Ramadan — A Guide Beyond the Basics

1 · Preparation — Before the Month Begins

Preparation for Ramadan does not start on 1 Ramaḍān. The Prophet ﷺ fasted most in Shaʿbān (Bukhārī & Muslim) — the month before Ramadan. ʿĀʾisha (raḍiyallāhu ʿanhā) said: "I never saw the Messenger ﷺ fast a complete month other than Shaʿbān."

What to do in Shaʿbān:

• Fast what you can — not the whole month, but most days.
• Mondays & Thursdays weekly — establish the fasting routine.
• Plan your Qur'an schedule — decide your daily āyah-count, choose your tafsir.
• Repair relationships — ask family for forgiveness. A Ramadan in conflict is wasted time.

2 · The Daily Ritual — What the Prophet ﷺ Did

Sūhūr — Don't Skip

"Eat Sūhūr, for in Sūhūr there is barakah" (Bukhārī & Muslim). Sunnah: delay Sūhūr until as close to the Adhān as possible. No extremely-early-eating and going back to deep sleep.

Iftar — Don't Delay

"My ummah remains in goodness as long as they hasten to break their fast" (Bukhārī & Muslim). Three dates and water — that is what the Prophet ﷺ did before praying Maghrib. No multi-course feast before the prayer.

Ṣalāt at-Tarāwīh

8 or 20 rakaʿāt — there is valid scholarly disagreement. What is not Sunnah: skipping tarāwīh because "women don't have to," or treating it as a social gathering. Pray in the masjid when you can; at home when you must.

Qur'an

Goal: at least 1 complete reading during Ramadan. Distribute: ~1 juz per day. The Prophet ﷺ recited the Qur'an with Jibrīl (ʿalayhi as-salām) every Ramadan, and twice in his final year of life.

3 · The Last Ten Days — Where the Reward Lives

The Prophet ﷺ secluded himself in the masjid (iʿtikāf) during the last ten nights. ʿĀʾisha (rh): "When the last ten days arrived, he would tighten his garment, stay up at night, and wake his family."

Lailat al-Qadr — No Fixed Date

Important: Lailat al-Qadr does not fall on a fixed date. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Seek it in the odd nights of the last ten" (Bukhārī). So: 21, 23, 25, 27, or 29 Ramadan — Allah knows best which night it is. Anyone who has marked only the 27th has missed the point: seeking, not knowing.

The duʿā ʿĀʾisha learned from the Prophet ﷺ for this night:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي

"Allāhumma innaka ʿAfuwwun, tuḥibbu al-ʿafwa, faʿfu ʿannī"
"O Allah, You are All-Pardoning, You love to pardon — so pardon me."

4 · Sadaqah — Just Give

The Prophet ﷺ was the most generous of people, and most generous in Ramadan (Bukhārī). Multiply your normal sadaqah level by 10. Date boxes for your neighbours. Iftar contributions to your masjid. Anonymous transfers to a charity.

5 · What to Avoid — Sunnah Correction

Bidʿah to Avoid

• "Lailat al-Qadr is specifically the 27th" as the only night — not Sunnah.
• Tarāwīh sped through — quality of recitation matters, not speed.
• Iftar as a social event that hollows out the prayer.

Cultural Patterns to Examine

• Iftar feasts that undermine tomorrow's Fajr fasting.
• Late-night socials that cause Fajr to be missed.
• Eid shopping that hollows out akhirah focus.

6 · The Checklist

• ☐ Eat Sūhūr — no skipping
• ☐ Iftar — open with dates and water, don't delay
• ☐ Tarāwīh — minimum 8 rakaʿāt
• ☐ 1 juz of Qur'an / day
• ☐ Sadaqah — at least once per week, something concrete
• ☐ Family time — no social-media-iftars
• ☐ Last 10 — iʿtikāf in masjid where possible, focus on odd nights
• ☐ Eid prep — pay Fiṭrah before Eid prayer

Allāhumma ballighnā Ramaḍān — may Allah let us reach Ramadan, and extract the most from it before we are called back.

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Products That Support This Guide

No obligation — only what we ourselves use during Ramadan:

• Books & Knowledge — a good tafsir for your Qur'an plan
• Tasbih & Dhikr — for the silent nights of the last 10
• Attar & Bakhoor — Friday perfume, alcohol-free
• Food & Drink — Madīna dates for iftar
• Bundles — Ramadan-bundle, everything in one go