Dua
Ask Allah to make this the most awesome, spiritually
uplifting Ramadan you've ever had. Only He can make it happen and relying on
Him completely is one step in boosting our spirits.
Quiet your mind, turn off the...
TV, internet, radio, cell phone, pager, iPod, etc. No, not
all day, but for at least 10 minutes a day. Find a quiet place, close your eyes
and connect with God. At first, your mind will swirl with the useless and
not-so-useless info in your head. But force it to think of three things in
these few minutes:
Allah
your purpose in life
are you living your life on purpose?
Do this every day of Ramadan if you can. If that's not
possible, try it at least three times a week.
Learn about great Muslims
Even if you've read it before, read or listen to
Abdul Wahid Hamid's Companions of the Prophet again this Ramadan. Read about or
listen to the story of a Companion daily. Well-written and short, this is a
wonderful way to see how other Muslims retained their strength of faith against
incredible odds. A sure-fire spirituality booster.
Connect to the Quran
The Quran is God's way of talking to us. It's one of the
most important keys to spiritual upliftment. This Ramadan, connect to the Quran
in a new way. If you already read Quran regularly, perhaps you can choose a new
theme to focus on or select a Surah you haven't read in a while. If you don't
read Quran regularly, maybe you can read just two minutes of Quran a day,
reading only from the first page you encounter when you open up the Book.
In addition, try to keep a Quranic journal to
record your reflections, questions, thoughts, etc. about what you've read.
Take care of others
Whether it's someone who's away from their family, a person
who's having problems with a spouse or their kids or a fellow student
struggling with their grades, make an extra effort this Ramadan to help others
out. The spiritual boost you get in return is well worth it.
Feed the hungry
While your stomach shrieks in protest, give that panhandler
some change, volunteer at a soup kitchen, get involved with your local food
pantry or make a couple of bag lunches to give to the hungry you meet on your
way to school or work.
Give up one lifelong bad habit
Ask yourself what some of your defining traits are. Then
decide which is the worst of them. Is it a hot temper? Apathy? Laziness?
Impatience? Whatever it is, use this Ramadan to put an end to it. Practice the
opposite of your bad habit every day until the end of the month. By then Insha
Allah, you'll look back and be amazed at what a change you've made for the
better.
Use those Nights of Power
The last ten nights or Ramadan aren't called the Nights of Power for
nothing. Use these precious times for deep, heartfelt Dua (supplication),
self-analysis, reflection and serious thought.
http://www.soundvision.com by Sound Vision Staff writer
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