Preparation for
Ramadan
Workbook
By Shaykh Hafiz Muhammad Ibrahim
Naqshbandi Mujadidi
Translated by
Tahir Hussain
1
2
Contents
Preparing for Ramadan4
Pre Ramadan Tasks6
First 10 Days7
Middle 10 Days18
Last 10 days28
Itikaaf38
Layla tul Qadr39
Night of Eid40
Fast Of Shawwal41
Final Points41
About Al Kahaf Educational Trust
42
3
Preparing for Ramadan
Allah swt mentions in the Quran:
(Verse 183 Surah Baqarah)
Oh you who believe, Fasting has been prescribed for
you like it was prescribed for those before you so that
you may attain Taqwa
The goal of fasting is to attain piety. The pious person is one who safeguards himself from those
things that harm his akhirah. Then, if that thing is related to shirk and he saves himself from that,
then it is a low level of taqwa. If he saves himself from sinning and rebelliousness then this is a middle level of taqwa. And the highest level of taqwa is saving oneself from futile/non sensical things
and turning to the remembrance of Allah swt.
A person has two obstacles in attaining taqwa:
1.
Soul (Nafs)
2.
Shaytaan
Nafs is a name for a person’s desires. Those can be good and bad, permissible and impermissible.
When a person follows his desires, then he forgets the actual goal of his life and comes off the path
of attaining taqwa.
Allah swt has given us the month of Ramadan, and has chained up the shayateen so now the only
enemy that remains is a person’s own nafs that he has to compete with and bring under control. In
this blessed month, food and drink intake is lowered so that the nafs becomes weakened and that its
adherence to the commands of Allah swt becomes easier.
4
The companions of Prophet SAW have mentioned that when the month of Ramadan started they
saw three changes in the Prophet SAW:
1.
2.
3.
He would increase his acts of worship.
He would increase spending in the path of Allah swt.
He would increase the time spent in making duas.
The Prophet SAW has mentioned that fasting is a shield until a person tears it apart. It was asked:
“what was meant by tearing apart?” He said: “Through backbiting and lying.” (Ibn Hibban).
It is also mentioned that the Prophet SAW said, “How many are those who gain nothing from their
fast apart from hunger and thirst.” (Mishkaat Masabeeh).
For this reason, we should prepare and make intention before Ramadan of what we are going to be
doing, i.e those things that will enable us to benefit during Ramadan and enable us to increase our
taqwa.
When the Prophet SAW would see the moon of Rajab he would make the following dua:
Oh Allah! Bless us in Rajab and Sha’baan and make us
reach the month of Ramadan. (Musnad Ahmed)
We should also implement this sunnah as well and prepare for Ramadan. There is a saying: “Well
planned, half done”. In other words, if it is planned well then it is as if it is half achieved already.
Keep in mind the four foundational tasks that we need to do in Ramadan:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Etiquettes of Ramadan
Keeping the fasts of Ramadan
Avoid all sins
Increase in our acts of worship
The hadith mentions there are four things we should increase during this month. Two of those are
for the pleasure of Allah swt and two of those we cannot do without.
The hadith mentions there are four things we should increase during this month. Two of those are
for the pleasure of Allah swt and two of those we cannot do without.
5
The first two are:
1.
Kalima Tayyibah
2.
Excessive istigfaar.
The remaining two are:
1.
Seeking entry to Jannah
2.
Seeking refuge from Jahannam.
The dua for this:
(Bayhaqi)
Pre Ramadan Tasks:
• Learn the do’s/don’t’s (masail) and virtues (Fada’il) of Ramadan.
• Try to memorise some surahs (with tajweed).
• Try to do every action according to the Sunnah with intention of fulfilling the sunnah.
• Learn and implement the masnoon duas in day to day actions.
• Outline the daily activities to be done.
• Complete any Eid related shopping beforehand.
• Complete any grocery shopping, where possible, before Ramadan.
• Ramadan Basket – gather things needed in one place such as dua books, prayer mat, tasbeeh,
prayer timetable etc. This will save time in searching for them.
