Ramadan in Hindsight
Ramadan Ascent #1
Assalamualaikum Dearest Friends,
Ramadan Mubarak! I hope your Ramadan has been good thus far. I ask that Allah SWT grant you His Bountiful Mercy, His Generous Pardon, and His Full Forgiveness. Aameen.
You know, the early days of Ramadan tend to either be really shaky for some people (you feel hungry, lethargic, and unmotivated) or really steady (you feel normal, sharp, and pumped).
But even if you started the month strongly (alhamdulillah), never get complacent. There have been times in past Ramadans where I assumed (with overconfidence) that just because I started the month at 100km/h (doing every Ibadah in full force), does not mean I will finish it just as strong.
So what I want to do in this week’s newsletter is to try to get you to fast forward and imagine how you would feel when Ramadan ends this year. I don’t want to wait for it to end and only then ask you this question…in hindsight. I want you to imagine it now.
Would you feel disappointment? Anger? Frustration?
Why? Because what if, yet again, you’ve failed to meet even the bare minimum goals that you had set for yourself. How crappy would that make you feel? If you can visualise it and feel it, then there’s a good chance you can get yourself to do something about it today.
Here’s the ultimate goal: to not have to look back with regret.
OK? So let’s start there.
What is one target you’d like to achieve this Ramadan? I asked everyone in my family this question. And they all gave unique responses.
To memorise 5 short surahs.
To understand and memorise meanings of 10 surahs.
To do 100x of your favourite dzikr every morning and night.
To do 4 raka’ats of tahajjud before sahur.
To donate $5 per day. etc.
Got it? Great. But then how do we then ensure self-accountability? Who will make me do those goals especially on the days when I don’t feel like doing them at all? You’ll need two things:
a. System: 1. Schedule it in your calendar. What you don’t schedule, doesn’t get done. 2. Set alarms and reminders on your phone and computer. This is the little nudge you need. 3. Keep a personal tracking mechanism - even if it’s just a notepad that will show all the accomplishments you have made. This will be a strong source of motivation.
b. Accountability Buddy: Get a trusted friend you can depend on. Someone who cares about you enough they want to see you win. Perhaps this is a person who is also pursuing similar goals this Ramadan. Now you can both check in on each other, and be more than a cheerleader. Based on experience, there are days when you need to cheer, and there are days when you need to be like a drill sergeant, who is capable of telling each other off when the same weak excuses are given, at the risk of missing your goals.
And once you’ve got that part figured out, how do you plan to increase and grow? This is called Ramadan Ascent for a reason. Let’s not just be satisfied with merely hitting our early targets, but we must also find out how we can rise higher.
An important note at this juncture:
Rising higher does not always equate to doing more. An improved quality far outweighs higher numbers in the end. #qualityoverquantity
So friends, aim for meaningful growth. The type where you can see the impact from within your own selves first. Your increased patience. Your higher tolerance to things that used to trigger you. And a stronger sense of gratitude to Allah for all the blessings He has gifted you.
Below is a Ramadan one-week challenge for you to try over the next 7 days:
The 7-Day Ramadan Ascent Challenge
This is not for the intermediate and advanced brothers and sisters out there. This challenge is strictly for beginners. For the tired. Or for those starting again.
A simple rule of the challenge:
» One small act a day
» No guilt if you miss a day, just get back up and do the next challenge
» Intention matters more than quantity
Day 1: Begin with intention & du’a
Before Subuh or at any point today, say:
“Ya Allah, I want to be better this Ramadan. Help me take one small step.”
Day 2: One prayer ON TIME
Choose one prayer today.
Pray it on time. In fact, be prepared for it 10 or 15 minutes before the adzan.
If it’s the only thing you do today, it counts, inshaAllah.
Day 3: One page of the Quran
Read one page. Or even half a page is okay.
Don’t aim to finish the Quran. That may be someone else’s goal, but it doesn’t have to be yours. Know your pace. Your personal aim: is to start a relationship with the Allah’s Divine Words.
Day 4: One moment of dzikr
Set aside 2–3 minutes.
Say:
Astaghfirullah
or SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar
Slowly. With mindfulness and heart. Sometimes this can be done during the “white spaces” throughout your busy day e.g. at the bus stop, while driving to work, while waiting for a meeting to start, before opening your laptop.
Day 5: One act of kindness
Smile at someone.
Send a kind message.
Help someone without being asked.
Good deeds that are done with ikhlas.
Day 6: One thing to let go
Let go of one bad habit today:
gossip
harsh words
doom scrolling
unnecessary anger
Even for a few hours (to start with), it counts.
Day 7: One honest personally-written du’a
Talk to Allah honestly.
Tell Him:
what hurts
what you’re afraid of
what you wish you could change
No fancy big words. Allah knows, He understands. (If you haven’t, try reading my book, “Call Upon Him” where I touch on this and other topics relating to making sincere du’as)
Final reminder
If you completed all 7 days, Alhamdulillah.
If you completed 2 or 3, Alhamdulillah.
If you only did 1, Alhamdulillah.
This challenge is to help get you started. It is not a competition.
Ramadan is an invitation from Allah to ALL of us. You’re in His guest list too :)
Ramadan Mubarak 🌙
MW
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