Maximizing each second of Ramadan

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Re: Immense Rewards for Reciting the Qur'an in Ramadan

Tips for reciting more Qur'an during Ramadan:

Splitting up what you recite of the Qur'an

Rather than read 50 pages in one go try splitting it up. So read 5 pages before Fajr and 5 pages after. 5 Pages before Dhuhr and 5 pages after. Then for Asr the most precious time for worship is between Asr and Maghrib so you can read half a juz (chapter) or even one juz. Then recite 5 pages before sleep.

In this way you have broken down all of your recitation into manageable chunks so you don't feel fatigued or overwhelmed.

How to stay motivated

A good way of motivating yourself is to think to yourself that outside of Ramadan we get 10 rewards for reciting each letter of the Qur'an. But in Ramadan all deeds are multiplied by 10 so you get a minimum of 100 rewards for each letter you recite. Subhaanallah. That is immense rewards! So everytime you get lazy or feel demotivated just imagine missing out on 100 rewards for each letter and think to yourself that this offer is only available ONCE a year for just 30 days.

These rewards we will desperately need on the day of judgement as we will BEG others for just ONE good deed but no one will give it to us because they will also be in desperate need. So can we afford to miss out on 100 rewards for just one letter? Thats hundreds of thousands of rewards each day if we read a reasonable amount of Qur'an. Subhaanallah. So keep these rewards in your mind and whilst your reading imagine getting 100 rewards for each letter. That is just minimum Allah can reward MUCH more.

Take regular breaks

Throughout the day you will be taking a lot of breaks so as to not overwhelm yourself because it is important to have some "me" time. So you can relax or go for a short walk and clear your head or just relax and do dhikr. Meditation is very good for you and relieves stress. So meditating about the signs of Allah is a wonderful way to relax and at the same time gain immense rewards.

Taking regular breaks will help to avoid burnout . You can read your favourite "halal" book lol. Go for a walk in the park to freshen your head. Call a good friend who havent spoken to for a while (remembering not to partake in idle talk), or just relax with family.

By having regular rests we will be able to re-focus again on the task at hand. Overwhelming ourselves can do more harm than good as it may cause us to suddenly slip and fall and not be able to get back up again. So regular little breaks are very important.

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Re: 10 steps to getting closer to Allah

This Ramadan, Use Anger to Come Closer to Allah

Ah, Ramadan.

The month when the doors of the glorious gates of Jannah are wide open. The month when those hunger pangs bring us ever closer to our Creator. The month when wonderful words roll off our tongues.

Umm, hold on a second.

I get the part about the heavenly gates and the hunger pangs, but I’m confused about the wonderful words…? I don’t know if it’s just me but I seem to hear a lot of loathsome language during Ramadan. During this blessed month, the sneaky Shaytan is cuffed like a criminal, but then a new “monster” shows up in some of us: ourselves.

With raging hunger and thirst awaiting us this upcoming Ramadan during the hot summer month of July, our emotions may bring out the worst of us. But they don’t have to. We can actually use these tough emotions to get closer to Allah by managing and even mastering them. Without a doubt, one of the toughest emotions to handle while fasting is anger.

I get angry! So what?

Well, the believer who is conscious of Allah is one who restrains their anger. Allah says in the Quran, “And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a garden whose width is that of the heavens and the Earth, prepared for the God-fearing. Who spend in times of ease and times of hardship and who restrain their anger and who pardon people. And Allah loves those who do good.” [Surah Al-Imran: 133-134]

We’ve all heard the advice the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, gave to a man who came to him.

Abu Hurayrah relates that a man said to the Prophet (peace be upon him): “Counsel me.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Do not get angry.” The man repeated his request many times, but the Prophet (peace be upon him) kept saying: “Do not get angry.” [Sahih al-Bukhari]

When I first tried to understand this hadith, I thought, “How strange. After all, repressing anger is bad for you, right?”

Wrong.

I recently learned of research that shows expressing anger and “letting it out” can actually be bad for you both physically and mentally.

“When people brood and ruminate about their anger, talk to others incessantly about how angry they are, or vent their feelings in hostile acts, their blood pressure shoots up, they often feel angrier, and they behave even more aggressively later than if they had just let their feelings of anger subside.” (Bushman et al., 2005; Travis, 1989)

Anger first starts off like a dry stick with a little spark. And each subsequent angry thought is like throwing another stick, drenched in kerosene, into the burning pile. The fire just keeps getting bigger and bigger until it burns you.