• Sadaqah box – Have a box that can be used to put in any amount of sadaqah on a daily basis. Encourage the whole family to also put something in. Then give the amount collected to needy people/
charity.
• We must make sure we are eating halal and remove any doubtful items. Look at the life of Prophet
SAW to see what kinds of things he ate and try to inculcate those items into your diet.
6
First 10 days – Rahmah
(Mercy)
And say (O Prophet)”My Lord, grant pardon and have mercy,
for you are the best of all the Merciful
For the following tables, please put a tick for each activity done.
7
Salah
Prayer
Fajr
Ishraaq
Doha
Zohr
Asr
Magrib
Awaabeen
Isha
Taraweeh
Tahajjud
Qadha/Missed
Salatul Tasbeeh
Nawafil
8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Recitation of Quran
Quran Reciting
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
After Fajr
After Zohr
After Asr
After Magrib
After Isha/
Taraweeh
Participate in
Dars/Tafseer
9
Daily Masnoon
Actions
24 Hours Masnoon
actions
Sunnahs of Sleeping/Waking up
Miswak before
salat
Bathroom Sunnahs
Drinking water
Sunnahs
Changing clothes
Sunnahs
Entering/leaving
home Sunnahs
Entering/leaving
Masjid Sunnahs
Qayloolah
Wearing trousers
above ankle
Covering the head
Staying in state of
wudu
10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Dhikr & Muraqaba
Dhikr/Muraqaba
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Tasbeeh Fatimi
after prayer
Istigfaar morning/
evening
Durood morning/
evening
5 mins Muraqabah
pre Salah
Kalimah Tayyibah
Morning/Evening
Wuquf Qalbi
Surah Yaseen
(Morning)
Surah Waqiyah
(Post Magrib)
Surah Mulk prior
to sleeping
Surah Kahf on
Jumma day
Durood aftr Asr on
Friday
11
Duas
Duas
Suhoor time/mins
Iftaar time/mins
Tahajjud/ mins
After every salah
Fridays between
Asr & Magrib
12
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Avoidance of sinful
actions
Avoiding sinful
things
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Lies
Backbiting
Abusive language
Ungratefulness
Making fun of
someone
Sarcastic remarks/
comments
Having bad opinion of others
Anger
Breaking ties with
others
Immodestly
dressed
Hurting others
Looking at non
mahram
Hatred
13
Good actions to do
Good actions
Speaking the truth
Forgiving others
Being first to say
salam
Perform salat at
its time
Khidmat of parents
Humble
Staying in Wudu
Helping others
To open fast of
others
Being thankful
Studying/learning
Guiding others to
good actions
14
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Food
Food
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Suhoor
Iftaar
Evening meal
15
Avoiding non beneficial
things
Avoiding non beneficial
TV
Facebook
Whatsapp
Internet
Going to the marketplaces
Taking pics
Sports
Novels
Hanging out with
friends without need
16
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Sadaqah
Sadaqah
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Given something
daily
Given something
weekly
17
Middle 10 days –
Maghfirah
(Forgiveness)
I seek forgiveness my Lord from every sin and
to Him I turn (in repentance)
18
Salah
Prayer
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Fajr
Ishraaq
Doha
Zohr
Asr
Magrib
Awaabeen
Isha
Taraweeh
Tahajjud
Qadha/Missed
Salatul Tasbeeh
Nawafil
19
Recitation of Quran
Quran Reciting
After Fajr
After Zohr
After Asr
After Magrib
After Isha/
Taraweeh
Participate in
Dars/Tafseer
20
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Daily Masnoon
Actions
24 Hours Masnoon
actions
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Sunnahs of Sleeping/Waking up
Miswak before
salat
Bathroom Sunnahs
Drinking water
Sunnahs
Changing clothes
Sunnahs
Entering/leaving
home Sunnahs
Entering/leaving
Masjid Sunnahs
Qayloolah
Wearing trousers
above ankle
Covering the head
Staying in state of
wudu
21
Dhikr & Muraqaba
Dhikr/Muraqaba
Tasbeeh Fatimi
after prayer
Istigfaar morning/
evening
Durood morning/
evening
5 mins Muraqabah
pre Salah
Kalimah Tayyibah
Morning/Evening
Wuquf Qalbi
Surah Yaseen
(Morning)
Surah Waqiyah
(Post Magrib)
Surah Mulk prior
to sleeping
Surah Kahf on
