is fully incorporated into the milk. Then add Greek yogurt and the fruits (banana and kiwi) and mix until consistency is smooth. Then pour into your smoothie mug and enjoy!
Fasting is a wonderful practice when it comes to health improvement. Whether you’re suffering from any illness or you’re just committed to self care. We should all take into consideration taking care of our health in order to be more energetic and eventually will be more available in fulfilling our objectives. The Ramadan month is very special to Muslims in terms of spiritual grow and at the same time so beneficial to the health and wellbeing. And it is amazing seeing so many benefits of fasting.
It promotes a strong discipline of controlling your actions when dealing with food, even though this is a deeper issue, but is a very educational process. It can really equip you with a stronger awareness about taking care of your heart and body, being healthy and grateful. In many of my posts, I’ve often mentioned the importance of a healthy lifestyle. It is totally related with your overall productivity, because your availability about doing great things, it really depends on your health state also. Even though there are people who’ve lacked the great health condition, and still did very well, you can now take control of your health. And fasting is a great option because:
PROMOTES HEART HEALTH
One of the leading causes of death all around the world is heart disease and one of the best ways to reduce the risk of it, is switching your lifestyle and your diet. There is research proving that the incorporation of fasting into your diet can be very beneficial. Fasting regularly can really reduce levels of cholesterol. It also decreases blood pressure.
BOOSTS BRAIN FUNCTION
Fasting improves brain function and structure according to some studies. It is wonderful since it can also help in preventing neurodegenerative disorders.
WEIGHT LOSS
It is a great way for weight loss and especially that belly fat, since it allows the body to burn fats due to continuous calorie restriction when fasting. It helps you build a great eating discipline by improving your eating pattern. Not allowing yourself to eat between some hours, can really help. And since this discipline during Ramadan will last about 30 days, it will become a habit. Usually when you don’t eat for about 4-5 hours, you’d think you’re hungry. But actually true hunger is filled when you don’t eat for about 12 to 24 hours. So when fasting you’ll train your body to really know when you’re hungry and avoid consuming food without a necessity. Actually this is the main problem of obese people. They don’t recieve correct signals to know when they are full. Maybe because of eating too frequently and quickly.
A BETTER METABOLIC SYSTEM
Letting your digestive system rest for a while, it can really energise your metabolism and the burning calories process can become more efficient. So at the end of Ramadan, you’ll end up with some nice eating habits and a stronger metabolic system.
COULD EXTEND LONGEVITY
Lot of studies have shown how many people’s lives have become longer (in terms of not facing any illness or health problems) just because of their diet. Having an efficient and faster metabolism, can eventually lead to a healthy body and a better life.
PROMOTES A BETTER LIFESTYLE
It is amazing seeing how come that when you’re having no food into the digestive system, this creates more space for energy. This makes you feel more connected when dealing with something. Maybe reading, practicing meditation or even any physical exercise. You know, you feel easier and this is beneficial physically and consciously.
CLEAR SKIN
When the digestive system is taking a break, the body will be able to regenerate energies even in the other body systems. There are proofs that even fasting for a single day helps the body clean up toxins and also regulate other organs functioning. .
CANCER PREVENTION
Lot of studies show that fasting can help a lot when it comes to cancer prevention. Fasting is mentioned even in The longevity diet book of Valter Longo, an italian biologist. It shows how periodical fasting every month helps in preventing and even treating cancer. There are also few studies showing that fasting could block tumour development and even increase effectiveness of chemotherapy.
As you can see there are some amazing benefits when fasting. It can be a great way to fast regularly not just during Ramadan, but even some voluntary fasting too. We can become more disciplined when talking about eating and being more aware of what we’re adding into our body. Remember, your body is where you live, so take care of it.
The best way to make your dreams come true is trough planing. You can make lifetime goals, break those on shorter periods of time and achieve one by one. So, at the end of this marathon called life, you can pick up fruits of a meaningful life.
