Preparing the soul • Reflect upon the arrival of Ramadan, its importance and analyze the ways in which you can make this year's sacred month better than the previous ones. • Recite and listen to the Qur'an a lot more than in usual days. Reflect and ponder upon its meaning. • Read inspiring books that help you change your bad habits into good ones. Books like “The Ideal Muslim” and “The Ideal Muslimah” by Muhammad Ali Al-Hashimi are certainly helpful Insha Allah. • Read the Prophet's Seerah (peace be upon him) to see how he and his Companions strove to become the best of human beings. • Clean up your daily schedule by removing unnecessary distractions such as wasting too much browsing the Internet. Create more time for worship. • Develop a routine that you can carry into Ramadan. (For example, reciting one Juz of the Qur'an after Asr everyday.) • Offer your prayers without delay at its earliest time. • Note down the habitual mistakes and wrong deeds you do. Ramadan is the perfect time to work them off. It's much easier to do this in Ramadan than in any other month. • Keep a close check on what you say, the words you utter, and how your relationship is with your parents and other people close to you. • Try waking up early to pray Tahajjud so it becomes a routine when Ramadan comes. Preparing the body • If you have the habit of eating a lot, then reduce your intake. Eat according to the Sunnah (one-third of the stomach for food, one-third for water and one-third empty). • Cut down on your extra sleeping hours to put in more time for worship in Ramadan. • How about quitting smoking? Isn't this the perfect time to take the step once-and-for-all? • Eat a healthy diet. Consume more of fresh fruits, vegetables and meat. Avoid fried and fatty food. • Slowly decrease your daily consumption of caffeinated beverages (during the day, at least) so you do not experience headaches or lethargy while fasting in Ramadan. • Try and go without food for six hours, at least between meals, to prepare the body metabolism to adapt to the change. You will be amazed at how versatile the body is. • Drink more water (at least 8-10 glasses everyday) to cleanse your body of toxins and jump-start your metabolism. • Adopt simple, easy-to-do exercises such as stretching. Take a 30 minute walk to keep your muscles tuned up (ready for the race of good deeds in Ramadan). “And I (Allah) created not the jinns and humans except they should worship Me.” (Qur'an, 51:56)
