30 Steps in Sha‘baan to Prepare for Ramadan - II

30 Steps in Sha‘baan to Prepare for Ramadan - II
2- Do not start a deed unless you have a sincere intention. Your deed will not be accepted unless it is done with a sincere intention in accordance with the rulings of the religion (Islam). Therefore, you should learn the rulings of fasting and teach them to your family and acquaintances starting now.
3- Discipline yourself and be committed to righteous deeds as of now, for Ramadan is the school of the righteous. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.}[Quran 2: 183] And the Prophet,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ), said: “Whoever does not give up false speech and ignorance and acting accordingly, Allah has no need of his giving up his food and drink.” [Al-Bukhari]
4- Make haste to maintain the ties of kinship and beware of severing them. The Messenger of Allah,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) said: “Allah created His creation, and when He had finished, Ar-Rahim (the womb) got up. He said, ‘What is it?’ Ar-Rahim said: ‘This is the position of one who is seeking refuge with You from being cut off.’ He said, ‘Will you not be pleased if I should maintain ties with the one maintain ties with you, and cut off the one who cuts you off?’ Ar-Rahim said, ‘Of course, O Lord.’ He said, ‘Then it will be so.’” Then, Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, recited the verse in which Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {So would you perhaps, if you turned away, cause corruption on earth and sever your [ties of] kinship?} [Quran 47: 22] [Al-Bukhari]
If we know this, let us ask, who is the person that upholds the ties of kinship? This is what the Messenger of Allah,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ), has explained saying: “The one who upholds the ties of kinship is not the one who reciprocates, rather the one who upholds the ties of kinship is the one who upholds those ties even if his relatives cut him off.” [Al-Bukhari]
5- Is there better bliss than a clean heart? You spend your day and night in peace of mind while others burn with jealousy and hatred towards others. Be keen on having a clean heart from now on, clearing it to be occupied by Ramadan and nothing else. The Messenger of Allah,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ), was asked who is the best of people. He,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ), answered, “The one with a pure heart and a truthful tongue”. They said, “The one with a truthful tongue we know, but who is the one with a pure heart?” He,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ), replied, “He is pious and pure with no sin nor injustice nor grudge nor envy (against anyone).” [Ibn Maajah]
6- Unfortunately, many people spend long hours on the internet, wasting many bounties and golden opportunities in Ramadan. How far removed are they from Imaam Maalik ibn Anas  may  Allah  have  mercy  upon  him who, when Ramadan arrived, used to withdraw from reviewing Hadeeth and sitting with the people of knowledge to dedicate himself to reciting the Noble Quran from the Mus-haf. Start now: if you are an internet addict, lessen the hours you spend surfing the internet and know that Ramadan will not wait for you.
7- Hasten to make up for the days of fasting you missed in the past Ramadan for a legitimate excuse.
8- In Ramadan, most people are keen to make a complete recitation of the Noble Quran. In order to make the recitation and completion become easy and swift for you, begin reciting in the month of Sha‘baan, increasing the time of recitation gradually, so if you are accustomed to recite one part daily let it be two or even three – in fact, why not complete a full recitation every ten days?
9- In Ramadan, different voluntary prayers are performed such as Taraaweeh (night prayer that takes place after the prayer of ‘Ishaa’), Qiyaam (standing in supererogatory prayer at night), and other supererogatory prayers. In order to get used to long periods of standing without any fatigue or exhaustion, dedicate a longer time for night prayer starting in Sha‘baan. Begin by dedicating an hour, increase it gradually, and start getting used to long bowing and prostrating.
10- Accustom yourself to dedicating a longer period of time for supplicating Allah The Almighty, and memorize some of the authentic supplications of the Prophet,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ), for they include precise words with comprehensive meanings, and they are better, more blessed, and more likely to be answered, Allah willing.

30 Steps in Sha‘baan to Prepare for Ramadan - I

30 Steps in Sha‘baan to Prepare for Ramadan - III

30 Steps in Sha‘baan to Prepare for Ramadan - IV

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