With less than two weeks left until the most important event of the year for Muslims around the world, Ramadan, you should prepare for its start both physically and spiritually. Here is how to prepare for Ramadan, which begins on April 13th this year.
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1. Begin fasting early
There are at least two reasons to begin fasting even before Ramadan starts. First, if you’ve missed a couple of fasting days last year, due to the pandemic or for other reasons, you can catch up before this year’s Ramadan starts. Second, beginning your fast a week or more before Ramadan will help you stay in control of your urges and prepare you better for the restrictions that come with Ramadan. On top of that, fasting allows your body to flush the toxins accumulated from months of eating whatever you like, so the longer you fast, the better.
Read more: 7 Foods That Will Keep You Nourished During Ramadan
2. Say extra prayers
Praying is an essential aspect of Ramadan and you will have your obligatory prayers you will say during this month. However, when you are getting ready for this year’s Ramadan, you can begin praying early. This is a great chance to catch up on your prayers if you’ve missed some last year. Even if your 2020 Ramadan was completed in terms of praying, you can still pray Nawafil that will get you into the right spirit for Ramadan.
3. Work on your character
Preparing for the month of Ramadan is a good time to reflect on your personality and actions, as well as decide what can be changed to make you a better person. If you’ve felt like you could be kinder to others, more considerate, calmer, or more open to people, the weeks before Ramadan give you plenty of opportunities to do it. When you notice positive changes in your character, you will be happy with the development and ease into Ramadan.
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4. Become more charitable
Ramadan and the weeks before it are a great opportunity to showcase your charitable nature. Donating is very popular among those who celebrate Ramadan and you will undoubtedly give Sadaqah to the people who need it the most. However, you can go one step further and use the time before Ramadan to help even more people around you. For example, you can find local charities and NGOs. They are always happy to get donations from others and you will feel extra satisfied when you become more charitable.
5. Adjust your eating habits
When you’re aware that the month of Ramadan will bring major restrictions to your diet, your instincts may tell you to eat more while getting closer to Ramadan. However, this is often a faulty strategy. You need to eat just enough to keep your body nourished, but overeating tends to make you sleepy, lazy, and unable to think about the spiritual side of things. Plus, you will need to think extra hard about the nutritional value of your food: it needs to give you enough energy to get you through the day.
Read more: 10 Ways To Eat More Fiber: Easiest Ways To Stay Healthy!
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