Official Ramadan Thread: Muslim NTers enter

[wooly willy]

Assalamu alaikum my fellow NTers. Ramadan is just around the corner and it's that time of the year when we start planning everything out. You basicallyhave to change up how your whole day is structured to incorporate suhoor, iftar and, of course, rememberence of Allah. I just wanted to know how you guys arepreparing this year. Anything special or of concern? The past couple of years Ramadan arrived during the most stressful part of the year (midterms and finals)and it was hard trying to keep focused but this year, it should be a lot easier inshallah. I also realized that for the past couple of years, I never reallydid any extra acts of faith so I compiled a little list of what I want to accomplish this Ramadan:

1.) I'm not going to eat a lot for suhoor and iftar - I usually stuff my face until I can't walk anymore and all I want to do is pass out

. This is probably not the healthiest thing to do so I'm going to try to eatjust a moderate amount so I will still have energy to do other things.

2.) Pray all of the sunan prayers - I pray all the fard prayers on time and they are no problem to me but I have a hard time praying the sunnah prayersconsistently. This year I decided I am going to pray all the sunan prayers throughout the whole month so I can pick up this good habit.

3.) Listen to the whole Qur'an - My first language is English and I'm in the process of learning Arabic so understanding the Qur'an being recitedis still difficult for me. I realized I have never listened to the Qur'an being recited in its entirety before (I have read the English meaning many timesthough) so I plan on doing that this Ramadan.

4.) Memorize Qur'an - I just began memorizing Qur'an last Ramadan and so far I have the last 14 surahs memorized (Al-Qariah to An-Nas). Memorization ofthe Qur'an has been coming easy to me alhamdulilah. Even though I don't speak Arabic, I can listen to an ayah being recited once or twice and pick itup instantly. The only problem has been that I have been too lazy to memorize. That stops now. I plan on sitting for atleast one hour after fajr every morningand memorize Qur'an. I want to finish memorizing Juz Ama (last 30th of the Quran) before the end of the month.

5.) Control my anger/stress - During the 11 other months of the year, I am very calm. I usually never get angry (if I do, I make sure I hide it) or stressed.During Ramadan, however, is a different story. I don't know if it's the hunger but my patience is very thin. The smallest things set me off. I havedone a pretty decent job controlling my anger/stress the past couple Ramadans but I still slipped a lot. I'm going to try and change that this year.

6.) Attend Taraweeh every weekend - Taraweeh is an important part of Ramadan but I have never attended more that 2 - 3 times

. I know for us college studentsand those that have work in the morning, it is difficult to stay at the mosque for so late. I know it is going to be impossible for me to attend every singlenight because of homework and other responsibilties but I am going to make sure my weekend nights are clear (Thursday night, Friday night and Saturday night)so I can attend.

Ramadan is the most blessed time of year but I have never taken full advantage of it

. I am really trying to change that and I hope you guys are too. I found thisarticle posted by Imam Suhaib Webb the imam at the mosque in Santa Clara and I wanted to share:

How to Prepare For Ramadan!

1. Making the Intention

Simple to do and has a powerful impact. Maybe you want to prepare for Ramadan, but between school, work, family, and any other activities, you just have no idea how to fit in 'Preparing for Ramadan' time. Instead of making 'preparing for Ramadan' something separate from your daily activities, MAKE your daily activities a means of preparation for Ramadan.
For example, perhaps your mom asked you to pick up your brother from school on the day you finally had time to read a few extra pages of Qur'an. Instead of feeling upset and feeling like you have lost a great preparation for Ramadan opportunity, make the intention that you are picking up your brother to please Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala and prepare for Ramadan by obeying your mother, helping your family members, building ties of kinship… and the list continues.
The point is that preparing for Ramadan does not have to be some magnificent, enormous, extra-special thing that needs to be done at a certain time of the day. Many of your daily actions can be turned into Ramadan preparation actions with a sincere intention, insha'Allah.



2. Do these easy-to-reap-reward actions:

Asking Allah to forgive your brothers and sisters. "Whoever seeks forgiveness for believing men and believing woman, Allah will write for him a good deed for each believing man and believing woman." [at-Tabarani, classed as hasan by al-Albani]
It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (r.a) said "The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said: 'Whoever says subhanAllah wa bi hamdih (praise and glory be to Allah) 100 times, morning and evening, his sins will be erased even if they are like the foam on the sea." Narrated by al-Bukhari, 6042; Muslim 2691

If a person says "SubhanAllah" (glory be to Allah) 100 times, a thousand good deeds are recorded for him and a thousand bad deeds are wiped away. Narrated by Muslim 2073
Remember Allah when you go shopping : "Whoever enters a market and says:
'Laa ilaha illallah wahdahu la shareeka lah, lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu yuhyi wa yumeetu wa huwa hayyun laa yamoot, bi yadihil khair, wa huwa 'ala kulli shayin qadeer'[there is nothing worthy of worship except Allah, alone without partner, to Him belongs dominion and praise, He causes life and death and He is the Living and does not die. In His Hand is all the good, and He is over all things competent]Allah will write for him/her a million good deeds and erase a million bad deeds and raise him a million levels." [at-Tirmidhi, classed as hasan by al-Albani]


3. Up your worship

To help condition your heart for this blessed month, intensify your worship before Ramadan begins. Just a small, consistent amount is enough. The Prophet, sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam told us:
"The deeds most loved by Allah are those done regularly, even if they are small."

