Getting ready for Ramadan celebrations can be just as fulfilling as the actual month. Strong organization and planning enhances the experience of Ramadan, so that you and your family can feel excited, prepared and really make the most of this wonderful month.
Once Ramadan arrives, the month seems to speed by, so it’s a great idea to maximize the blessings and opportunities for worship. Here are some tips to help make getting organized an easy, fun and family-friendly activity.
Prepare your space
Create a serene space where you can focus on Ramadan and all it’s observances. Decluttering and organizing your space can help to clear your mind so that you can focus and find meaning everyday, too.
- Consider asking your children to help you select used clothes, books and toys to donate. In addition to clearing space and tidying your home, you’re giving to people in need, too.
- Try to do a deep clean of your home or other outdoor clean up jobs before Ramadan arrives, so that they don’t take up precious time and energy.
- Do some of those small fix-it jobs that are always on your to-do list. Touch up paintwork and clean your windows so your home sparkles and is ready to decorate.
- Make the month festive by asking the children to help you make and hang colourful and fun decorations to celebrate the month. Remember that The MuslimMoon’ table runners can be used as a gorgeous decorative banner over your mantle, or as a beautiful addition to your dining room table.
- Try burning incense or place a seasonal-scented oil diffuser in a central part of your home, and hang lights to create a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Designate a Prayer Corner
Use our beautiful MuslimMoon prayer mats and prayer basket to create a specific prayer area in a corner of your home. Find a special spot to place your Quran and dua books, and get your MuslimMoon bookmark ready to help you stay on track with your reading.
Copy out some easy to learn Surahs for your kids to recite in their downtime, and have Tasbih beads available in your prayer corner too. Creating a central worship area accessible to all family members makes an inclusive space where everyone feels connected and younger ones learn by watching their elders.
Make a notebook where you can write down the names of people that you wish to include in specific duas during Ramadan. Ask a different family member to recite a dua every night so that everyone can take turns making dua and sharing with everyone else. Remember, if the kids need some help staying on track the MuslimMoon Salat Scorecard is a helpful tool as well.
Get Organized for Ramadan on the Go
Our MuslimMoon prayer mats are easy to take with you to work or school using our handy carrying bags. You can leave one in your car too, in case you need to pray while away from home.
It can feel very stressful to run around at the last minute trying to find something for Iftar if you’re on the road or away from home when it’s time to open your fast. A good way to avoid that feeling, especially if you have children who are fasting, is to prepare a little emergency bag to keep in your car. Pack some food and drink, for example water, dates and granola bars, in case you need to open your fast on the road.
Another idea is to plan your prayers in advance if you know you won’t be home during the day. If you go into work in person or have children attending school, ask your HR department at work or a guidance counselor at school if there is a quiet and clean prayer area you can use during the day; most places are very accommodating.
It’s also helpful to learn about how to make Tayammum, so you can easily make wudu outside the house when you cannot access water.
Prepare your Food for Iftar and Suhoor
Food preparation is key to a healthy and stress-free Ramadan. Plan a weekly menu to streamline your day and give yourself more time to focus on your spirituality. It’s also a good idea to plan out both Iftar and Suhoor with nutrient-rich and easy to prepare meal ideas to improve your energy levels and stamina during the day while you fast.
Consider working with a few friends to make an Iftar group where everyone takes turns making and sharing Iftar, so you only have to cook every few days. A potluck group on the weekends is also a great way to share the cooking responsibility and socialize. If your family is not yet able to socialize in person, a Zoom Iftar party is a safe way to share the joy.
It’s important to ensure not all the work is falling to just one person in the family. Have a family meeting and agree on age appropriate tasks for the kids - like setting the table, easy meal preparation, handing out dates or serving water so they feel included even if they are not old enough to fast. Write down everyone’s jobs and pin it on the fridge, so it’s clear who is doing what.
Ready yourself!
It’s much easier to stay on track if you also spend some time setting your intentions and planning how you want to spend the holy month of Ramadan. One idea is to use reminder apps or set alarms on your phone for all the basics - like prayers, Quran recitation and dhikr. Remember to set aside a specific time during the day for Quran recitation, dhikr, duas and reflection so you can ensure you’re free of distractions during that time and are able to focus on your worship.
Set some achievable goals for the day, week and month and track your progress. Kids especially feel great when they can see visibly how they are doing with their good deeds, prayer and fasts or semi-fasts.
You can also treat yourself with some favourites to open your fast - whether it is food, dates or special drinks. It’s a special month, so prepare your favourite meals to reflect this!
Wish your friends and family members Ramadan Kareem, and try to make it as personal as possible. Instead of texting, for example, try to video call or make a safe driveway visit in person. Ramadan is not just about fasting, and these types of good deeds are also important. Especially in light of recent social restrictions and lockdowns, a personal touch can go a long way in making family and friends feel connected and less isolated.
Place a family sadaqa jar in a central part of your home, volunteer at mosques or food banks or raise money to help out those in need. Involve your kids in planning and acting on those good deeds, so they learn the importance and beauty of helping others less fortunate. Model daily acts of good like rolling your neighbour’s trash cans off the road or thanking your mail person or bus driver, when you see them. Children learn from watching us and kindness is an important and easy good deed for them to perform.
Ramadan is a beautiful time where the Muslim community can really focus on our connection with Allah and make it a priority to help others through charity and good deeds. We can use this time leading up to the month to get ourselves ready in so many ways that will ultimately benefit our minds, hearts and souls for the better. Like all Muslims around the globe, we pray that we create good habits that will continue for years after.
Ramadan Kareem from The MuslimMoon!