Productive Ramadan Tips for Those Who Can’t Fast

Those people who do not fast yet are lethargic enough to follow their daily routine fail to understand the true essence of Ramadan. Ramadan is the ritual of fasting to refrain from food, thirst and all negative activities. Some people in the month of Ramadan tend to believe in storing energy for the rest of the day, they eat excessive at Suhor then feel lethargic and miss all the benefits of Ramadan. To get the maximum out of Ramadan the essence is to stay productive physically because only then the spiritual level of Ramadan can be achieved properly. Islam is a complete code of life but in a lenient way, Allah does not want to impose hardship on His people as stated in Quran

“Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.” [2: 185]

If you are not fasting and your reason is legitimate as per Islamic teachings then Allah will never penalized you for it rather there are compensations to make later. All those of you who do not fast can get maximum out of this Month by including followings tips in your life.

Utilize Time for Sake Of Allah

With the advent of technology it is almost hard to follow the routine of Ramadan for those who do not fast. In daily routine it is impossible to wake up early, do all routine stuff take time out for Islamic rituals and then to sleep in time but if you organize your all routine for sake of Allah when you are not fasting then the goals for productive Ramadan can be achieved.

Productive Ramadan tips:

Ramadan can be productive if you remain consistent in your routines as narrated in Hadith

“The best deeds are those which are consistent even if they are small.” [Al-Bukhari]

Consistency is the key to achieve productivity from this month. Following are the ways to make Ramadan productive when one is not fasting.

1. Driving force: Motivation:

Motivation is the driving factor to achieve goals. When people are busy conjuring the blessing of Allah in this month why should you left behind? If you are not fasting, even then wake up for Suhoor as it is Sunnah as stated in Hadith

“Have suhoor, for in suhoor there is barakah.” [An-Nasa'i]

Help your family members who are fating so that they can get extra time to eat and drink in order to be physically stable for the remaining day. Ask for Allah’s mercy while praying because it is the best time to make strong connection with Allah as He descends down from heaven on earth at this time of night. This all will give you enough energy to continue your spiritual zeal for the rest of the day.

2. Productivity In Daily Chores And Work:

The important point to note here is to complete your daily dose of sleep because only then your physical strength would help you to accomplish your usual tasks.

1. Organize Your Tasks: Make a list for your daily tasks as it is the most organized form of completing your task in time and the best way is to make a list of your tasks according to each day of Ramadan.
2. Productive list Of Your Daily Doings: Start your day with something productive it will strengthen up your spirit for the rest of the day. Productive can be some unfinished work, helping neighbors or to cook something special for your family in order to make them happy.
3. Prepare Meal Before Time:  Plan your meal before time as it will save your time for prayers and will make you able to serve your family in time. Muslim men go to offer Tarawih and the best way is to have full stomach while attending congregational prayers. Meal on time will help them to offer Tarawih properly.
4. Preparing For Eid Early: Most of us left Eid shopping for the last Ashra which comprises days of maximum virtues and benefits. After doing shopping we exhaust ourselves, not only mentally but physically and often do our night prayers half heartedly, even in the blessed nights of “Lailt ul-Qadar. Planning for the auspicious event of Eid early will spare much time for supplications.

3. Productivity In Physical Health:

You cannot achieve what you are aiming for in this month of Ramadan if you would not be fit and productive physically. Due to lethargy and lousy routine we prefer to sleep all day long and then stay awake till suhor due to which our physical strength dilates and we are not able to continue the same spirit in Ramadan as in start. To maintain physical strength in Ramadan even if you are not fasting can do wonders and can keep you motivated for your daily schedule.

1. Take Out Some “Me” time: Do not indulge yourself in house chores too much that it left you half hearted to complete the rest of your tasks.
2. Recite Quran at Suhoor:  Recitation of Holy Quran will enlighten your mind, heart and will keep you fresh as Allah stated in Quran

3. Take time for Physical Activities: Take some time out for physical activities like walk or gym. If you are habitual, do not quit it in Ramadan because it helps in burning calories and will strengthen your body muscles that will help in warding off laziness.

4. Productivity In Ibadah:

In ibadah there are two conditions,

-         You  cannot pray or offer prayers (women due to menstruation)

-         You  can pray but cant fast due to physical illness or any other genuine reason

In either cases you can pray and can ask for Allah’s blessings in Ramadan.

      1. Do Astaghfar:

If you cannot offer your prayers then do astaghfar for atoning your sins. If you are exhausted from all day chores and are unable to do Zikar then do Tasbeeh. When Fatima (RA), daughter of Muhammad (PBUH) complained that her hands are blistering from work then Muhammad asked her to do Tasbeeh while lying on bed. It is stated in Hadith by Hazrat Ali (RA) that

“The Messenger of Allah said to me and to Fatimah, When you go to bed, recite: Takbir (Allahu Akbar) thirty-three times and Tasbih (Subhan-Allah) thirty-three times and Tahmid (Al-hamdu lillah) thirty-three times.” [Bukhari]

Recite “Subhan Allah Al-Azeem” and “Subhan Allah wa bihamdihi” as much as you can. Muhammad (PBUH) said

“There are two expressions which are very easy for the tongue to say, but they are very heavy in the balance and are very dear to The Beneficent (Allah), and they are, ‘Subhan Allah Al- `Azim and ‘Subhan Allah wa bihamdihi.’“ [Bukhari]

       2. Do Duas:

Individual Dua: Do duas for yourself, family and your closed ones because in this month of Ramadan Allah fulfill your wishes and grant you what you demand. The best ritual is to pray for your Muslim fellow because in Hadith it has quoted

“Whenever you make a supplication for another believer and he is not present, an angel will say ‘and same to you’.” [Muslim]

In short when we make dua for our Muslim brothers we are hitting two birds with one stone i.e. making dua for him and for ourselves.

For the Ummah: We Muslims are surrounded by worldly disasters; most of our Islamic countries are either in state of war or in state of chaos. Fasting in such condition is a pure test for all these Muslims who are deprived of basic facilities. While offering Duaas in the month of Ramadan it is better to make dua for all those Muslims living is North Waziristan, Syria, Palestine and especially in Burma as no one know whose prayers reach to Allah being accepted and in return bestow His mercy upon us all.

Concisely, it is better to make our Ramadan productive in all perspectives by making positive changes in our life, professional and spiritual attitudes. The change in attitude by adopting aforementioned habits will motivates us to be productive and to get maximum virtues from this Holy month of Ramadan.