For example, if I always pray 2 rakats of sunnah after ishaa, from this day until Ramadan begins- and even through Ramadan, let me make the intention that I will now pray 2 extra rakats of sunnah after ishaa. And every time I pray these extra 2 rakats, which are more than what I normally pray, let me remember that I am doing these with the intention of asking Allah to help me be prepared to strive and exert my utmost effort during Ramadan.



4. Make a duaa list today

This is THE MONTH to ask for EVERYTHING, both related to this life and the Next. Let us not wait until the last 10 nights to make special duaas, and then once Eid passes realize that we had completely forgotten about fifty other things we needed to make duaa for. Let us start making our lists now, and add to it as more things come our way. Insha'Allah this should help us remember to make constant duaa in this month where duaa is accepted, and help our hearts pour out to the One Who can make those duaas happen, subhanahu wa ta'ala.



5. Write out your objectives for Ramadan

Praying all of your fard prayers? Praying all of your sunnahs? Reading the entire Qur'an? Giving $1 charity a day? Making itikaaf in the masjid? Leaving one serious sin that you've been trying to get away from for some time now? Sincerely turning completely back to Allah?
Write out a list, put them somewhere you will see them, and make duaa for your success in fulfilling these objectives.



6. Make a plan!

Look at your objectives, and try to make a plan on how to actualize those objectives in this month.
For example, perhaps you are really struggling to pray your sunnah prayers. In this month, realize the enormity of the ajr of praying the sunnah prayers… think that perhaps these sunnahs will be the deeds that will be so heavy on your scale of good deeds when you are intense need of them- on yowm al qiyamah. Therefore, fight to keep doing them all throughout Ramadan. If you can't pray your 2 rakats after dhur right away, make sure to do them as soon as you get a chance.
Thus, your plan might look something like this:
Objective: Pray all of my fard prayers.
Method: Envision myself on the day of judgment seeing the insha'Allah weight of praying my sunnah consistently during this month. Make sure to pray sunnah salah immediately after salah. If I cannot, do it as soon as the opportunity arises… don't let myself put it off!
Another example is that of finishing the Qur'an:
Objective: Finishing the entire Qur'an in this month.
Method: Read 4 pages of the Qur'an after every salah. 5 prayers X 4 pages = 20 pages. 20 pages= about 1 juz. 1 juz X 30= the entire Qur'an.

---
So many Muslims have passed away since last month. So many people have not made it to Ramadan this year. Last year was their very last Ramadan. Will you make it to this Ramadan? Will this be your last Ramadan?

Aim to strive in this Ramadan. With a very small amount of effort, such as just making a small intention, or adding a few extra acts of worship, we pray that Allah will help our hearts soften and honor us with making it easy to turn to Him and open up to Him.

May Allah make us of the successful in Ramadan, and make it easy for us to turn to Him completely and perpetually. Ameen.
It seems so easy to do and I'm really hyped for Ramadan to come

 

[swoboydehteezy]

Ramadan seems like a big hassle.

I wonder what Islamic athletes do.

 

[hazeleyed honey]

Good luck to all those who are fasting this year. I am a weakling when it comes to fasting and usually cannot even function during the day especially when itcomes to adapting to fast over here. As for the Middle East, of course they get it easier since they work around their fasting (less work hours/less schoolinghours). It is going to be so hard this year, from sunrise to sunset no food or water at 9pm! I am not religious, nor a practicing Muslim, or really not Muslimin a sense anymore, but I have a lot of respect for the religion and it is still instilled in me in some cultural form. So, I will not be fasting that much,but I will do it here and there just as a challenge and for means of self-control.

 

[im a helion]

Originally Posted by SWOBOYdeHTEEZY

Ramadan seems like a big hassle.

I wonder what Islamic athletes do.

I'm not trying to be funny or come at you, but isn't that kind of an oxymoron?

 

[wooly willy]

Originally Posted by SWOBOYdeHTEEZY

Ramadan seems like a big hassle.

I wonder what Islamic athletes do.

I don't speak for all Muslims but I can comfortably say that the majority of Muslims do not see Ramadan as a hassle. It's all part of thespiritual development. You stop worrying about food and water to try to focus on God and also to see how those less privileged than us live. The point is tobring change to your life so after Ramadan is over, you can carry these practices into the other months.

 

[paliplaya2010]

Originally Posted by SWOBOYdeHTEEZY

Ramadan seems like a big hassle.