So how can we actually put out this anger flame and be those who restrain anger?

Experts in anger management therapies will teach you the ancient advice to count to 10 or count to a 100, but we have something better that can bring us closer to Allah.

When we’re feeling angry, we’re told to recite the ta’awudh, which is the prayer Muslims say to ward off Satan, “A’udhu billahi min ash-Shaytan ir-rajeem.” I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan.

In addition to saying the ta’awwudh, you can try a distracting activity like making wudu or taking a walk. You can even change your physical position like the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, advised us to do:

“If one of you gets angry and he is standing, then he should sit down until his anger subsides. If it does not, then he should lie down.” [Sunan Abi Dawud]

Changing our position helps us get out of that high arousal state that anger puts us in.

A second way to use anger to come closer to Allah is through reframing.

Reframing

Ever notice how different a picture looks when you change the frame around it. You can go from a traditional, rustic look to a modern, contemporary design in minutes just by changing the outline. You can do the same thing with an angry thought or situation. Let’s say you get mad at the sister standing next to you in salah because she whispers very loudly. You can reframe that situation and think that maybe she is so focused on her salah that she doesn’t even notice that the disturbance she is causing. By the way, offering salah is a great reframing tool. It often gets you out of the angry situation and makes you realize how futile the fights of this world are.

Putting a new spin to the angry story your mind perpetuates also helps you move away from taking things personally. Maybe that person who cut you off, as you’re on your way to iftaar at your friend’s, didn’t see you. Give people the benefit of the doubt. And then watch yourself come closer to Allah through anger.

When Anger is Awesome

Sometimes anger is warranted. For example, getting angry when Allah’s laws are broken is plausible. Getting angry at an injustice can also be good when it motivates you to right the wrong. But remember what Aristotle said, “Anyone can become angry-that is easy. But to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way-this is not easy.”

So if you are going to express anger, remember to use the right words at the right time. Think carefully before you do or say anything so that you get the results you want. Moreover, using the ta’awwudh to calm down and distract yourself doesn’t mean you are brushing the problem under the rug. No. It merely cools your mind so that you can think intelligently about the situation at hand. The next time you get angry at iftaar time or during your fast, remember to say the ta’awwudh until you calm down. And then reframe the situation to get a better understanding of what’s going on.

May you always use anger to come closer to Allah.

Source:This Ramadan, Use Anger to Come Closer to Allah | MentalHealth4Muslims

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Re: 12 Ways to Maximize Everyday in Ramadan

The Best Sale in the Universe is on Now!

This is it. The best sale in the Universe is on NOW but it only lasts for 30 days each year so grab what you can now before it is too late!!!

It is a forgiveness and good deed free for all like at no other time of the year!!!

Opportunity of a lifetime!

Imagine you were given an opportunity to go through a huge Supermarket and everything in store was 70% or more off. People would go crazy at such an amazing opportunity to grab the cheapest goods at ridiculous prices.

This same sort of analogy applies to the blessed month of Ramadan but this sale is far better than any other and there are far more generous rewards up for grabs not only for the benefit of this world but most of all that which wiull benefit us for the rest of eternity.

This is an opportunity to gain a lifetimes of forgiveness, immense rewards for even the smallest of deeds and Allah has made it easier for us to do good deeds in this blessed month!

So we have a once in a year opportunity for just 30 days to grab as much forgiveness and immense rewards as possible aswell as freedom from the fire, entry into Jannah and best of all an opportunity to please Allah and get closer to him.

Reward of 1000 months (83 years) and entire lifetime forgiveness in one night:

There is a night in the last 10 nights of Ramadan where we have the opportunity to grab 83 years of worship reward and an entire lifetime of sins in just one night. It is none other than in the night of power (Laylatul Qadr).

Summary of the special offers available in this blessed month only:

Forgiveness for an entire lifetime of sins

An opportunity to please Allah and get closer to him

An opportunity to do more good deeds more so than in any other month

EVERY Nawafil (Voluntary) prayer rewarded like a Fard (obligatory) prayer!!!