Sahabas (companions) of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.s used to make duas (prayer in a form of request) during the month of Ramadan and then they would track down fulfilment of those duas during the year. We can do the same thing, as well. Our long term goals generally need to be cut in a shorter period of time goals, for example, five-year goals, two-year goals, one-year goals. These yearly goals can be between two Ramadans. You can make them as your Ramadan resolutions and track down accomplishments during the year. Why do this at the month of Ramadan, and not at the beginning of the year? Well, because you can use blessed moments of this month and make specific duas for your every goal. You have already planned things you want to achieve no matter is it a personal, professional, spiritual, relationship or any other goal. Now, help yourself with duas made in the time of Ramadan, in its blessed moments of days and nights.
We are not far away from the beginning of Ramadan. Many people set their goals for Ramadan, what they plan to do during this period of time but they don’t do the same thing for the rest of the year. With each day of Ramadan we are closer to the blessed night of Lailatul-Qadr, the night in which many sins are forgiven, many dua’s are accepted and the destiny for new year is determined. Wouldn’t it be great that you specifically ask Allah to give you all the things you have put in your yearly plan to accomplish? Not only you can ask for those things in this blessed night, but you can also ask for them every night during the Ramadan. Use this period of time, you never know are you going to wait for the next one. The very important thing to have in mind is that believers are never on a loose. You can make perfect plans and ask for those things whole Ramadan, but things suddenly go into totally different direction. That’s the mercy of Allah and be grateful. Sometimes, we can ask for things that are not good for us or for our hereafter. Allah promised one of three things when you make dua: He will accept it, He won’t accept it but will forgive your sins in the amount of asking or He will keep you safe from harm in the amount of your asking. At that moment, you accept that things are not going on your plan but on Allah’s plan, and He is the best of Planners. Be patient then and do redefine your goals. Don’t ever lose hope, do your best and never doubt on the power of your dua, since it is ibadat as itself. You are by making it putting your plans, ideas, dreams and longings to Allah’s will, testifying by that your humbleness and acknowledging your need for Allah’s help. When you combine the power of dua with a blessed period in which you are making it, you can only witness how Allah s.w.t. in the most authentic, the most specific and the best suitable way for you is giving you meaningful life.
Not only you can make yearly goals in Ramadan, but you can also define a mission for yourself for that period. We all have visions of ourselves in Jannah, but only through specific lifetime goals, broken in short-term goals and action plans we can leave a legacy of good deeds. Praying for implementation of these goals and by asking Allah’s love and forgiveness, by Allah’s mercy we can accomplish our vision of entering the Jannah.
Let me put you an example here:
My lifetime mission:
“…and I do not intend to differ from you in that which I have forbidden you; I only intend reform as much as I am able. And my success is not but through Allah. Upon Him, I have relied and to Him, I return” (surah Hud, 88) – this is place where I find my motivation
My yearly mission:
To spark a light in every human being by complimenting and emphasising good I see on them. – this is a daily reminder
My lifetime goal (one of them):
To become an expert in (specific field).
My five-year goal:
To get a degree needed to become an expert in (specific field) as a Magna Cum Laude student.
My yearly goal:
To get the best grades in this year of study.
Now you can put this yearly goal into action plan and make dua very sincerely and wholeheartedly to your Almighty Lord to help you have the best grades in this year of study.
Let us have a positive, productive and proactive approach to life so we can leave a legacy of doing good and improving lives, a legacy that will last until the Judgment day, as a result of a meaningful life.
Every year, when the month of Ramadan knocks in our doors, there is a very special atmosphere around. We all accept that. Each Muslim feels blessed when reaching Ramadan, because we consider it as a wonderful time of spiritual reflection. Being occupied into consistent worship, and maybe more focused than ever before, raises our iman levels so high. And eventually we are all more inspired to put more effort in our worship. What you can expect from Ramadan in terms of spiritual benefits is:
A HEART FULL OF EMAAN
Being concentrated on the best way possible when praying, asking Allah forgiveness and also regularly asking from Him a place into Jannah, makes your heart bloom into emaan. During this month there is a sweet mixture among fear and love for Allah. The air feels better, it is hard to explain that wonderful feeling, such that every worship that we act, we feel like we want to keep praying all day and night. Ah, there are no shaytans around to make us lose distraction! Can you imagine a dunya without the shaytans? It’s just you, worshiping your God, in peace. And this is so rare and special to be lived only 30 days during the whole year around. This month is a unique experience where hearts truly enjoy the taste of regular perfect worship!
