Rajab Resolutions for a Remarkable Ramadan

Assalaamu Alaikum! 

I hope you are doing well and excited for the arrival of Ramadan.

For years during the past two decades, I have seen my father prepare for planting crops for Ramadan. Watermelon has remained his most frequent choice due to its high demand in the month. His preparation for Ramadan starts months early. It begins with the laborious task of clearing and cleaning a piece of land, tackling weeds that may come in the way when the vines start growing. He also makes sure to purchase good quality seeds along with the necessary fertilizers. When all these pre-requisites have been taken care of, he prepares the planting beds ensuring that there is enough spacing between them for the vines to grow. The seeds are then planted, two to three months before the month of Ramadan. The days that follow between planting the seeds and harvesting are spent ensuring that the vines and its fruits are well taken care of. My father would spend so much time in the field in the mornings and evenings and would often give us updates of how much the vines have grown and what needed to be done next.

A week ago, the month of Rajab has begun, announcing the two month countdown to the month of Ramadan. Its time for us to prepare ourselves and plant the seeds for the blessed month as we await its arrival.

Rajab is for planting the seeds

Allah SWT made Rajab one of the sacred months of the year. The arrival of the month is a reminder that and its time to start preparing for Ramadan - spiritually, mentally and physically.

As Imam Abu Bakr al-Warraq al-Balkhi, the uncle of Imam Tirmidhi, beautifully reminded us:

“The month of Rajab is the month of planting (your seeds), Sha‘ban is the month of irrigating (them), and Ramadan is the month of harvesting the crop.”

Rajab is the time to take an honest look at our nafs and start disciplining it, so that it meets Ramadan well prepared to take on the extra ibadah without feeling burnt out. We must prepare our hearts now to be capable of reaping the fruits Ramadan brings with it. This is where we start the journey of writing resolutions, renewing intentions and reconnecting with the habits and ibadah we may have strayed from since the last Ramadan.

If you haven’t done already, this is the time to set your Rajab resolutions. Start with small simple things that you want to work towards until Ramadan. While doing so, its important to remember that your resolutions are unique to yourself and even the smallest sincere efforts can yield unimaginable rewards and impact.

While the number of things we need to improve are countless and may differ for each person, I am highlighting two things that I believe are extremely crucial and will lead to a beautiful experience in Ramadan Insha Allah.

Knowing Allah

We spend so much of our lives oblivious to the fact that our lives are enveloped in His Mercy. He knew you when you were nothing, before you were even a clot of blood. He sustained you when you were helpless and replaces your sources of nourishment one after another.

When you think there is no way out from your problems, someone unexpectedly helps you out.  That was Al- Fattah opening doors for you! When you are faced with a health issue, you go from one doctor to another. You dont remember that even though doctors may prescribe medicines for you, its Al-Shaafi who heals. When you are in financial trouble, you seek help from people first, forgetting to ask Al-Razzaq. You keep expecting people to fill the void in your heart with their love, when no one loves you as much as  Al-Wadud does. When you get a gift or a surprise from someone, you thank them profusely, not aware that its through Al-Wahhab that you receive those gifts. When you feel lost, you try to find your way through any means necessary. Asking Al- Haadhy and Al-Raashid to guide you never occurs to you. When you do something you shouldn’t have done and your heart feels uneasy that people may find out, Al-Sitteer covers your faults, even when He is all Knowing! When you look at your children, your heart is full of love, you forget the fact that it is Al-Khaliq and Al-Musawwir who has created the ones you love so much in such perfection! 

Life will become so much easier, the burdens on your shoulders will become so much lighter when you live knowing who Allah is. Ramadan brings with it extra opportunities for us to make dua, and knowing the names and attributes of Allah will enrich your duas.

Connecting to Quran

Ramadan is the month in which Quran was revealed. Its a month where recitation of Quran is more compared to the other months. As you prepare for Ramadan, make it a priority to spend more time with Quran. As you increase your recitation, spend time reading the translation, listening to its recitations or even diving deep for the gems it has to offer by listening to or reading a tafsir.

I ask Allah to bless us with reaching the month of Ramadan in good health and make our hearts and souls prepared for its arrival.

Jazakallah khair for reading.

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Until next time,

Samar