Jumma day
Durood aftr Asr on
Friday
22
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Duas
Duas
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Suhoor time/mins
Iftaar time/mins
Tahajjud/ mins
After every salah
Fridays between
Asr & Magrib
23
Avoidance of sinful
actions
Avoiding sinful
things
Lies
Backbiting
Abusive language
Ungratefulness
Making fun of
someone
Sarcastic remarks/
comments
Having bad opinion of others
Anger
Breaking ties with
others
Immodestly
dressed
Hurting others
Looking at non
mahram
Hatred
24
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Good actions to do
Good actions
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Speaking the truth
Forgiving others
Being first to say
salam
Perform salat at
its time
Khidmat of parents
Humble
Staying in Wudu
Helping others
To open fast of
others
Being thankful
Studying/learning
Guiding others to
good actions
25
Food
Food
Suhoor
Iftaar
Evening meal
26
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Avoiding non beneficial
things
Avoiding non beneficial
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
TV
Facebook
Whatsapp
Internet
Going to the marketplaces
Taking pics
Sports
Novels
Hanging out with
friends without need
27
Last 10 days – Najat
(Salvation)
O Allah, You are Pardoning and you love
pardon, so pardon me
28
Salah
Prayer
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Fajr
Ishraaq
Doha
Zohr
Asr
Magrib
Awaabeen
Isha
Taraweeh
Tahajjud
Qadha/Missed
Salatul Tasbeeh
Nawafil
29
Recitation of Quran
Quran Reciting
After Fajr
After Zohr
After Asr
After Magrib
After Isha/
Taraweeh
Participate in
Dars/Tafseer
30
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Daily Masnoon
Actions
24 Hours Masnoon
actions
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Sunnahs of Sleeping/Waking up
Miswak before
salat
Bathroom Sunnahs
Drinking water
Sunnahs
Changing clothes
Sunnahs
Entering/leaving
home Sunnahs
Entering/leaving
Masjid Sunnahs
Qayloolah
Wearing trousers
above ankle
Covering the head
Staying in state of
wudu
31
Dhikr & Muraqaba
Dhikr/Muraqaba
Tasbeeh Fatimi
after prayer
Istigfaar morning/
evening
Durood morning/
evening
5 mins Muraqabah
pre Salah
Kalimah Tayyibah
Morning/Evening
Wuquf Qalbi
Surah Yaseen
(Morning)
Surah Waqiyah
(Post Magrib)
Surah Mulk prior
to sleeping
Surah Kahf on
Jumma day
Durood aftr Asr on
Friday
32
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Duas
Duas
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Suhoor time/mins
Iftaar time/mins
Tahajjud/ mins
After every salah
Fridays between
Asr & Magrib
33
Avoidance of sinful
actions
Avoiding sinful
things
Lies
Backbiting
Abusive language
Ungratefulness
Making fun of
someone
Sarcastic remarks/
comments
Having bad opinion of others
Anger
Breaking ties with
others
Immodestly
dressed
Hurting others
Looking at non
mahram
Hatred
34
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Good actions to do
Good actions
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Speaking the truth
Forgiving others
Being first to say
salam
Perform salat at
its time
Khidmat of parents
Humble
Staying in Wudu
Helping others
To open fast of
others
Being thankful
Studying/learning
Guiding others to
good actions
35
Food
Food
Suhoor
Iftaar
Evening meal
36
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Avoiding non beneficial
things
Avoiding non beneficial
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
TV
Facebook
Whatsapp
Internet
Going to the marketplaces
Taking pics
Sports
Novels
Hanging out with
friends without need
37
Itikaaf
There is another specific form of worship which is exclusive to the month of Ramadan specifically in the last 10 days. That is to perform I’tikaaf – Seclusion in the
mosque.
The example of a Mu’takif (one performing I’tikaaf) is like that person who has
gone to Allah swt’s house. When someone enters a person’s house, the host has a
responsibility towards that person. Allah swt is the best of the hosts so those who
perform itikaaf in the masjid get special mercy from Allah swt.