CLOSER TO ALLAH
We love Allah and never stop hopping on His mercy. They say that when you want to talk to Allah, pray. And if you want Him to talk to you, read Qur’an. If there’s something that we do in a greater dose than usual, that is reading the Quran during Ramadan! That is praying late night salat during Ramadan! We are consistently talking with Allah, and Allah is talking to us. And what is the result when you’re talking so often to the Almighty? A very strong connection! How wonderful and unique is, having a connection with the One Who owns the Universe! How special is being closer to the One Who is the Only One who can save us from the Hell Fire! How special is that, tell me…
CULTIVATE TRUE LOVE
And when talking about true Love, that is only one! Love for Allah! He is the only one Who is irreplaceable at all times! He is the Only One, that our heart cannot live without! I don’t know if there can be any greater feeling in terms of spiritual mood, rather than having your heart in peace. Ramadan enables you to get that feeling, like never before! It enables you the feeling of being totally completed and not being attached to any human kind in an obsessive way. The only one we cannot live without is our God!
BECOME BETTER
Do you know what happens when you’re so connected with Allah? You become better. Positivity and hope is the only thing that finds a place in your heart. You work harder, you dream big, set goals for Akhirat and this dunya without being obsessed with the short term life. You give your best and try to give impact with the hope of making Allah pleased with you. Becasue this is what Islam teaches us; to be benefical for humans around us. To help and work on improving what’s around us. To care for our community, the environment, our family, everything!
Can you see the difference? How does your life change during Ramadan? The change is so meaningful that we would wish to have an eternal Ramadan life. Being connected with God, injects you values and eventually you spread them wherever you go. And the key of all this, is performing constant worship, the best way possible, by just remembering that Who He is, the one you’re worshipping.
If you want to taste and embrace Ramadan in different colors and tastes, you must combine fasting and traveling which will lead you to an awesome experience. My intention here is not to advise young people to start a journey on the first day of Ramadan and finish it for Eid, but to discover this precious month in a different perspective by experiencing the taste of Ramadan in other countries and cultures.
The aroma of Ramadan is translated in different vocations in different times and places. During the time of the Prophet (p.u.b.h) and sahabas, from what was narrated to us, Ramadan was a journey of spiritual fulfillment and a contest of good deeds.
During the Ottoman Empire, sultans and pashas during Ramadan used to open their doors, castles, and royal palaces for an open invitation to whomever wanted to attend their iftars so they could also have the opportunity to be close with them. A remarkable example of this was Melek Ahmed Pasha (1650-51), who used to open the door of his house every Monday and Friday to whomever wanted to attend those iftars and listen Quran from the best reciters of that time, invited from the vezir to make hatme until the end of the Month. At the same time he used to donate or give presents such as jewelry, clothes, and other precious gifts while greeting them after iftar by thanking them for having accepted his invitation.
Ramadan in Macedonia
I have been told that Ramadan in Macedonia was an amazing experience. That the atmosphere can be felt much more there than in my country. Through the invitation of my friend and the insistation of her family I decided to touch this reality from closer. The first night, due to the fatigue from the trip, we decided to have an iftar at home and that was literally the first and the last night we did so.
Every night, women-only-iftar-parties were organized by different associations, business women, and simple mothers and housewives with a big heart. Before and after iftar it was common to take part in any meeting or seminars. And the night wasn’t over yet. I was impressed by the fact that every night they visited each-others home where they continued the kind of- chit-chat-lectures about islam and conversations about religion topics. Women used to attend taraweeh and after that drinking tea somewhere and from there to other places such as friend houses or NGOs open houses waiting for suhoor. This wasn’t a problem because streets were very crowded although it was after midnight. It seemed like during this month men forgot all kinds of prejudices about the women hanging out until the morning. Women were almost free from any responsibility and contribution to the family, and men didn’t mind it. Sometimes I used to wonder: what do they do about cooking? Well, during Ramadan it wasn’t a big deal. They were invited to some friends house for iftar, or having iftar with all the other mates in some restaurants. I used to envy women in Macedonia. They were the Sultanas of Ramadan.