Every Fard prayer rewarded like 70 fard prayers!!!

Every letter of the Qur'an rewarded a minimum of 700 good deeds and double for those who struggle reciting who get minimum of 1400 for each letter!!!

These are just minimum as EVERY good deed could be multiplied from 70 to 700 or more! Allah is most generous!!!

Act fast as the sale ends soon!

So come on what are you waiting for? GRAB as much forgiveness and as many good deeds as you can before its too late. This may be our last chance ever to have such an amazing opportunity as we may not be alive to see next Ramadan just as many others who thought they would be alive this Ramadan were taken by death.

Surely on the day of judgement we will BEG each other for just one good deed but we will not be able to obtain any because we will all be in need on that day. So grab what you can now before its too late!!!

Offer ends very shortly at the end of Ramadan!

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The Best Sale in the Universe is on Now!

**The Best Sale in the Universe is on Now!

**This is it. The best sale in the Universe is on NOW but it only lasts for 30 days each year so grab what you can now before it is too late!!!

It is a forgiveness and good deed free for all like at no other time of the year!!!

Opportunity of a lifetime!

Imagine you were given an opportunity to go through a huge Supermarket and everything in store was 70% or more off. People would go crazy at such an amazing opportunity to grab the cheapest goods at ridiculous prices.

This same sort of analogy applies to the blessed month of Ramadan but this sale is far better than any other and there are far more generous rewards up for grabs not only for the benefit of this world but most of all that which wiull benefit us for the rest of eternity.

This is an opportunity to gain a lifetimes of forgiveness, immense rewards for even the smallest of deeds and Allah has made it easier for us to do good deeds in this blessed month!

So we have a once in a year opportunity for just 30 days to grab as much forgiveness and immense rewards as possible aswell as freedom from the fire, entry into Jannah and best of all an opportunity to please Allah and get closer to him.

Reward of 1000 months (83 years) and entire lifetime forgiveness in one night:

There is a night in the last 10 nights of Ramadan where we have the opportunity to grab 83 years of worship reward and an entire lifetime of sins in just one night. It is none other than in the night of power (Laylatul Qadr).

*Summary of the special offers available in this blessed month only:
*

Forgiveness for an entire lifetime of sins

An opportunity to please Allah and get closer to him

An opportunity to do more good deeds more so than in any other month

EVERY Nawafil (Voluntary) prayer rewarded like a Fard (obligatory) prayer!!!

Every Fard prayer rewarded like 70 fard prayers!!!

Every letter of the Qur'an rewarded a minimum of 700 good deeds and double for those who struggle reciting who get minimum of 1400 for each letter!!!

These are just minimum as EVERY good deed could be multiplied from 70 to 700 or more! Allah is most generous!!!

Act fast as the sale ends soon!

So come on what are you waiting for? GRAB as much forgiveness and as many good deeds as you can before its too late. This may be our last chance ever to have such an amazing opportunity as we may not be alive to see next Ramadan just as many others who thought they would be alive this Ramadan were taken by death.

Surely on the day of judgement we will BEG each other for just one good deed but we will not be able to obtain any because we will all be in need on that day. So grab what you can now before its too late!!!

Offer ends very shortly at the end of Ramadan!

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Re: VERY Rewarding Nafl Salaahs we can Pray Everyday!

Wa Alaikum Asalaam, brother there is no issue here as Tahiyyatul just refers to the fact that it is a prayer of after Wudu.

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Re: How Productive Was Your Day Today In Ramadan?

Tip 16: Reciting the Qur'an in abundance during the blessed month of Ramadan:

Ramadan is the month of the Qur'an so we should do our utmost to recite the Qur'an as much as possible for the reward of every good act is multiplied by 70 during Ramadan. So if there are ten rewards for reciting one letter of the Qur'an outside of Ramadan then if we multiply ten by 70 then that makes upto 700 rewards for reciting just one letter of the Qur'an. Subhaanallah.

Those who struggle reciting the Qur'an get double the reward:

So those who struggle to recite the Qur'an get upto 1400 good deeds for reciting each letter. The bigger and better our intentions then the more Allah will reward us for every good act. So these rewards are just minimum.

Set targets: Therefore we should set a realistic target for ourselves of how much of the Qur'an we will recite depending on what we have to do in our day. If we are free then alhamdulillah we should aim for a minimum of 3 Qur'an in this month or more. If we are working and busy then one Qur'an is possible.

