12
Super Sunnahs to Revive This Ramadan for Major Rewards
Dr Aishah M. is a medical doctor and qualified personal trainer.
Aishah is passionate about helping people improve their health and fitness
through positive lifestyle changes.
Many of us struggle to make time in our schedules for maximum
worship in Ramadan. Being busy with work and family can leave a person feeling
disappointed for not finding enough time to develop spiritually. We may feel
like we are not taking advantage of this blessed month, simply because of being
overwhelmed with our day to day activities.
However, there
are many easy and simple acts that we can do throughout the day, even at work,
that will allow us to reap major rewards no matter how busy we are.
Instead of feeling upset over lack of time, following precious Sunnah acts
taught by the Prophet (pbuh) will
bring you barakah, allow you to gain major rewards this
Ramadan, as well as, boost your spirituality and overall performance.
So, here are 12
super Sunnahs that you can do even if you’re busy.
1. Renewing your intention daily
There are two
major hadiths that we need to be reminded of here. First, the beloved
Prophet (pbuh) said:
“(Allah said), ‘every good deed of Adam’s son is for him
except fasting; it is for Me. and I shall reward (the
fasting person) for it.’ Verily, the smell of the mouth of a
fasting person is better to Allah than the smell of musk.” [Sahih Bukhari]
Also, the
Prophet (pbuh) says:
“He who observes fasting during the month of Ramadan with
faith while seeking its reward from Allah, will have his past
sins forgiven.” [Al-Bukhari and
Muslim].
So, by looking
at the first hadith,
remember that in your long hours of fasting, you are engaged in worship for the
sake of Allah . So, be filled with gratitude that He enabled you to
witness this month and do this major act of worship for His sake. Those long
hours of fasting are hours of devotion, gratitude and spirituality. If you’re
busy or at work or serving your family during those hours, this actually brings
you even more rewards- if you remain steadfast for the sake of Allah .
So renew your
intentions daily. Remember that fasting is an act that can omit your past
sins, as well as bring you special major rewards from Allah . Do not take
your fasting for granted.
Additionally,
the state of mindfulness of the intentions behind actions is the essence of
taqwa (God-consciousness) which we are supposed to develop in Ramadan. Taqwa is
one of the most essential qualities that Allah wants us to develop,
and if you take steps to increase taqwa in Ramadan, then this will be a great
step towards your overall development as a human being. So make sure to remain
conscious and renew your intentions. You will get the rewards of what you
intended, so make your intentions sincere and beautiful, as the Prophet (pbuh) says:
“Verily actions are by intentions, and for every person is what he
intended.” [Sahih al Bukhari]
2. Making dua for others
The
prophet (pbuh) said,
“When a Muslim supplicates for his absent brother the angels say:
Ameen, and may you receive the like.” [Abu Dawud]
For those with
busy schedules, you may find that you are unable to spend time with friends and
loved ones. So, whenever you remember any person you love – or even those
you’re in disagreement with- make sure you make dua (supplication) for them. Be generous
in what you ask for because the angels will make the same dua for you!
Making dua for
loved ones is easy, yet a major gift that we can grant them; and making dua for
people we’re in disagreement with helps soften our hearts towards them and
melts down any ill feelings we have. This is a beautiful way to gain spiritual
peace, serenity and aim for a sound heart.
So whenever
you’re at work, at home or on your commute, remember the people in your life,
and make dua for them.
3. Getting the blessing of eating suhoor
The prophet (pbuh) said,
“Take suhoor, for in suhoor there is blessing.” [An nasai]
Many people
miss the suhoor meal because it can be difficult to wake up before
dawn and eat. However, this time and this meal have many benefits. If you
wake up in this blessed time, you can make dua, pray a few units of prayer
and/or make istighfar. This is an optimal time for
worship, and you’re not busy at this time. This blessed time can give you
energy and nourish you spiritually and give you peace ahead of your busy,
hectic working day.
Also, when you
intend to eat the suhoor meal, you’re actually in a state of obedience to Allah
and His Messenger because it is following the Sunnah of the Prophet . Not
only that, it allows you to have energy throughout the day to enable you to
maximize your productivity and focus. So, opt for healthy options, you can
also opt for dates because it is also sunnah and has many nutritional benefits.
Narrated Abu
Hurairah:
The Prophet (pbuh) as
saying: “How good is the believers meal of dates shortly before dawn.” [Sunan Abi Dawud]
4. Feeding people
One of the
highly rewarded and most recommended acts by the Prophet is feeding
people. The verses and hadiths that encourage feeding people are plenty.
For example,
the Messenger (pbuh) said:
“Whoever provides the food for a fasting person to break his fast
with, then for him is the same reward as his (the fasting person’s), without
anything being diminished from the reward of the fasting person.” [At Tirmidhi]
And in another
hadith, ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr bin Al-‘as (May Allah be pleased with them)
reported:
A man asked Messenger of Allah (ﷺ),
“Which act in Islam is the best?” He (ﷺ)
replied, “To feed (the poor and the needy) and to greet those whom you know and
those you do not know.”[Al-Bukhari and
Muslim].