Andalusian Taste
For the first time I experienced Ramadan in a European country in Malaga, Spain. As in any other tourist destination, the streets of Malaga are crowded with people walking around. You can only feel that it is still Ramadan only when the sun goes down and at the bazaar with immigrants – mostly Muslims – you can notice people with a bottle of water and a packet of dates near their stalls. While in restaurants you do not see any “iftar menu” and you did not even see Muslims rushing for taraweeh. It reminded me more or less of the atmosphere in Albania.
I try to find some place with halal-or kosher- or vegan- food, but in the attempt to do so, I hear the adhan of maghrib and take a taxi to the nearest, or better say the only mosque of the town. We break the fast with water and dates. I rushed to take the bus which was taking ages to come and decided I will pick up the first taxi approaching. No taxi on the horizon. In despair and hunger, almost losing hope, a couple in a car stopped close to me. They recognised by being a tourist in trouble and offered help. They just have pizza for iftar as a last moment solution until they will reach home. We had a small chat with this lovely family. I will never forget this little moment of joy, the noise of the children in the back seat with me, the aroma of seafood pizza, the taste of the slice on my hand, the silhouette of the Palm trees which reminded me of my home town.
Ramadan in Turkey
In Turkey, Ramadan is characterised by the brotherhood, diversity, unity, solidarity and especially humanity. The tradition of generosity during the Ottoman Empire seems to have been inherited even nowadays. For the first time I experienced the feeling of sitting at a table with hundreds of other Muslims. Where the poor, the traveler, the muhacir, the student, the professor, the employee of the administration, the mayor, the deputy, even in special cases the prime minister or the president share the same atmosphere and the same food
Walking on the streets of Istanbul means getting drunk from the aroma of the different spices. In Taksim or other Arab-majority neighborhoods, the smells of saffron, cumin, and other spices invite you to enjoy Palestinian falafels, Uzbek Pilavi, Uyghur manti and Syrian or Lebanese sweets. In this area of the city, the Yemeni coffee aroma is so provocative and irresistible that you cannot stand without having one, despite the cost of you being unable to sleep.
The great bounty of experiencing Ramadan in a Muslim country reminds me the sound of your neighbour knocking at the door to offer Ramadan pie or any traditional dish for iftar; when different associations organize iftars only for foreign students who could not go for holidays in their country, and when the announcement of the pilot in the airline to the travelers that is the time of breaking fasting. And when you approach the airport you hear the captain voice:”Our team wishes Happy Eid to all our passengers”, which gives a pleasant atmosphere to the festive days.
A healthy and easy recipe for your iftar it can be this really nice salad.
It is a quick recipe and low carb, for a nice iftar even if you’re having guests in any of your Ramadan iftars. And supposing you’re having some guests then the necessary ingredients for 4 persons would be:
⅔ cup greek yogurt (190 g), plain
1 tablespoon lime juice
pepper, to taste
⅛ teaspoon chili powder
1 avocado, cubed, divided
2 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
1 stalk celery, diced
2 tablespoons red onion, diced
kosher salt, to taste
bread, low-carb, for serving, optional
fresh cilantro leaf, for garnish
While the preparation is very easy, just 3 quick steps:
Step #1: In a blender or food processor, combine the yogurt, lime juice, pepper, and chili powder and pulse to combine them. Add ½ of the avocado and blend until nice and creamy.
Step #2: In a medium bowl, combine the chicken, yogurt sauce, celery, the remaining ½ avocado, onion, and salt. Mix until well combined.
Step #3: Serve on low-carb bread and garnish with cilantro, or as desired and enjoy it.
For most of our muslim sisters Ramadan can be a real strugle when deciding what to cook, cause they try to cook something nice and healthy and meantime trying to balance your time for some more worship during these special days. And this can be a real struggle especially if you’re inviting some of your relatives or friends for iftar, cause that’s one of the best things during Ramadan, enjoying iftars with our beloved ones.
