4 Ways to Jumpstart Your Heart and Mind for this Ramadan -

See how simple steps can make this coming Ramadan a success

Fast now, ask questions later.

Aishah (ra) narrated: “The Prophet used to try to fast on Mondays and Thursdays” [Tirmidhi, Nasai, and Ibn Majah].

You won’t find one olympian that will say they walked into a race unprepared. So on the days when no one’s watching, they practice starting, sustaining, and finishing. Fasting on Mondays and Thursdays is a simple way to attain blessings but also condition ourselves to take on those upcoming days of Ramadan. By the time Ramadan comes you’ll be a well-oiled machine. Starting a regimen of fasting now will make it easier to reflect on our blessings and less on our hunger.

2. Charity is a sanctuary

“And establish prayer and give zakat, and whatever good you put forward for yourselves – you will find it with Allah; surely Allah sees what you do.” —The Holy Qur’an, 2:110

The generous buzz that fills the air when Ramadan arrives is like no other. We find our neighbors who come from the humblest means attempting to give what they have to care for others. Giving removes our minds from constantly thinking of ourselves. It turns “me” into “we.” Many of us enter the month contemplating how we can best help others. Making charity of habit now, will make us sacrifice those coffees and burgers later.

3. Silence is still golden

“Silence is a source of Great Strength.” ― Lao Tzu

Guess what the world is now? Noisy. From our social feeds, to unlimited updates on the current crises of the earth, attention spans are being bombarded constantly. The only way out, is in. We have to look inward and start silencing our devices and all attention draining mechanisms that are out there. Taking 10 minutes to sit in silence away from technology will prepare us to sit in quiet during Ramadan. If we can quiet our minds now, getting rid of the mental chatter will be a breeze. Gear your mind up today by setting out blocks of time to sit, be silent, and do nothing.

4. Serve, then serve some more

“The Service you do for others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth.” ― Muhammad Ali

Aside from droves of worshippers that crowd Masjids all over the world during this time, the masses of volunteers that strive through the entire month lighten everyone’s load. Volunteerism is at the heart of who IRUSA is. It’s also the epicenter of Ramadan activity. Join the ranks of the millions who will be offering their time and compassion this year. Service is about rhythm. So get in the rhythm now.