This is a
beautiful sunnah to follow. It is an act of worship wherein by serving others,
you get nourished. It increases humility and selflessness and softens one’s
heart.
It could be
done in a variety of ways. You can prepare the food yourself, or buy it or
donate the money to someone who is engaged in projects of feeding those in
need. By doing so, you also follow this verse:
“And they give food in spite of love for it to the needy, the
orphan, and the captive, [Saying], “We feed you only for the countenance of
Allah. We wish not from you reward or gratitude.” [Qur’an, Chapter 76: 8-9]
So, plan to
feed people, especially those in need, this Ramadan. The fulfillment of seeing
others in need eating from what you cooked or bought will increase you in
gratitude to Allah and enrich your own soul.
5. Engaging in dhikr & tasbeeh
One of the most
highly rewarding acts one can do is to engage in the remembrance of Allah .
Even though it’s effortless, but it shows sincerity, mindfulness and desire to
remain in connection with Allah .
The reward of
this act is major, Abu Ad-Darda [may Allah be pleased with him] narrated
that:
The Prophet said: “Should I not inform you of the best of your
deed, and the purest of them with your Master, and the highest of them in your
ranks, and what is better for you than spending gold and silver, and better for
you than meeting your enemy and striking their necks, and they strike your
necks?” They said: “Of course.” He said, “The remembrance of Allah [Most
High].” [Then] Mu’adh bin Jabal [may Allah be pleased with him] said: “There is
nothing that brings more salvation from the punishment of Allah than the
remembrance of Allah.” [At-Tirmidhi]
So, while
working or commuting, you can easily make dhikr,
and remember that even though in normal days the reward of this act is big, it
is even bigger in Ramadan.
Az-Zuhri said:
“A Tasbeehah in Ramadan is better than a thousand Tasbeehah in
other that it.” [At Tirmidhi]
6. Setting a realistic Qur’an memorization target
Ramadan is the
month of the Qur’an. It is the month when the Qur’an was sent down. Not
progressing with our Qur’an relationship during this month might leave us
feeling at loss by the end of the month.
So, plan
realistically, but remember Allah’s generosity and help. Don’t overwhelm
yourself, but also don’t give up entirely. Set a realistic target for reading
as well as memorizing something of the Qur’an this Ramadan.
It could be a
few verses only that you memorize, understand and apply, it could be a
page or a Surah.
Seek Allah’s
Help, and add something to your heart from the Book of Allah this month. This
will make you feel more accomplished by the end of the month.
The Prophet and
his companions used to engage with Qur’an like no other time during this month.
So, make this month’s relationship with the Qur’an special too.
7. Treating parents beautifully
Regardless of
where you’re at in your relationship with your parents, try to make it better
this month. If you are in disagreement with them for any reason, try your best
to reconnect with them. If you are already connected, try to beautify and
perfect your treatment and manners.
Abu Huraira reported
that a person came to Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) and
said:
Who among the people is most deserving of a fine treatment from my
hand? He said: Your mother. He again said: Then who (is the next one)? He said:
Again it is your mother (who deserves the best treatment from you). He said:
Then who (is the next one)? He (the Holy Prophet) said: Again, it is your
mother. He (again) said: Then who? Thereupon he said: Then it is your father. [Sahih
Muslim]
Being dutiful to
parents is a major act of excellence instructed by Allah and His
Messenger (pbuh) and it
is majorly rewarded as well.
The Messenger
of Allah (pbuh) said,
“A parent is the best of the gates of Jannah; so if you wish, take
advantage of that gate, or lose it.”[At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah].
So, again,
regardless of where we’re at, we can try to do a bit more this month. Maybe by
visiting, calling, gifting, helping…etc., there are plenty of ways. Seek
Allah’s Help for direction and inspiration, and do as much as you can.
8. Praying the night prayer
Standing up to
pray at night for the sake of Allah while sacrificing your comfort and/or
sleep, is an act of devotion and major spiritual fulfillment.
Abu Hurairah
narrated that The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)
said:
“Whoever prays during the night in Ramadan out of sincere faith
and seeking its reward from Allah, will have all of his previous sins
forgiven.” [Agreed upon]
If you are able
to join a congregational night prayer in the masjid, do that. If for some
reason you are incapable of doing that, then you still don’t have to waste the
opportunity. Pray wherever you are or at home.
The night
prayer could be done any time after the Isha prayer. You can do it right after
the Isha prayer, or you can pray Isha, sleep then wake up for the night prayer,
or you can pray when you wake up before dawn, in the last third of the night.
All of this counts as night prayer. So, there is plenty of time.