So consider this recipe and add some cool stuff into your iftar table and make your family and your guests enjoy it and also make some more time for yourself. Ramadan is a lifetime event, so try to master time management during every process.
When Ramadan knocks at our doors, we are all so excited and we start thinking in big: we always say that we want to make the most of it by reading the entire Quran, praying Taraweeh every day, and doing as much ibadah as we can. And we always want to do more than the past Ramadans, because we always think that what we did in the past was not enough.
It is certainly a good sign, as it shows that we care about the blessed month and that we want to take advantage of the fact that devils are locked, therefore there are no excuses for us for not worshipping deeply Allah as it is meant to be done.
We are indeed high energy during the first weeks of Ramadan, but later on we start losing that perseverance that we had, how come then?
Well, because of different factors: many special tv shows like series and movies are released during this month, therefore we get distracted by them; sometimes excessive sleeping and eating for Iftar drain all our energy making us feeling tired and deconcentrated to persevere in our worship; after a while we start losing enthusiasm and motivation because our worshiping becomes automatic without reflection and understanding from the heart and mind.
These are some of the many reasons that block us from persevering in our ibadah. However, we are the ones in control of our nafs and self during Ramadan, Shaytan is not there, so we can be strong and not let external factors prevail over us. Therefore we have to be patient, determined and remember that we can keep doing good deeds through istiqama. Being steadfast in our Imaan is compulsory for us as stated in the Quran: O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient. [2:153] and we should remember that: Allah loves the steadfast. [3:146]
For some of us, it might seem hard to keep steadfast, but it is something that we can achieve and Ramadan can be our “moral training”. We always think that what counts more is the quantity of good deeds, but the Prophet (saw) said: ”Do as much of good deeds as you can, for Allah does not get tired (of giving reward) until you get tired. And the most beloved of deeds to Allah are those that are continuous, even if they few”.
This hadith shows us how quantity is not very important for Allah, as continuity even with few deeds is more relevant. Therefore, every time we think that we are not doing a lot, just think of this hadith and remember that Allah rewards us even if the good deeds are fewer.
So how can we persevere in performing our ibadah equally for the whole blessed month?
Here are some advices that we all can try to follow:
Try to be realistic:Although it is good to aim big, we should try to start by carrying out the good acts that we know we can do daily and without struggling (for example adhkar, read a few pages after each prayer, helping people, Taraweeh prayer etc…) and if we can do extra ibadah, we should go for it but without exaggerating. We should keep our ibadah balanced, and try to do the same amount of worship every day constantly and remember to think of your niya (intention) and renew it, but also to do all the ibadah with the heart. The quantity of ibadah that we want to accomplish is an individual choice, probably it is helpful to start with a small amount and then if we feel determined and we think we can do it, then we can do more! My personal experience taught me that if we start doing a lot of good acts, then it is likely to end up doing less or doing nothing at the end of the month which is unfortunate as we all want to be compensated at the end of the blessed month. And remember that it is not a competition, do the ibadah that you can as we all have different levels of imaan and probably have other obligations. Keep in mind the hadith when A’isha (RA) said that Rasulullah (saw) said: “The deeds most loved by Allah (are those) done regularly, even if they are small.” (Bukhari, Muslim) and inshAllah you will be rewarded for your intentions and acts.
Make a plan:If setting up a Ramadan program is what is best for you and if you know that you easily follow it, then go for it!
Control yourself from distractions: We should try not to be tricked by the TV, the food and the sleepiness. Certainly we need to sleep and to eat, but we should not spend the whole fasting day sleeping, and spending the whole night eating. We should remember that Ramadan is not about sleeping and eating, it is instead a spiritual journey that will increase our iman and it will make us closer to Allah. We should not lose this opportunity that Allah gave us and every time that we are tempted, we should remember what the meaning of Ramadan is and the rewards we will obtain inshAllah. Moreover, Ramadan happens once in a year, while sleeping, eating and watching TV are available the whole year. Why lose this opportunity then? So we should try to be strong and be in control. If we can, then why not lock the TV in a room?!
