Deeds in Ramadan

Doing more or making the most of this blessed month is often what you will hear from most scholars as every deed that you perform is multiplied leading to greater rewards. But, always remember it is the Quality over Quantity that Allah is pleased with so focus on developing your routine in a way that you will be able to balance out both the worldly tasks and adding obligations and voluntary acts.

“Every good deed of the son of Adam will be multiplied manifold. A good deed will be multiplied ten times up to as many as seven hundred times, or as much as Allah wills. Allah says: ‘Except for fasting, which is for Me and I shall reward for it. He gives up his desire and his food for My sake.’ The fasting person has two joys, one when he breaks his fast and another when he meets his Lord. The smell that comes from the mouth of a fasting person is better before Allah than the fragrance of musk.” (Sunan Ibn Majah 1638)

So let’s look at some of the deeds that you can perform during this month –

Salah

• Prayer is one of the most important of the 5 pillars of faith, the questioning on the day of Judgement begins from here. Continue performing it as you did and focus on where you lack. For instance – If you already prayed the 5 daily prayers on time including the Sunnat e Muakkadah then try adding the Nawafil prayers after every Salah to develop a new good deed and also gain rewards, If you only prayed your Fardh then try adding the Sunnah e Muakkadah prayers and so on.

The Prophet (SAW) said – “Whoever prayed at night in it (the month of Ramadan) out of sincere Faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.”

Sahih al Bukhari

• Whether you pray 8 Rakah or 20 Rakah in Taraweeh, make sure that you focus on the quality and by the end of the prayer, there should be tranquility within your heart.

• Improve your Quranic recitation in the Salah, read with proper contemplation and clear tone and be aware that you are standing in front of the Most-High. If you are not an Arabic speaker, then try to read the meaning of the Surah before you begin the prayer – The more you strive hard, the more rewarding it will be for your own self.

Recitation of Qur’an

As the reward of good deeds is multiplied in this month so is the recitation of the Qur’an. This is the real-time to strengthen your bond with Allah by contemplating and reflecting upon His blessed and pure speech. In Ramadan, Allah has prescribed fasting and revealed the Qur’an, a true Muslim knows exactly with what deeds he has to keep himself busy with.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Such a person as recites the Qur’an and masters it by heart, will be with the noble righteous scribes (in Heaven). And such a person exerts himself to learn the Qur’an by heart, and recites it with great difficulty, will have a double reward.”

Sahih al-Bukhari

Giving Charity

Multiply the reward of your sadaqah in the month of Ramadan, especially in the last 10 nights of Ramadan. You can automate the giving by donating to the organizations that are helping the communities around the Globe. Visit LaunchGood and choose the campaign that you would like to support.

Charity doesn’t decrease wealth

Sahih Muslim

‘The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) enjoined Zakat-ul-Fitr on the one who fasts (i.e. fasted during the month of Ramadan) to purify him from any indecent act or speech and for the purpose of providing food for the needy. It is accepted as Zakah for the person who pays it before the Eid prayer and it is Sadaqah (i.e. voluntary charity) for the person who pays it after the Eid prayer.’

ABU DAWUD & IBN MAJAH

Seeking His forgiveness

Although you do not have to wait for this month to seek His forgiveness the doors of forgiveness are always open for all the people who come with a sincere heart. This is a great time to perform sincere repentance, leave any kind of haram that you were involved in, and do sincere Tawbah only for His sake and for the sake of having a better Akhirah.

Dhikr of Allah

Any time where you might find yourself in a state away from performing any deed as mentioned before, take it as an opportunity to remember Allah much to gain endless rewards. Az-Zuhri said, “A Tasbihah in Ramadan is better than a thousand Tasbihah in other than it.” (At- Tirmidhi)

Du’a

Dua is one of the great acts of worship where we develop a spiritual connection with Allah. Yet, Ramadan is a special month to get all the duas accepted which is a bonus Subhan’Allah! So do not feel shy to bring all your worries, sorrows, or desire that you might have for both life to Him *especially during the last 3rd of the night* His door is always open, you just need to knock! The Prophet (SAW) said, “When the fasting person breaks his fast, his supplication is not turned back.” Sunan Ibn Majah

Being more active in the last 10 days of Ramadan

The Prophet (SAW) used to strive hard (in worship) during the last ten days of Ramadan in a way that he did not strive at any other time. He would also awaken his family during the last ten (nights) of Ramadan.” Both these hadiths clearly show the greatness of the last 10 days & nights of Ramadan. That is because the blessed Qur’an was revealed during these nights. The Prophet (SAW) would also seclude himself in the mosque to practice I`tikaf in the last ten nights of Ramadan and used to say, “Look for the Night of Qadr in the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan.” So, let’s follow the perfect example of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW)!

“Allah described the Night of Decree as being better than a thousand months – Therein (that night) is decreed every matter of ordainments.

The phrase Therein (that night) is decreed every matter of ordainments means, on that night the destiny of all creatures for the coming year is decreed. On that night it is written who will live, who will die, who will be saved, who will be doomed, who will be destined for Paradise, who will be destined for Hell, who will be granted the honor, who will be humiliated, where drought and famine will occur, and everything else that Allaah wills in that year.

Speak Good or remain silent

A fasting person should pay close attention to his speech, your tongue should also be the fasting tongue that restrains from backbiting, stretching the truth, or retaliating harshly against someone. Ramadan is a month of discipline & purification of the mind, heart, and soul.

Lastly, prepare a list of habits that you would like to achieve or habits that you want to get rid of this month. It should be a month of no distraction for 30 days, where your focus is only on yourself and your goal should be to please your Lord.

May you all have a very blessed and peaceful Ramadan. May Allah guide us to perform deeds of righteousness by which we attain His pleasure Alone. May Allah elevate your Iman this Ramadan that you become more strong in your faith outside Ramadan. May Allah accept all our good deeds and forgive us for any kind of shortcomings.