I wonder what Islamic athletes do.

i do and have been for 12 years, im about to be a senior in high school and have fasted every year iplayed football. once u make it through texas 2 a dayswhile fasting, ucan do anything

 

[lrrr]

are there any muslims in here that have eaten pork or drank alcohol?

 

[flasheightzero]

this is where you guys fast during the day right? i admire that type of spirituality, good luck

 

[mali700]

Originally Posted by IM A HELION

Originally Posted by SWOBOYdeHTEEZY

Ramadan seems like a big hassle.

I wonder what Islamic athletes do.

I'm not trying to be funny or come at you, but isn't that kind of an oxymoron?

homeboy watch ya self, there are plenty of Muslim athletes...

as for me i run cross country, indoor and outdoor track, this year since ramadan falls on xcountry season i won't be able to run, coach is scared of whatrunning a 3mile race will do to a kid whose not allowed to drink water, but most muslim football players still play football, i have done it during indoortrack before it wasn't that hard, my times were off by maybe 10 seconds, but i think that was more mental then physical...

 

[addictedtofreshkicks]

well, good luck.

 

[paliplaya2010]

^lol im sure alot have drank, its always funny to me how muslims will drink whenever but never even get close to pork

 

[king beef]

Originally Posted by Lrrr

are there any muslims in here that have eaten pork or drank alcohol?

Yes I have drank before, but i have never had pork. Ive made some mistakes I'll admit that.

6.) Attend Taraweeh every weekend - Taraweeh is an important part of Ramadan but I have never attended more that 2 - 3 times

. I know for us college students and those that have work in the morning, it isdifficult to stay at the mosque for so late. I know it is going to be impossible for me to attend every single night because of homework and otherresponsibilties but I am going to make sure my weekend nights are clear (Thursday night, Friday night and Saturday night) so I can attend.

Ive gone to every taraweeh for the last 5 ramadans. It becomes a habit. I

 

[king beef]

Originally Posted by IM A HELION

Originally Posted by SWOBOYdeHTEEZY

Ramadan seems like a big hassle.

I wonder what Islamic athletes do.

I'm not trying to be funny or come at you, but isn't that kind of an oxymoron?

+%+%$*@ ******

 

[hazeleyed honey]

Originally Posted by paliplaya2010

^lol im sure alot have drank, its always funny to me how muslims will drink whenever but never even get close to pork

I know a lot of Muslims who strongly believe in their faith, but drink, have extra-marital sex, but will refuse to eat pork. But, when it comes topork, it is this ingrained habit in our head to not eat it and to think of it as disgusting and dirty. Like I said, I am not religious and do not considermyself a practicing Muslim, so maybe I am more Agnostic, but I will not touch pork.

 

[king beef]

Ads for everything

 

[lalakerfan213]

Good luck to those who are fasting.

 

[neoxfactor]

Hakeem Olajuwon and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar both fasted during the season. Its about time summer comes to an end for me, no more partying.

Im hoping this Ramadan I give up alcohol, green, and cigarettes for good.

 

[wooly willy]

Originally Posted by neoxfactor

Hakeem Olajuwon and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar both fasted during the season. Its about time summer comes to an end for me, no more partying.

Im hoping this Ramadan I give up alcohol, green, and cigarettes for good.

Good luck man. I'll keep you in my du'as.

That's what Ramadan is all about, giving up these harmful things for something better.

 

[m16]

Originally Posted by IM A HELION

Originally Posted by SWOBOYdeHTEEZY

Ramadan seems like a big hassle.




I wonder what Islamic athletes do.

I'm not trying to be funny or come at you, but isn't that kind of an oxymoron?

 

[theswoosh]

Great thread Wooly!

This Ramadan should be fairly easy as i wont be working evenings. In years past i have been so busy at work I had to go an extra 2-3 hours to eat.

 

[waveyjoneslocker]

What presents do you guys usually get at the end?

 

[theswoosh]

Originally Posted by WaveyJonesLocker

What presents do you guys usually get at the end?

Hopefully a ticket to the garden that has rivers flowing beneath it.

 

[wooly willy]

Originally Posted by TheSwoosh

Originally Posted by WaveyJonesLocker

What presents do you guys usually get at the end?

Hopefully a ticket to the garden that has rivers flowing beneath it.

The best reward

 

[wooly willy]

So when is everyone in here going to start fasting. I hear some people say it starts Friday. I'm going to wait until Saturday since that is the officialstart date posted at my local masjid.

 

[nycknicks105]

Originally Posted by Lrrr

are there any muslims in here that have eaten pork or drank alcohol?

I have, but I gave up eating pork and I don't drink as much as I used to. I even stopped drinking socially. I know it'll be a little hardto stop drinking, because all my friends do it so I get tempted, but i'm trying not to do it anymore.

Hopefully this Ramadan I won't stuff my face during Suhoor and Iftar.