Unlocking the benefits of Ramadan
In the hustle and bustle of our fast-paced lives, the idea of patience often feels impossible. From the moment we wake up, scheduling in our daily prayers, reading Quran, to taking care of our families, going to work, exercising, cooking, eating and cleaning. We feel exhausted wondering how we can fit it all in. Some days feel almost impossible to fit everything in and life can feel rather hectic, especially when we are ambitious and have lots of aspirations.
Have you caught yourself saying: “I don’t have patience”, “I’m not patient enough”, or “I don’t know how you have the patience?”. If you’ve said any of these, keep on reading as I share how you can develop more patience from this holy month of Ramadan Insha’Allah.
Developing Patience
When we live busy lives, we can end up losing our ability to be patient. We live in a world where we expect everything to be instant, but during Ramadan, as we engage in fasting, we learn how to become more patient.
We put aside tasks that are energy draining as we focus on fulfilling our fasts. Fasting teaches us the art of patience in many ways. From refraining from food and drink from dawn till dusk to resisting temptations and unhealthy behaviours, every moment of fasting is proof of our ability to exercise self-control and perseverance. We just need to be more aware of the patience we sustain throughout the day and think about how we can continue to implement patience long after this month.
Ramadan is the ideal month for us to become more intentional as it helps us to improve our character as we increase in our acts of worship. Don’t forget the power of making Du’a. Allah is the best of providers, so think big!
As your day comes to an end, grab your journal and find a quiet spot to ponder upon these questions:
- How was I patient today?
- What could I have done differently?
- What do I need to practice more?
- How will I be more patient tomorrow?
Lessons from fasting
During Ramadan, as we fast, pray, read Quran and engage in more acts of worship like Tarawih, we're presented with numerous lessons that extend far beyond the month itself.
Through the discipline of fasting, we learn to appreciate the value of time and the importance of being present in each moment. As we become more focused on fulfilling our fasts, we realise what matters most to us and how our ultimate purpose of worshipping Allah is key.
Consider:
- What can I learn from fasting?
- What truly matters in my life?
- What distractions should I let go of?
- What changes do I need to make to align with my spiritual goals?
There are so many lessons we can learn from this Ramadan that can help set ourselves up for success for the rest of the year until the next Ramadan.
Remember there is great reward in fasting. I’ve taken the following from https://lifewithallah.com/articles/seasons-of-worship/ramadan/the-virtues-of-ramadan/
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Every action of the son of Ādam is multiplied: a good deed receiving a tenfold to seven hundredfold reward. Allah the Mighty and Exalted has said: ‘Except for fasting. It is for Me and I will (personally) reward it; he abandons his desires and food for My sake.’ The fasting person will have two moments of joy: one when he opens his fast, and the other when he will meet his Lord. The unpleasant smell coming out of his mouth is more fragrant to Allah than musk.” (Muslim 1151)”
Spend your time wisely
Lastly, I encourage you today to spend time with your family breaking fast together, give some food to a neighbour and give to charity. There are many people around the world that need our support and aren’t as fortunate as us. We can learn lessons of patience from them. Be generous and kind, with the right intentions you will see more barakah in your life.
If you’d like to explore 1:1 coaching, I’d love to help you. If you struggle to find balance and have patience in your life, I’m here to get you unstuck and focused on what truly matters. Book a free clarity call here: https://calendly.com/salamacoaching/30mins