Dear Muslim brothers and sisters,
You might be coming across several posts that are excitingly buzzing with Ramadan around the corner. If you have just reverted to Islam and are feeling a little too apprehensive of what to expect, here’s a small attempt on my part to help you get through the initial jitters inshaAllah.
#1 Dua Dua Dua
If you feel no one understands what you are going through, then know that Allah SWT does! So cry out to Him and cry some more, asking Him to make things easy. With His help, you can move mountains and reach your goals with ease; nothing is too daunting or heavy when you have Allah SWT on your side.
Place your worries in His hands and free your mind and heart from the emotional and physical burdens you might be facing. Imagine how you would trust your best friend by telling your worries to them knowing that they *will* help you out or will support you through it. Allah is beyond any comparison and His help is beyond anything you can ever imagine. Make use of all the special times when duas are accepted. A dua of a distressed believer is always answered by Allah SWT. Click here 1 and here 2 to find out more.
#2 Pray
Something as simple as 2 rakats or more can ease the tensions and worries you have. Prayer can erase scars and heal wounds you never even knew existed. Pray to get an emaan high. It’s the most amazing way to spend time during Ramadan. Apart from receiving amazing blessings from your Lord, you will also learn to control and tame your nafs, making the whole process of Ramadan sweeter and rewarding inshaAllah.
#3 Learn!
When you learn something, it becomes familiar, in turn making it easier for you to follow and comprehend. A science theory might make no sense at all, but if you spend some time studying about it, it becomes easier to grasp the concept. Now, you have no hesitation in putting your new found knowledge into practice. The same could be said about Ramadan. When you learn more about the blessed month and the benefits it carries, it’ll be much easier for you to utilize it in the best possible manner.
#4 You Are Never Alone
Visit mosques or local organizations to get in touch with fellows Muslims who have reverted recently or even Muslims who have just started practicing the deen. Surround yourself with support groups which will make your worries and struggles a lot easier, rather than battling them all by yourself. If you find no one, always remember, you have Allah SWTwith you *all* the time.
#5 Don’t Feel Shy to Take Part In Iftaar Gatherings
If your Muslim friends or family invite you for iftaar, go for it. No! You are not going to be a burden on them and you don’t have to feel shy either. It’s a nice way to spend time and learn more about this beautiful religion.
Have fun planning iftaar parties that are halal and educational. Get together and prepare meals for iftaar, conduct quizzes or other competitions and give prizes or discuss about one topic each day. It could be about topics that you are finding difficult to understand or anything general too.
What better way to spend the month of Ramadan than indulging in conversations that revolve around Islam and Allah SWT. Angels gather in places where people come to seek knowledge. Imagine being surrounded by angels who are invoking Allah’s mercy and love on you! There’s nothing more soothing than that.
6 It Is Okay If You Falter Once In A While
If you feel you’re not living up to the challenges and goals you set for yourself, it’s okay; you need to relax. Allah SWT rewards you for your intentions and He SWTdoes not overburden you more than what you can take. So don’t overburden yourself with expectations that are too high to attain.
Pick yourself up and don’t let Shaytan mess with your mind. Continue doing small consistent deeds, even if it means reciting half a page of Quran a day. Don’t waste time on what you’ve missed, rather, concentrate on what you can do!
Points to Remember:
-If you are scared that you might not wake up for suhoor, you can ask your friend to give you a call to check if you’ve woken up.
-You might feel hungry for a day or two during the fasting period. It’s not uncommon or something to be ashamed of. Even those who’ve been fasting for years feel a nagging sense of hunger for a couple of days or so. Your body will adjust to it in no time.
-Plan your meals and buy your groceries beforehand so you don’t have to wonder what needs to be prepared for suhoor or iftaar every single day.
-Take this as an opportunity to give dawah to your family who may not be Muslims yet. Actions speak louder than words, and when combined with gentle words can be lethal in creating the right kind of change in their mindset inshaAllah.
Know dear sister or brother in Islam that Allah SWTsees the tears and the struggles you made for this religion, and none of it, absolutely none of it will go wasted. Instead, every single hardship you face with patience will be rewarded with magnanimous bounties which no human can comprehend. He SWT will give you from places unknown and will make your pathway to jannah easier inshaAllah.
