How Do I Make the Most of Ramadan?

Answered by Zaynab Ansari Abdul-Razacq

Question

Do you have any practical tips for mums with young children on making the best of Ramadan, as time is often very limited? Also, in this context, should one focus on reading as much of the Quran as possible or on tafsir or memorization, bearing in mind that many of us can’t manage tarawih in mosques with babies/toddlers, especially now that the fasts are very long here in the UK?

It is extremely difficult to achieve all these aims, even with the best intentions, unless one has a live-in nanny!

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds. May the peace and blessings of Allah descend on the Prophet Muhammad, his family, his companions, and those who follow them.

Thank you for your question, which is very important. My advice is to take on what you can consistently sustain during Ramadan and throughout the year.

Assessment of Obligatory Worship

First, assess the state of your obligatory worship and identify areas for improvement. Try to ensure that at least your fajr and isha prayers can be performed in relative peace and quiet. Of course, this depends on the age of your children and their sleep and waking times.

Assessment of Voluntary Worship

Second, assess the state of your voluntary worship and identify areas that can be added to or improved upon. For example, if you’re up nursing a baby at night, then now might be a good time to start performing a couple of rak’at of tahajjud prayer. Start with something manageable and then build on that.

Organization of Prayer Space

Third, organize and set aside a place for prayer. Ensure you always have clean prayer clothes, a prayer mat, a copy of the Quran, prayer beads, and your favorite books of supplication readily available. That way, you don’t have to fumble around for those things and waste valuable time that could be spent in worship.

Emphasis on Qur’anic Recitation

Fourth, Ramadan is the month of the Quran, and you should certainly strive to read as much as possible. But bear in mind that quality is as important as quantity. Allah Most High says,

“So recite (in prayer) whatever you can from the Quran” [Quran, 73:20]

Suppose you are unable to read an entire juz’ (section) per day to complete the Quran. Still, if you want to gain the blessings of doing so, you might consider organizing a khatm of the Quran. Find a group of sisters with the same challenge and assign sections of the Quran to them (or let them choose their preferred sections).

When everyone has completed their reading, gather to read the 30th juz’ and finish with the supplication of Quran completion (located in the back of your Quran). This way, everyone can be blessed to have completed the divine text.

Performing Tarawih at Home

Finally, one of the mercies of sacred law is that women are rewarded for their prayer in the home as if they had gone to the masjid. Although you probably feel that you are missing out by being unable to pray Tarawih in the congregation, you can still perform this special prayer at home, preferably once your children are asleep.

If you make an intention for tarawih and qiyam al-layl (standing the night in prayer), then you get the reward of both.

May Allah Most High bless you with a Ramadan full of mercy, forgiveness, and salvation,

[Ustadha] Zaynab Ansari Abdul-Razacq
Checked & Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
(Originally answered in the SeekersGuidance Fasting Course)