5 Good Habits in Ramadan to Carry Forward
We’re more than halfway through Ramadan, and you’ve probably built some great habits this month. Good habits in Ramadan, like extra prayers, increased charity, and a new level of self control, should stay with you beyond the holy month.
But how can we carry on these habits into the coming year? Below are a few tips to help.
Month of Transformation and Blessings
The blessed month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, holds profound spiritual significance for Muslims worldwide. It is a period marked by fasting, prayer, reflection, and community.
Essence of Ramadan
Observing Ramadan is not merely refraining from eating and drinking during the daylight hours of dawn to sunset. It is a time for inner purification, self-discipline, worshiping Allah and rekindling one’s relationship with the Divine. During this sacred month, worshippers strive to cultivate virtues such as patience, humility, and generosity.
In other words, Ramadan is a time for spiritual growth and enlightenment. Muslims are encouraged to busy ourselves day and night in increased prayer, recitation, and study of the Quran, leaving not just physical sustenance but even sleep as we focus on seeking guidance, wisdom, and closeness to Allah.
Importantly, this blessed month is also a month of heightened charity to others, reinforcing lessons on the importance of empathy, compassion, and assistance to the less fortunate.
Immeasurable Benefits
It’s a significant challenge each year to continue our daily lives, remaining productive at work or school while hosting family and friends at iftar time and going to the mosque at night for taraweeh prayers.
The reward of this devotion, however, is impossible to characterize.
Prophet Muhammad (SAW) described the greatness of fasting this way:
“Allah said, ‘Every deed of the son of Adam is for him, except for fasting. It is for Me and I will reward it.’ Fasting is a shield, so when one of you fasts, he may not be obscene or boisterous. If someone insults him or fights him, let him say, ‘Indeed, I am fasting.’ By the One in whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, the breath coming from the mouth of a fasting person is more pleasant to Allah than the scent of musk.”
Building Good Habits
Ramadan is not just meant to change us for one month each year — it’s meant to teach us lasting lessons and to help us develop our spiritual selves for the entire year to come, or ideally, for life.
This blessed month is in fact is a kind of boot camp for Muslims, offering an opportunity to reset our daily lives at a higher level. After refraining from basic sustenance all day for an entire month, spending nights in night prayer, and increasing our good deeds and charity, merely making the five prayers each day becomes easier.
But we have to consciously maintain these habits throughout the other months of the year, or we will backslide and lose some of the benefits.
5 Good Habits in Ramadan (and How to Keep Practicing Them)
The benefits each person gains from Ramadan are very personal, and they may even vary from year to year. Perhaps you’ve been praying more night prayers, reading more Quran, giving extra charity, or working toward other goals you’ve set for yourself.
Hold onto the benefits of Ramadan by making a conscious plan to continue the habits you’ve picked up this month. This will look different for everyone, but here are some tips to help you stay on track for the rest of the year.
1. Make time for the Quran
During this holy month you’ve probably made it a habit to integrate the Quran into your day. Pencil it into your calendar if you can. If that’s difficult, try downloading a Quran app. Plan a break into each day, and read it for even just 15 minutes.
2. Keep the suhoor alarm on
You’ve probably gotten used to waking up a bit before sunrise everyday. Keep the alarm on and use the pre-dawn minutes to reflect on the upcoming day and prepare for the Fajr prayer.
3. Try fasting twice a week
The Sunnah (Prophetic tradition) is to fast on Mondays and Thursdays. This will help extend the mindfulness of Ramadan to the entire year. Plus there’s a lot of research that touts the benefits of intermittent fasts.
4. Eat with the family
You don’t have to be fasting to have family dinners. Hold on to the feeling of breaking the fast at Ramadan iftars by prioritizing family dinners every night. These moments ensure everyone at home has a chance to talk and share about their day.
5. Hit play on the lectures
Learning nourishes your spirituality. Keep listening to your favorite speakers even after Ramadan ends. Listen to stories of the Prophets, Sahaba (RA) – the companions of the Prophet (PBUH), and Quranic commentary.
6. Do an extra good deed a day
Make a plan to do an act of charity each day, no matter how small, even if it’s just a smile.
Ramadan wishes from Guidance Residential
Every Ramadan we’re reminded of the blessings of home. Since 2002, Guidance Residential has helped over 40,000 families celebrate this holy month in their new home. We are so thankful to be part of their celebration, and we wish you a joyful and meaningful Ramadan. Ramadan Kareem!
Guidance Residential’s co-ownership model of Islamic home financing remains the #1 U.S. Islamic home financing provider, with more than 40,000 families assisted over more than 20 years. Learn more and get started on your home finance journey today.
Your Guidance Residential Account Executive is here to help with any questions. Looking to refinance or purchase? Have a friend or family member who is looking for a home? Call 1.866.Guidance, or start an application today.
Originally published April 2021, updated March 2024.