It is best to break down what you will recite in manageable chunks. For example read half a juz before Dhuhr, Half after, half before Asr, Half after, A half before Maghrib and then half before sleep etc. In this way we can recite the Qur'an a little bit at a time and that way not feel fatigued, restless and avoid getting bored. We should also take regular breaks and even do Dhikr in between or just rest for a while.

So set yourself daily targets of how much Qur'an you will recite and devote much of your worship on reciting the Qur'an as it is the month of the Qur'an.

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Re: How Productive Was Your Day Today In Ramadan?

**Tip 17: Had a bad day of not doing much worship:

**If you have had a bad day today where you have not read much Qur’an or done much dhikr etc. then do not let it put you off or let it ruin the rest of the evening or following days worship. Just pick yourself up and carry on. Do not let the time we have wasted make us waste even more time.

The main thing is not to overwhelm ourselves but also not to underwhelm ourselves. So we should strike the right balance so that we can continue doing a good amount of good deeds daily. But what we must never do is let our lack lustre performance with regards to worship deter or stop us from improving and progressing. We must keep striving and keeping in mind the blessings of this month.

We must also try our best to imprint, internalise and always keeping in our minds the following:

“I cannot afford to waste a second of this blessed month and that I must say and do everything that will please Allah and that will benefit me in this world and the next and that I must leave anything which may anger or displease Allah and may harm me and not benefit you in this world or the next.”

Write it down somewhere where you think you will be able to keep referring to it. Even print it out and hang it up. This should be the way we live each and every second of our lives.

If we lived with this concept then surely we will be successful inshallah!

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Re: Immense Rewards for Reciting the Qur’an in Ramadan

:hmmm:

89

Re: The Best Sale in the Universe is on Now!

The final Hurdle

We must do our utmost to worship Allah as much as possible during the remaining days and nights of Ramadan. What an opportunity we have been given to gain rewards of more than a persons average life and to gain an entire lifetime of forgiveness for our sins.

Therefore let us cry to Allah and beg of him for mercy and forgiveness. Let us ask of him to help and guide us and to enable us to become closer to him and to do everything to please him and refrain from anything which may anger and displease him.

Let us not waste any time as these seconds are way too precious to waste. We have an opportunity of changing our lives forever so we must make a firm commitment to Allah TONIGHT! That we will be firm and steadfast in ALL of our prayers and that we will try our utmost to do everything to please him and for him to detach our hearts from this dunya (world) so that we may work for the hereafter and work to please Allah in everything that we do. We will slip and fall but so what? We are created to slip and fall. That is why we repent and Allah loves those who repent sincerely with utter remorse and regret.

So my brothers and sisters we CANNOT wait to change tomorrow but the change MUST be TONGHT! Then after that we will see a change in our lives we never thought possible and we will have something to live for and focus on. We will have a true purpose and that will be ONLY to worship Allah and to please him as his pleasure in this life and the next is MUCH better than Paradise and everything it contains.

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Re: The Best Sale in the Universe is on Now!

nice way to sell religion.

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Re: The Best Sale in the Universe is on Now!

Peace jaanaan,

As OP said its the best sale in the universe. R u willing to buy (take advantages from this)? :)

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Re: The Best Sale in the Universe is on Now!

When it comes to a bargain sale on in a retail store we make sure we prepare for it by getting there early so we can get the best bargains. But much of the time those bargains are taken by someone else. Such items are temporary and will only benefit us for a short while.

But the bargain from Allah is endless and is available to all. This bargain will not only benefit us in this world but will benefit us for eternity. This bargain is unlike any other as it is from our creator who is free from miserliness and is so generous that it is impossible to comprehend. Therefore if we were to miss out on this bargain then we are not only so unfortunate but truly foolish. A

Therefore let us GRAB THE BARGAINS as time is now short and there are only a few days left. This bargain only occurs once a year but we may not be alive to make it for the next one.

Subhanallah. WHAT A BARGAIN!

