30 Steps in Sha‘baan to Prepare for Ramadan - III

30 Steps in Sha‘baan to Prepare for Ramadan - III
11- Accustom yourself to spending more time in the Masjid (mosque) after performing congregational prayer to prepare for I‘tikaaf (staying in seclusion in the mosque with the intention of worship) in the last ten days of Ramadan, Allah willing. If you cannot perform full I‘tikaaf, you could prolong your stay in the Masjid, which is also considered I’tikaaf , as there is no minimum stipulated time limit for it.
12- Get used to fasting so that you do not feel worn out while fasting the first couple of days in Ramadan. Fast on alternate days or in the most of the days of Sha‘baan, Imaam Al-Bukhari  may  Allah  have  mercy  upon  him reported that ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said, "The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) did not fast in any month more than he did in Sha‘baan, and he used to fast all of Sha‘baan.”
13- Be prepared to feed the poor and needy, and provide meals for the fasting people to break their fast. Increase the quantity of food you prepare for lunch, for instance, and give out the extra food to the poor in your neighborhood or to your building’s janitor. ‘Ataa’  may  Allah  have  mercy  upon  him narrated on the authority of Zayd ibn Khaalid Al-Juhani, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ), said: “Whoever gives Iftaar (the meal to break the fast) to one who is fasting will have a reward like his, without that detracting from the reward of the fasting person in the slightest.” [At-Tirmithi and An-Nasaa'i, Al-Albaani: Saheeh]
14- Give alms on a daily basis in the month of Sha‘baan, so that you may get used to daily charity in Ramadan and to be among those mentioned in the Hadeeth narrated by Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ), said: “There is no day on which the people get up but two angels come down and one of them says, ‘O Allah, give in compensation to the one who spends (in charity),’ and the other says, ‘O Allah, destroy the wealth of the one who withholds.” [Al-Bukhariand Muslim]
If it was your habit to give charity in other than Ramadan, then increase the quantity you give out in Sha‘baan whenever you can. Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “The Messenger of Allah  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) was the most generous of people, and he was at his most generous during Ramadan, when Jibreel (angel Gabriel) met him. Jibreel used to meet with him every night and teach him the Quran. The Messenger of Allah  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) was the most generous person, even more generous and faster in spending than a strong blowing wind.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
15- If you intend to perform ‘Umrah during Ramadan, walk daily for half an hour in the last ten days of Sha’baan in order to prepare yourself, as ‘Umrah in Ramadan involves physical effort.
16- Lessen your intake of food during Sha’baan; the more food you eat the more difficult it is to perform acts of worship in Ramadan. Accustom yourself to smaller portions of food from now or eat several small meals throughout the day. Include plenty of vegetables, fruits and dates in your diet to maintain the level of hydration in the body and to provide energy.
17- Avoid staying up late, try to sleep earlier, and wake up one hour prior to Fajr prayer or earlier to practice Qiyaam (voluntary night prayers) and supplicate to Allah The Almighty before dawn.
18- Train yourself to sleep less. If your habit is to sleep eight hours, make it six or less without exhausting your body, compensating for it with a mid-day (short) nap.
19- If you are unable to perform ‘Umrah this Ramadan for some reason, know that if you remain seated after Fajr prayer until sunrise and perform two Rak‘ahs (units of prayer) you would receive the reward of a complete Hajj and ‘Umrah. Anas ibn Maalik, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ), said: “Whoever prays Fajr in congregation then remains sitting (in the Masjid) remembering and mentioning Allah until the sun rises, then prays two Rak‘ahs (15 minutes after the sun rises), will have a reward like that of performing Hajj and ‘Umrah, complete, complete, complete.” [At-Tirmithi, Al-Albaani: Hasan li-ghayrih]

30 Steps in Sha‘baan to Prepare for Ramadan - I

30 Steps in Sha‘baan to Prepare for Ramadan - II

30 Steps in Sha‘baan to Prepare for Ramadan - IV

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