Allama Sharani (RH) writes in his book Kashaf al Ghumma, a hadith in which
Prophet SAW mentions that whoever performs itikaaf in Ramadan for ten days he
will get a reward equivalent to two Hajjs and two Umrahs.
Another hadith indicates that if a person does itikaaf for one day, then Allah swt
will, in return, move Jahannam away from him, the space of three trenches. The
space of each being the distance of the heavens and the earth.
As far as possible, we should try to implement this act of worship as well.
38
Layla tul Qadr
Allah swt has showered down so many blessings in this month for this Ummah.
One of those blessings is Night of decree or also known as Laylatul Qadr.
A hadith mentions:
Whoever searches for the night of Qadr, with imaan, and intends to gain reward,
then all his previous sins will be forgiven (Bukhari)
In the Quran, Allah swt mentions that this night is more virtuous than a thousand
months (Surah Qadr).
We should try to seek this blessed night by engaging in acts of worship during the
odd nights in the last ten days of Ramadan.
39
Night of Eid
The night of Eid ul Fitr is known as the Night of Reward. Scholars of fiqh (jurisprudence) have declared doing acts of worship on this night as a mustahab.
A hadith which means that a person who wakes in five nights for worship, then
Jannah will be wajib for him:
1.
Night of 8th of Dhul Hijjah
2.
Night of 9th of Dhul Hijjah
3.
Night of 10th of Dhul Hijjah ie Eid Ul Adha night
4.
Night of Eid ul Fitr
5.
Night of 15th Shaban
In these nights we should try to avoid wasting time with non-beneficial activities
and try to gain as much reward as possible.
Last 10 nights
I’tikaaf
Search for Laylat
ul Qadr
Eid Night
40
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Fasts of Shawwal
The six fasts of Shawwal can be kept on any days aside from the day of Eid ul Fitr.
They can be kept over six consecutive days or on separate days throughout Shawwal.
One point to note, if anyone has missed any fasts of Ramadan due to some excuse,
then those should be kept first before keeping the Shawwal fasts. In other words,
make up the obligatory fasts before performing a Mustahab act.
Final points
It should be noted that the points discussed in this booklet have been given based
upon the teachings of Quran, Sunnah, the pious predecessors, ulama and mashaykh. Each person should try their level best to implement these advices and intend to do so with the purpose of having their own character reformation done.
This should all be done for the sake of Allah swt and should not be done with the
intention of showing off or other such intention.
41
About Al-Kahaf
Educational Trust
Al Kahaf educational trust is a group of sunnah based educational institute
streaming under Hazrat Hafiz Ibrahim nasqshbandi DB khalifa majaz Hazrat
Hafiz Peer Zulfiqar Ahmad nasqshbandi DB.
Ibrahim academy is one of the online & onsite institutes of Al Kahaf educational
trust.
The academy offers 21 online courses with highly motivated and dedicated teachers.
Some major courses are below :
1- Traditional islamic learning (TIL)
It is a six year alimah program based on the curriculum of wifaq ul madaris al
arabia Pakistan.
2- Taleem ul Quran
It is a 3 year diploma course covering ilm ul tafseer, tajweed, Fiqh
(jurisprudence), ilm ul hadith and Arabic grammar.
3- Tariq ul jannah
It is a one year diploma course covering basic islamic education which includes
tafseer of juz 30, tajweed and basic grammar.
42
4- Takhasus Dawa wal irshad
A one year specialization program designed for both alimaat and maulimaat.
The academy also offers extra-curricular activities each year such as seerah programs, independence day program and various workshops etc.
Number of online students: 1000
You can donate in the path of Allah by favouring the academy.
The details are following:
0902 0103134272
Meezan bank Gujranwala
Habib Metropolitan Bank:
Account Title: Al Kahaf Educational Trust
Account # 6-04-19-20311-714-101693
Al Kahaf Educational Trust would like to thank the translator for volunteering to translate this Ramadan
Workbook. May Allah swt accept it from all those who participated in its preparation. Ameen.
43