Narrated
Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-‘As:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: If anyone prays at night reciting
regularly ten verses, he will not be recorded among the negligent; if anyone
prays at night and recites a hundred verses, he will be recorded among those
who are obedient to Allah; and if anyone prays at night reciting one thousand verses,
he will be recorded among those who receive huge rewards. [Sunan Abi Dawud]
If you’re a
busy mother, don’t think that if you don’t join the prayer in the mosque that
you miss the rewards. On the contrary, your prayer at home could be even more
rewarded than praying in the mosque. The Prophet (pbuh) did not forbid women from praying in the mosque,
but he also didn’t burden or obligate them to go, and informed that a woman’s
prayer at home is heavily rewarded.
Ibn ‘Umar reported the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as
saying; “Do not prevent your women from visiting the mosque, but their houses
are better for them (for praying).” [Sunan Abi Dawud]
So, in all
conditions, make sure you pray the night prayers regularly this Ramadan. You
can do as much as you can in light of your circumstances, and in everything we
do, there is khair (goodness and rewards) as long as we are sincere and putting
due effort.
9. Mastering your anger
Ramadan is an
opportunity to practice more God-consciousness, and this should lead to more
self-mastery or self-control.
The
Prophet (pbuh) taught us:
“Fasting is a protection for you, so when you are fasting, do not
behave obscenely or foolishly, and if anyone argues with you or abuses you,
say, ‘I am fasting. I am fasting.’ “[Muwatta Malik]
Whenever you’re
put in a situation that forces you to be angry or upset or inclined to quarrel,
utilize this opportunity instead to calm yourself down and practice discipline.
The reward for practicing discipline is far greater and more lasting and more
fulfilling in this life and the next.
10. Giving charity
This is a very
beautiful and powerful hadith about the Prophet’s manners and acts in Ramadan.
Narrated Ibn
`Abbas:
The Prophet (ﷺ) was the most generous of all the people and
he used to become more generous in Ramadan when Gabriel met him. Gabriel used
to meet him every night during Ramadan to revise the Qur’an with him. Allah’s
Messenger (ﷺ)
then used to be more generous than the fast wind. [Sahih Al Bukhari]
So, seek every
opportunity to increase in charity in Ramadan. There are plenty of online and
offline opportunities.
11. Doing Hajj & Umrah every week!
No, we don’t
mean actually traveling to do Umrah or Hajj, we mean the act mentioned in the
following hadith.
Anas bin Malik
narrated that:
The Messenger of Allah said: “Whoever prays Fajr in the
congregation, then sits remembering Allah until the sun has risen, then he
prays two Rak’ah, then for him is the reward like that of a Hajj and Umrah.”
[Da’if. Jami` at-Tirmidhi]
Disclaimer: scholars have differed regarding the authenticity of this
hadith; some found it weak and others ‘hassan’ (good). But, as long as it’s not
a matter of belief or creed, we can follow virtuous acts, and hope for rewards
from Allah .
This act of
praying Fajr, then remaining in the same place to remember Allah until sunrise,
then praying two units of prayer is no doubt a virtuous act that Allah will
reward for. It is also good because if you are busy during the week, you can
aim to do this once every weekend, for example, when you don’t have work the
next day.
12. Smiling & forgiving
These are two
simple but powerful acts.
For some
reason, some of us look or act grumpy when we’re fasting.
Fasting should
make us humble, peaceful, and easy going, not moody or angry. One way to remind
oneself of that is to consciously put a smile on your face when you meet other.
It is great when people associate your fasting days with your easy going and
optimistic nature, and it is sunnah for us to do so.
The
Messenger (pbuh) said:
“Your smiling in the face of your brother is charity…” [At
Tirmidhi]
Last, but
definitely not least, forgive those who wronged you!
This hadith is
very motivating:
Abu Hurairah (RAA) narrated that
the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Sadaqah does not decrease property and
Allah increases the honor of him who forgives and no one
will humble himself for Allah’s sake except that Allah raises his status.” [Related
by Muslim]
Imagine that by
forgiving, you are increasing in honor, not just in the sight of people, but in
the sight of Allah !
Also, one of
the recommended dua to make in Laylatul Qadr is this, ‘Aishah (May Allah be
pleased with her) reported:
I asked: “O Messenger of Allah! If I realize Lailat-ul-Qadr (Night
of Decree), what should I supplicate in it?” He (ﷺ)
replied, “You should supplicate:Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun,
tuhibbul-‘afwa, fa’fu ‘anni(O Allah, You are Most Forgiving, and
You love forgiveness; so forgive me).”[At-Tirmidhi]
So imagine in
laylatul qadr you’re asking Allah to forgive you, while you are
holding grudges against someone else and refusing to forgive him/her!
Ramadan is
major door and major opportunity to reconcile relationships and forgive others
for the sake of Allah and in hopes of His own forgiveness for our
countless mistakes and shortcomings. As Allah says:
“…and let them pardon and overlook. Would you not like that Allah
should forgive you? And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” [Qur’an: Chapter 24,
Verse 22]
So, let this
month increase you in strength spiritually, personally and socially by
increasing in spiritual acts and also making real changes in one’s relationship
with others. This is how we can have a transformational Ramadan, insha’Allah.
(Courtesy: https://productivemuslim.com/12-super-sunnahs-for-ramadan/)
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