And to conclude, we could recite the following duas to ask Allah to help us to make the most of this Ramadan with good deeds and to let us taste the sweetness and beauty that it brings: *Yā Muqallibal-qulūb, thabbit qalbī `alā dīnik* – “O changer of hearts, make my heart firm upon Your religion” and *Rabbana la tuzigh qulubuna ba’da idh hadaitana wa hab lana min ladunka rahmatan innaka anta alwahabo* –“Our Lord, let not our hearts deviate after You have guided us and grant us from Yourself mercy. Indeed, You are the Bestower. [3:8].
Jazaka’Allah for your time, I pray that Allah allows us to all remain steadfast on our deen and urge others to do so too. Ameen.
Being healthy is important for any one of us, because it will help us to stay more productive and perform our worship to Allah better. Also we know that Islam tells us that we should always take care of our health and not take it for granted. During Ramdan people are more likely to somehow abuse food during iftars mostly, by consuming a lot of food. But even during suhoor, with the idea that it might ease fastening during the day. Well, it will just complicate things. Fastening overall it has a lot of benefits, but when it is done as it should. What do we mean:
Let some space for air
Don’t abuse food, but try to consume your food slowly and in small portions in order to know when you’re filled. Sometimes rushing, or just having a nice plate in front of us makes us more intrigued to want to consume more food, but that is a big mistake! It will turn into a non healthy habit, instead of learning how to control ourselves during Ramadan about food.
Plan your meals ahead
This kind of planning will help you to avoid binging. It is also a good way to make sure you’re cooking healthy food, by selecting ingredients and not just consuming something random to break fasting.
Workout
The best time to consider and train would be around 9PM(it depends from your time zone still) — after breaking your fast,when your body will have the nutrients to support your system. There are also ideas about training in the afternoon. It is a good idea so that more oxygen can be available to the muscles, rather than being required for digestion. However, workouts and training are more beneficial when your body is properly fuelled, whereas results will be diminished when you’re hungry and less focussed. Important is to really consider a workout everyday. Think of it as an investment. It will help you stay healthy and more focused during other worships.
Wake up early for suhoor
Try to wake up early every suhoor in order to consume protein based food and also get considerable amounts of water and stay hydrated during the day.Also you can take advantage of this time even for prayer but you can also find some time to cook your meal and consume it as fresh as possible.
Avoid caffeine
Suhoor is a time when you will obviously be extremely tired, so a cup of joe can be seriously tempting. However, caffeine is a diuretic that will make you want to urinate a lot more than usual. While water also leads to bathroom visits, it is still hydrating; while coffee makes you urinate more without offering any hydration in the first place.
It is not easy to talk about hope, especially when our country and the region are going through successive trials: earthquakes, political crises, now even a pandemic and the extraordinary situation that follows it.
We perceive hope as an individual value, but it can also be collective, which means we can build it together. And there isn’t a better occasion than the month of Ramadan, the month of hope, the hope not only to become better people and believers, but also to build the hope needed to heal.
In his book “A book about hope”, Mark Manson explains that to build and maintain hope, we need three things: a sense of control, a belief in the value of something, and a community
Community belongingness. As believers, we as part of a community have cultivated the Islamic notion of the “Ummah.” When members of the ummah are tested or we ourselves as the ummah face various challenges, we share a common pain. This sense of connection with those we have never met, this deep sense of unity and shared pain, is a particularly prominent feature among Muslims, according to a new study.
Researchers at Sussex University found that Muslims are uniquely bonded by a shared community – an ummah. Researchers of the study dubbed this phenomena ‘vicarious trauma’, experiencing the pain that other people have faced. Professor Mark Walters, lead author of the Sussex University study, explored the impact of Islamaphobic hate crimes on British Muslims. It’s interesting, then, that Muslims should feel this way towards a group they may not be personally attached to or have had direct contact with, such as Muslims on the other side of the world. And it makes sense but also is in accordance with the hadith: Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said, “The believers in their mutual kindness, compassion and sympathy are just like one body. When one of the limbs suffers, the whole body responds to it with wakefulness and fever”.