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Re: 10 Good acts a Women can do on her Menses

**Women on menses can gain equal rewards on Laylatul Qadr:

**Women can gain equal rewards on her menses during the blessed last ten nightsand gain equal rewards on the night of Qadr. She can do Dhikr, Dua, Read the translation and Tafseer of the Qur'an, contemplate and ponder over the greatness of Allah, listen to Qur'an recitation and listen to Islamic lectures and she can make sincere Dua begging of Allah.

So there is nothing stopping her from gaining rewards equal to or even more than those not on menses.

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Re: How Productive Was Your Day Today In Ramadan?

** Tips 18: It is more about quality Dua's than length or quantity of Dua's :**

It is not necessarily the quantity or length of Dua's that is important but it is the quality of one's Dua which really matters the most. Quality in that we make Dua to Allah like a slave and begger in proper humility and meekness asking of Almighty Allah the Lord and master of the Universe the majesty of honour and generosity, the most high and honoured one whereas we are most low and insignificant like a speck of dust.

Let us ask of him because we are in need but know that he does not need us. Even if every human was to stop worshipping him then that would not take anything away from his majesty and honour.

It is very important that we concentrate and be mindful of Allah whilst doing Dua and do not let our minds wonder. We should not be neglectful in our dua's because if we do not focus on Allah in our Dua's then why should he focus on us whilst we are making Dua?

Whilst in Dua we should try to imagine Almighty Allah in front of us watching us make Dua to him. We should try to be as sincere as possible whilst in our Dua’s, so it is far better if we try to cry out of meekness and humility and are most remorseful of our sins past and present and that we resolve never to repeat them again. We should cry for the salvation of ourselves and our parents and families and those of our families. We should cry like sincere beggers and slaves to the master of the Universe. We should cry for the sad state our Ummah and for our brothers and sisters that are being oppressed and for those that are ill and those that are starving and in poverty. But if we cannot cry then we should at least make our face like we are crying.

It is also recommend to make a Dua list that one can refer to it whilst in Dua so one does not forget what to make Dua for. We should try to mix our worship so we do not feel tired or bored. Therefore we should devote much of the night to the Qur'an and make much Dhikr and Dua in between. We should also pray Tahajjud and make Dua after it as Dua is readily accepted in the latter part of the night and just before Fajr begins.

So let us make the best of each and every second of this most blessed and precious month and make the most quality, sincere and intense Dua's as we will NEVER get this Ramadan back again once it is gone and there is no guarantee that we will make it until next Ramadan.

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Re: The Best Sale in the Universe is on Now!

No thanks

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Re: 10 Good acts a Women can do on her Menses

:jazak:

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Re: How Productive Was Your Day Today In Ramadan?

:jazak:

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Re: 12 Ways to Maximize Everyday in Ramadan

The 3 ways to turbo charge your Ramadan

At the end of every Ramadan there is always mixed feelings of loss that the blessed month has ended alongside the joys of the celebration of Eid. Then it gets to Hajj season and six months to the next Ramadan and we start fearing the return of the month of fasting. Rather than looking forward to Ramadan (and its blessings) we start to fear the long days, and the usual things like ‘how will we fast for so long?’, ‘I can’t go to work and fast, it’s just too hard,’ etc. In this article I will look at ways that you can start looking forward to Ramadan with such a passion that you will wish it was tomorrow In sha Allah!

We know that the Sahaba (may Allāh be pleased with them) used to start preparing for Ramadan six months in advance. If you can do that then that’s awesome. However, for many of us with busy lifestyles and the hustle and bustle of life, our priorities are not always right. That doesn’t mean it is too late. There is no doubt that we should be aiming to make the best of every act we do in Ramadan, and preparing for the blessed month will help us in multiple ways.

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said: “Whoever draws near to Allah during it (Ramadan) with a single characteristic from the characteristics of (voluntary) goodness, he is like whoever performs an obligatory act in other times. And whoever performs an obligatory act during it, he is like whoever performed seventy obligatory acts in other times.” ** [Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah, no. 1887].**

The 3 things I recommend every year to prepare for Ramadan are:

Voluntary Fasting

Abu Hurairah (may Allāh be pleased with him) reported that the most the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) would fast would be Monday and Thursday. He was asked about that and he said: “On Mondays and Thursday Allah forgives every Muslim except two who have forsaken one another. He says: ‘Leave these two until they reconcile.’” Ibn Majah].

