By During Ramadan, we bury the hanger hatchet and strive to be our best selves. For some of us, this is a month where we’re at the mosque almost as much as our own homes; we’re our most generous, our most kind, our most loving.
And then Eid rolls around, and while we’re in those samosa comas, our religiousness sort of plateaus, or in my case, drops a little.
Even if you are no longer standing in Taraweeh prayer for an hour-and-a-half every night, you can still implement daily practices in your life to keep up the Ramadan spirit. Here are four Ramadan Recharges that I am going to partake in, and I would love for you to join me!
1. Memorize Surah Al-Mulk
My Imam said that this is a great way to stay in tact with Islam after Ramadan. It’s 30 short verses, and each ayat is injected with a beautiful meaning. The surah poses critical advice on being a model by example, rather than dictating others into submission.
2. Pray Fajr at the mosque during the weekend
Praying Fajr on time during Ramadan brought me so much peace. At 4:15 in the morning there’s no hustle and bustle of the early commuters on the way to work. There are no birds chirping morning marching orders. There’s no sun waking up from a deep sleep.
The silence and the dark made me feel that much closer to God. It can just be you and God and a few others trying to find that same spirit. If you pray Fajr at the mosque on a weekend, you will be showered with the Jam’aa rewards and also keep up that sense of the community. You can sleep in as soon as you get home, and even treat yourself to some nice pancakes or waffles to celebrate the accomplishment. A great incentive to get young kids to join you as well!
3. Listen to a religious podcast on the commute to work
I mean, how many times do we really need to listen to “Can’t Stop the Feeling”?
The radio overplays songs way too much anyway, so why not save your aux tunes for the ride home and when you’re sitting in daily morning traffic, stimulate yourself intellectually with something religious, like a podcast or an interesting YouTube video.
My dad really likes Al Bayinnah for something that really delves into Qur’an and Hadith. I personally like anything from NYU Chaplin and social activist Khalid Latif, because I like the way that he places Islam in a modern societal setting, like in the context of Black Lives Matter or gun violence. Check out his commencement speech at Drexel University — it’s incredibly moving.
4. Write down your favorite du’as and read them before you go to bed.
I actually have some use for those cute but way impractical and way over-priced notebooks from Paper Source now!! Find yours and start writing. It makes such a difference. By the time I’m done reading, I feel ready for bed. The last thing on your mind before you fall asleep will be God.