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If you missed any fasts during the previous Ramadan, now is the time to complete them. If you are unable (due to reasons such as pregnancy, travel, sickness, etc.) then it is advisable that you pay Fidyah, which is compensation for not fasting, where you must feed the poor.
Fidya does not apply to the poor. Those who are young and healthy can complete their fasts when whatever is stopping them from doing so now is over.
“(Fasting for) a limited number of days. So, whoever among you is ill or on a journey (during them) - then an equal number of days (are to be made up). And upon those who are able [to fast, but with hardship - a ransom (as a substitute) of feeding a poor person (each day) ….”
[Qur’an 2:184]
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The intention is the basis of everything a Muslim does. He will be punished or rewarded according to what he intended upon happening with whatever his actions are. We must always do everything with the hopes of pleasing Allah, and nothing else. Similarly, we must make the intention that we go into this Ramadan with the intention of fasting for Allah and doing all other deeds for Allah alone.
The purpose is to get as many chores done in preparation for Ramadan so you won’t need to do them during the month. One such chore is cleaning the house. Set aside a day to do a complete cleaning of the house. You can also collect some used clothes and things in the process to be given away for charity during Ramadan.
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All of us are excited about Eid, even before Ramadan begins, but don’t let that be your sole focus during the month. Add shopping to the top of your Ramadan preparation checklist, and get your clothes and gift shopping out of the way so you can focus on getting the most out of the holy month.
It’s also a good idea to get your grocery shopping done a week or so before Ramadan begins. Obviously, you can’t store fresh fruits and vegetables for an entire month. But you can buy and store lots of other ingredients like dried beans, flour, sugar, oil, etc.
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We also tend to spend way too much time in the kitchen during Ramadan. And sometimes, you can’t help it when you have to feed an entire family all by yourself! That’s why a great idea for what to do before Ramadan is to pre-make some food.
You can make large batches of food and store them in the freezer in individual portions, so when the time comes you can just take out one of them and heat them through! Soups, curries (without the use of coconut), and pickled vegetables are a few that come to mind.
Another thing to add to your Ramadan preparation checklist is a visit to your doctor. If you are having some concerns, discussing them with your doctor and treating them beforehand will save you a lot of trouble during Ramadan.
If you have a longstanding disease like cholesterol, diabetes, or high blood pressure, then you have to visit your doctor anyway. If you are already taking medication, then your doctor will be able to advise you on how to revise the timings to fit into the fasting day.
If you usually have a standing lunch or a weekly night out with your buddies, it’s best you cancel them during the month of Ramadan. Make sure whatever you need to be done is taken care of, and whatever you can put off until after Ramadan can be set aside.
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This is a way great way to maximize productivity during Ramadan. Having your “goals” listed out in a checklist will help keep you on track. You can set the tasks out yourself, so you know you can do them, which will give you the motivation to complete all the tasks. Daily checklists for what needs to be done every day, while monthly checklists will list goals meant to be completed by the end of Ramadan.
One of the things that you can do in preparation for Ramadan is to get some duas and supplications that you can print out and hang around the house. This way, whenever you look at them, you will be reminded to recite them.
If you have kids, you can even make it a fun pre-Ramadan project for them; they can decorate frames and write the duas themselves. Not only will this keep them occupied, but it will also encourage them to learn the duas themselves.
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Get your local prayer timings, along with iftar and fajr timings, and hang them up in your house. Check your neighborhood and the local mosques to find out when and where Taraweeh prayers are taking place. Find out about any Ramadan programs or sermons in your locality so you can make time to participate in them. You can even go to any pre-Ramadan programs or sermons to learn more about how to prepare for Ramadan. You can also obtain this information right through your screen by downloading the HalalTrip App in helping you find halal restaurants, mosques or masjids, prayer times, and even handy duas that you'll need during Ramadan.