Not that you need any more reason to do voluntary fasting but what is absolutely amazing is that modern scientific research is showing the benefits of intermittent fasting. Intermittent fasting is basically the scientific name for fasting two days a week, or 3 days a month, or fasting every other day. Each of these are clearly set out within the Islamic tradition and it is wonderful that these practices are now being advocated by non-Muslims.

If you feel that doing a 16-hour fast is too difficult outside Ramadan at this stage, then I suggest you cut down on your food consumption for a few days a month so that you can prepare your body for the food reduction that will take place.

Giving Charity

This isn’t charity-giving in a conventional sense but working out how much you will give and planning it with your family- your spouse, your children, maybe others.

Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) when asked which charity is best, “He (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said: Charity in Ramadan.” Tirmidhi] and Aishah (may Allāh be pleased with her) narrated that “He (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) 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 are a few.’ Nasai]

These hadiths remind me that even though we should give charity in Ramadan, rather than being overzealous and giving everything in the first few days or saving it all for the last 10 days of Ramadan, why not work out how much you will give and then split it over the 30 days? For example: My children have £30 to give in charity. Through the ‘charity planning’ meeting we discuss how they will give this out and they usually decide to give £1 a day. They can then give this to any cause they choose and it’s the small consistent act that has powerful impact outside Ramadan. Often they will make charitable donations outside Ramadan because the habit of giving was formed in Ramadan. Alhamdulillah.

The Power of Dua

Many of us know how to make dua but at the same time we have no idea how to ask Allah (glorified and exalted be He) for the things that we desperately want. We go on year on year, day by day making the same old dua for the same old things. If you want to turbocharge your life this Ramadan, this needs to change. You need to adopt a new dua habit In sha Allah.

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said “The most excellent worship is Du’a.” [Sahih Al-Jami’, no. 1133]. And Allah (glorified and exalted be He) tells us in the Qur’an “And your Lord says, ‘Call upon Me; I will respond to you.’ Indeed, those who disdain My worship will enter Hell [rendered] contemptible.” Qur’an: Chapter 40, Verse 60].

So why have we stopped asking Allah (glorified and exalted be He) for what we really want? In preparation for Ramadan I urge you to take some time out and dedicate it to working out what you really want from your life so you can strategically plan your duas this Ramadan. Don’t be shy of Allah (glorified and exalted be He), and don’t ask for a little. His bounty is huge and He can answer all your duas without diminishing his bounty.

Make this year’s dua planning session different to those you have done in the past by writing things down. Work out what it will look like when you have achieved it and also plan a few milestones.

Conclusion

If you are able to do these three things then In sha Allah this Ramadan will change your life. Many times I have read articles like this and then only put one of the recommendations into action or carried on without any change.

My suggestion to you, dear reader, is to take a few moments to reflect upon what you just read and think about how you can put this into your life. Remember it is small changes that are needed. There is nothing radical in these suggestions its just the impact is huge especially if you do all three… and I know this from personal experience!

Taken from: 3 Things to Turbocharge Ramadan - Productive Muslim

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Re: Ramadan Worship Checklist

*The pious predecessors used to say: *
"Many small actions are made great by the intentions behind them. Many great actions , on the other hand, are made small because of the intentions behind them."

So we must make sure that we have the best intentions before doing any good deed or action no matter how small or big it is as our deeds are dependant upon the intention and level of sincerity behind it.

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Re: 10 Hugely Rewarding Good Deeds to do in Ramadan

Small and Easy Good Deeds for Big Rewards

Islam is a practical way of life, and we are surrounded by numerous opportunities to do good. It is just a matter of recognising them.
*
In order to carry out small and easy good deeds yet still achieve a great reward, we must understand and embrace the concept of ‘sincerity of intention’. One of the many beautiful qualities of Allah (glorified and exalted be He) is that He is the Most Merciful; and it is mentioned in the Holy Qur’aan,

“Those who avoid great sins and shameful deeds, only (falling into) small faults, verily thy Lord is ample in forgiveness. He knows you well when He brings you out of the earth, and when ye are hidden in your mothers’ wombs. Therefore justify not yourselves: He knows best who it is that guards against evil.” (53:32)

Islam provides us with plenty of chances to reconcile with our inner goodness, and we may find it difficult at times, what with our chaotic 9-5 working days followed by the hectic demands the dunya throws at us each day. Personally,** the most amazing thing about Islam is that we are so blessed in terms of the flexibility of the Islamic way of life, that in nearly everything that we do, there is a reward ready for us, we just need to have the right intentions**.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) once said: “Allah definitely does not look at your bodies, nor your appearances. Rather he looks at your hearts.”

