Ramadan Kareem 2022/1443

Assalam-alaikam

Ramadan Kareem,

I hope this Ramadan has started well for all of my brothers and sisters and that you are making the most of it.

I am deeply grateful to see this blessed month again.

I find Ramadan is always the month I find myself again – it takes me back to my purpose, my self and my Creator Insha’Allah. This year has been no exception. Once again I find myself having to pare back to essentials so that I can manage fasting, worship, family, home, work and community. Everything non-essential falls away just so that I can manage.

 

I was speaking to my bestie about goals for Ramadan and hers was to get closer to Allah (SWT), she encouraged me to set a goal for myself too. I reflected on how I was managing and what I needed to make the most of this month. I have found that I have struggled to get through each day of Ramadan, struggling with painful, cramping muscles. I have been obsessing with my weight for the last few months too. So I decided that my intention during Ramadan would be to get healthy with the intention of being a better Muslimah. Better health would allow me to worship better, serve better and generally fulfil my duties better. I have been trying to eat well, move more and move my focus off of my weight and onto feeling good in myself and taking the best care I can of myself.

 

Another part of me understands that discomfort, illness, personal challenge are all things that help us turn back to Allah (SWT), seeking His help and finding comfort in His faith:

 

“Strange are the ways of a believer for there is good in every affair of his and this is not the case with anyone else except in the case of a believer for if he has an occasion to feel delight, he thanks (God), thus there is a good for him in it, and if he gets into trouble and shows resignation (and endures it patiently), there is a good for him in it”. (Muslim)

 

That leaves me feeling grateful and positive alhamdulillah.

 

I hope that my Muslim sisters and brothers are making the most of this beautiful month and finding that opportunities for personal and spiritual growth. May Allah (SWT) bless you all with the best of health, perfect iman, an abundance of halal rizq and the acceptance of all your dua’s.

 

I make dua especially for those of my family, this ummah, that are suffering or struggling with injustice, war, illness, debt and doubt. May Allah (SWT) relieve your hardship and send you joyful days insh’Allah.

 

Do you set Ramadan goals? What are they? How are you finding this Ramadan?