Unprepared for Ramadan???

With one week left for Ramadan (for more info about Ramadan fasting, Google my article Significance of Fasting in Ramadan, if the link doesn't work) I find myself rather unprepared. It seems just yesterday that I was saying to someone, "Ramadan is only two months away. It'll be here before you know it!" Lo, here it is - and me, caught unawares.

One might ask what there is to prepare for. I guess it is just a psychological preparedness. After all, most Muslims, including myself, look forward to Ramadan and embrace the fast wholeheartedly. I guess it is like that nervous tingle that one gets before giving a speech, or taking a flight to see relatives or a beautiful destination. Are my bags packed? Do they weigh the correct amount? Are my handbags free of no more than 3 bottled and bagged liquids?

Yes, Ramadan is a time for spiritual focus and awakening. However, there are also a lot of cultural activities associated with it as well. For instance there are huge group gatherings for breaking fast, where families compete for the honor of providing the meals. Believe me... that can get highly competitive!

In addition to issues associated with meal preparation for breaking fast and preparing for fast before the pre-dawn, one must prepare himself to be able to control the inner self. Will I be able to hold my temper? Just how patient can I be? The fast-breaking meal I described above can actually lead to arguments, etc. that are easy to get caught up in. One has to be careful to refocus what Ramadan is about.

It is not the Sunnah (Tradition of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him) to partake of such large meals to break the fast. Sometimes he broke it with milk, sometimes 3 dates - not these tables and tables of banquet feasts we see today that make one so full that it is hard to bend to pray.

And the Suhur... well the Suhur is supposed to be an actual meal, it is the meal that is to sustain us throughout the day taken before the pre-dawn beginning of the fast. To the contrary many of us nowadays wake up for 5 minutes, drink a glass of water and maybe eat a piece of cheese and go back to sleep until Fajr prayer time - or even sleep through Fajr time (morning prayers).

Ramadan is the month in which the Qur'an was revealed and it is preferred to try to finish reading the whole Qur'an during this month. We all start off with that wonderful one Juz (1/30) a day, sometimes more. Then, well, we have this errand and that errand - have to cook for the group iftar, have a doctor's appointment - sure we will make up what we missed tomorrow. Then tomorrow becomes the next day and the next day. Soon we are behind and trying to catch up.

We strive to pray the Taraweeh prayers (also, you can see my article for this info, too) for the whole month. Are we prepared to give up our nights to prayer and worship for Allah? Are we prepared to give up our TV shows and X-Box's, and movie theatres, bowling outings, and jam sessions? This is our true test.

There is a night in Ramadan in which it is described that the skies will be open and all who are in sincere prayer and have fasted sincerely through Ramadan shall have their prayers answered during that time. What if we are mindful all month and were off our guards that one night? We know that the devil (Shaytaan) is chained during Ramadan - so we cannot blame him. We have only ourselves to blame for our neglectfulness of the One who sustains us day in and day out.

Shaytaan is leaving and Ramadan is coming. What we make out of it is what we will get out of it. Let us remember to pray for all of mankind this Ramadan - that True guidance and tolerance and love and understanding will envelope the world. Lord, grant us Patience. Lord, grant us Patience. Lord grant us Patience!