The latter makes it clear that what matters most is our inner being, and how much integrity, passion and earnestness we have within us when it comes to carrying out even the smallest of good deeds.

So, all you need is sincerity in your intentions and the taqwa (God-consciousness) to help you identify these small but invaluable good deeds. What are they? How can you make the most of your day, your deen, and your life?

****1. Smile!

Most of you reading this article may be familiar with the hadith “Smiling is sadaqah”; and even though we have heard it so many times in the past, and from so many different people, we sometimes still fail to understand just how significant the small action of a smile really is. Islam teaches us to be compassionate and considerate towards our brothers and sisters throughout the world, so next time you’re walking in the street and pass by someone, don’t be afraid to just crack a smile, because as the famous philosopher Plato once said: “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”

****2. Salaam

Why is it so important to say salaam to another Muslim, whether you know them or not? This question may have popped into your mind at one time or another and the answer to it is this:

Imran bin Husayn (may Allāh be pleased with him) recounts that once he and others were in the presence of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) when a man came and said, “Assalamu alaikum”, to which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) responded and said, “Ten”, then another man came and he said “Assalamualaikum wa rahmatullah”, to which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) responded and said “Twenty”. Finally, a third man came and said “Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullah wa Barakatu”, to which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) responded and said, “Thirty”. **(Abu Daud, Tirmidhi, Jami al Usul, p. 602. Vol 6)
**
So the third man that passed by had earned a huge 30 rewards just by saying the full salaam. Shouldn’t we be motivated then, to do the same and earn as many rewards as possible while we have the chance?

3. Recitingthe Qur’aan

Something that truly reflects the compassionate nature of Allah (glorified and exalted be He) is that for every letter of the holy Qur’aan that we recite, we get 10 rewards! SubhanAllah, another simple yet weighty good deed that we can earn many rewards for, though *sincerity is still key.
*
****4. “Cleanliness is half of faith”

The words of the blessed Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) – a man who has done countless good deeds and sacrificed much in the path of Allah (glorified and exalted be He) - yet he still emphasised even physical cleanliness to be a deed which, if done properly, counts as half of our faith. The purity mentioned in this hadith is also said to be inner cleanliness, but at the same time, practical everyday things like keeping your clothes clean, laying down a dirt-free prayer mat and washing your hands before eating are all acts that fall into the ‘cleanliness’ in this hadith. Not only are they essential to keeping your body healthy and your surroundings hygienic, but these actions are also sunnah!

****5. ****Just one sunnah, but the reward of 100 martyrs!

One thing that blew me away when I was doing research for this topic is a hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him):

“Whoever sticks to my Sunnah when my ummah becomes corrupt, will receive the reward of 100 martyrs.”

The fact is that every person does at least one thing in their whole life that is a sunnah – we just don’t realise it. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) was also a man, the best of all creation, but still a man. Many of us, including myself, forget to apply this knowledge of integrity in our intentions being the main thing; as a result, we miss out on the big rewards for some of the most basic things that we do daily.

There is reward in gazing upon the night sky, sitting to eat, yawning and even sleeping! All we need to do is rectify our intentions. Anything we do with the intention of it being a sunnah act, we are rewarded for it by Allah (glorified and exalted be He). Alhamdulillah, there are an enormous amount of opportunities that are handed to us on so many occasions each day, let us then make the most of the blessings that Allah (glorified and exalted be He) has granted us, and begin to revive a sunnah, inshaAllah!

*“Your remedy is within you, but you do not sense it… You presume you are a small entity, but within you **is enfolded *the entire universe… Therefore, there is no need to look beyond yourself. What you seek is within you, if only you reflect.” (Ali Ibn Abu Talib (may Allāh be pleased with him))

Click to read more: [Ramadan Series] Small and Easy Good Deeds for Big Rewards - Productive Muslim]([Ramadan Series] Small and Easy Good Deeds for Big Rewards - ProductiveMuslim.com)