Tuning Inwards and Outwards: Making the Most of Ramadan

Tuning Inwards and Outwards: Making the Most of Ramadan
Rumia Owaisi

Ramadan is a month of tuning both inwards and outwards. A time where we collectively engage in spiritual growth and enhance our sense of community, all while working towards gaining personal closeness to Allah SWT.

Balancing all these different pieces while being a university student can feel stressful! Fortunately for us, Ramadan is not about perfectionism, but about striving to do our best. Here are some examples of how to make the most of Ramadan this semester:

Pause and Reflect Through Tafakkur
As students, it is easy to live in the future. I mean, it is hard not to when you constantly have looming deadlines and one task after another. From this perspective, Ramadan can also seem like another fast-approaching deadline that we must be prepared for. However, this is where it is helpful to pause and take a deep breath. There is Divine Wisdom in you experiencing Ramadan as a student this year. Make the most of the opportunity by engaging in tafakkur, which refers to contemplation over the signs of Allah SWT and the wisdom in His creation of the world around us and within us. Engaging in tafakkur is a beautiful act of worship that can help bring mindfulness and presence into your life.
Here are some guiding reflection questions:

• What are some signs of Allah SWT that exist in my everyday life?
• What lessons can I take away from Allah SWT’s Divine timing in my life?
• What opportunities could Allah SWT be trying to give me by bringing Ramadan into my life right now?

Take a Relational Approach to Faith
A lot of us struggle to feel a sense of connection when we are praying, making du’a, or reading the Qur’an. We crave a deeper emotional response to our prayer, but often get stuck in what feels like a more habitual cycle of worship. It can be tough to feel a sense of connection when we do not know who we are connecting with.

Allah SWT created us as relational beings and introduced Himself to us through His Names so that we could get to know Him more deeply and closely. Reading about or watching a YouTube series on the Names of Allah SWT can be a way to develop our relationship with Him. Next time you are making a du’a, try to connect with the name most relevant to your situation.  
Similarly with the Qur’an, internalizing it as the words that Allah SWT is speaking to us directly can foster a more interactive experience. Allah SWT chose you to engage with His message. Sit with that, and reflect upon how you can level up your relationship with Allah SWT through the Qur’an this year. For example, while completing your recitation of the Qur’an in Ramadan, choose a handful of verses to reflect upon for that day. See what lessons you can take away and how you can apply them into your life.

Remember What Your Soul is Housed in
Our souls are housed within a material reality, namely, our bodies! Our bodies go through a lot during Ramadan. With fasting, our meal and sleep times shift. We may also be eating special foods that we otherwise do not get to enjoy so often.
However, similar to how we are intentional about fasting and prayer, it is important to remember that Allah SWT has entrusted our bodies to us as an amanah (sacred trust). In this case, we can fulfill our amanah by taking care of our bodies, which will enhance the Ramadan experience.

It can be easy to be overwhelmed with where to start with managing our health. Remember, small steps can give us big results. For example, eating slowly and mindfully prepares the body for digestion and allows nutrients to be extracted from your food in an optimal way. You will find yourself feeling more satisfied and energized after taking your time to eat. Also, do not forget the water! Keeping a water bottle to sip from while you are doing your school work post-iftar, or praying taraweeh can be a game-changer.

Engage in Community Care
Sometimes, the additional tasks that we have to do in Ramadan, like housework or hosting friends and family at our homes, can seem like distractions. However, serving others is a primary act of worship and medicine for the soul. Being intentional about our service brings barakah (blessings) into our lives and softens the heart. Think about some ways that you can engage in community care that will be meaningful for you. Here are a couple of examples:

• Deliver iftar to a neighbour or classmate
• Check in with your friends and be a listening ear
• Help out your parents, siblings, friends, or community members with a task before they ask
• Volunteer your time for a local community initiative
• Give a ride to someone to the mosque
• Invite people into your space

May Allah SWT make this Ramadan a source of blessings and goodness for us all. Ameen!