Whereas when it comes to believing in certain values, Islam itself is a whole system of values which in turn necessarily promotes a sense of control and hope. In this case, by control we mean the belief in “qada and qadar” the notion according to which the man is responsible for his deeds in accordance with the destiny predetermined by God. While hope comes from the “tawakkol” which is reliance on God that He is the Supervisor and regulates matters in the best way.
When we as Muslims have these three elements, why not reflect on this situation in order to benefit as much as possible from this trial / challenge / test to give our best?
What if all this is a good opportunity to return to the true essence of fasting and Ramadan? Perhaps all of us have long dreamed of experiencing “those old days” once again: a more distant Ramadan from our close friends and network, more time for meditation. Once upon a time when I started fasting the Internet was not accessible to our homes, when we had fewer distractions, fewer Ramadan events and parties, or Ramadan fairs. What if we do this Ramadan a real itikaf (self isolation during the last 10 days) by applying the prophetic advice that in times of trial our home is enough for us. What if for the first time in our lives we try not to go against the divine guidance that “And He it is Who made the night a garment for them, and the sleep a rest for them, and the day a liveliness for them?” awake and sleeping during the day?
What if all this is maybe a good opportunity to get back on the track? What if, what we call “isolation” is in fact a necessity for us to meditate mostly on our values, our priorities, our objectives, and our mission in this life? And in order to achieve this kind of mindset and awareness, we may start by stopping ourselves from spreading panic, or desperate and pessimistic complaints on how much we are suffering and similar dramas.
In the book “Option B. Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy” there is a whole chapter dedicated to “How to Empower Each Others,” The author, Sheryl Sandberg, in this chapter tells us about resilience after different trials in life. According to her, resistance is not born together with the individual but it is created through individuals. When we get back together, we become stronger, we build communities, we can overcome obstacles, and we can overcome difficulties.
Together we must agree on a single mindset: that if God has led us to this challenge we will accept it with full conviction because we are the people of “we heard and we obeyed” And together let us spread hope and positivity in order to recover as soon as possible ready and strong enough to face many other future challenges.
If you’re trying to stay productive this Ramadan, but you often lose focus here’s what you should do:
Review your goals
Before starting Ramadan, we all had some goals. We want to please Allah and have our sins and mistakes forgiven. And that reminder should help you to stick with your productive routine and goals. Review your goals again, and remember why you’re doing all this. Think of your priorities and aims you have for both, this and next world.
Think about the end.
Think of how time runs so fast. Think of how we always are amazed by how fast Ramadan ends and many of us even cry. So take into consideration every single day and work hard to get the best from it. Think about the end, you don’t want to feel regret for not working hard during this unique month, for not fulfilling your goals. For not performing the daily reading, dhikr, prayer and meditation. Focus more and don’t lose motivation, but reflect and give your all for reaching what has no price. Think of the Rayan door, how cool would feeling entering there be. It should motivate you to stay more organised.
Take a rest
If you’re tired, it’s normal. Take a break, maybe a sleep, take some time to reflect or just meditate. It helps you to feel better and more relaxed. Maybe pray, a voluntary prayer which can help you sort out a lot of things. It is the amazing feeling of being in front of Allah, asking from Him motivation and inspiration to help you stick on His path.
Talk to someone
Talk to friends, family members, maybe. It would be great if you compete with each other about reading the Quran, reading a book or memorizing a surah. Talk to your competitor, they might inspire you and don’t let you go down. Listen to someone maybe, who inspires you. You can also listen to our livestreams on youtube having special guests just to make sure to connect with you and keep you inspired during this Ramdan. Virtuality is a great way, so it can be a livestream, or you can even whatch a YouTube video from reminders shared in there from the Muslim community.
Read
Read something. It can be the Qur’an in your language. Read something that you can understand. Something motivational and inspiring to you. You’ll feel better and more focused.
Motivation is a state that we often lack, and it comes with ups and downs. It really requires moments of reflection to take it back under control, but you can still control it as long as you never stop thinking about the end and the concept of limited time. You can still make this Ramadan great, just remember these techniques if you lose motivation for a moment.
