Your five ways to prepare for Ramadan 2025

As the holy month of Ramadan draws near, all of us are busy working, getting on with our daily routines forgetting the importance of preparation.

It’s vital that Muslims prepare, the same way you would for an interview, or an event. By doing this you are attaining blessings from the very beginning till the end, instead of losing focus and the importance of fasting. 

Fasting is not just about the prohibition of food and drink, it is much more than that. It is a spiritual journey for yourself and the ability to keep away from desires. The strength of your imaan (faith) is tested and you are increasing your closeness with God. To help with the arrangements, you should start to prepare at the beginning of Sha’ban.  Here are a few ways you can prepare:

Usamah ibn Zayd (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I said, ‘Oh Messenger of Allah, I do not see you fasting in any other month like you fast in Shaban.’ He said, ‘That is a month to which people do not pay attention, between Rajab and Ramadan, and it is a month in which deeds are lifted up to the Lord of the Worlds. I like for my deeds to be lifted up when I am fasting.’” (Narrated by al-Nasaai)

The best way to prepare for fasting, is to fast in the month of Sha’ban like our Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) who would fast heavily during this month. It is also prime time to make up your missed fasts from last Ramadan.

Fasting on Mondays and Thursdays, and on the white days, (13,14 &,15) is also from the Sunnah and will gain you extra reward.

Abstaining from food and drink for nearly 2/3 of the day is a mental and physical challenge. Therefore, maintaining a healthy and nutritious diet is essential. 

Foods like grains, fresh fruits, dates, milk, yoghurt, eggs and nuts should be included in one’s diets before and during Ramadan.

It is also important to remember, although lavish feasts are quite common, it is recommended to eat moderately like the time of the Prophet Muhammed (PBUH), with no extravagance or waste.

Recommended Ramadan dishes: Oatmeal topped with fruit and nuts, bread with a boiled egg and a piece of fruit, and a bowl of vegetable soup, a piece of whole-grain toast, and a glass of low-fat milk.

Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) related that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Indeed the one who recites the Qur’an beautifully, smoothly and precisely, will be in the company of the noble and obedient angels. As for the one who recites with difficulty, stammering or stumbling through its verses, then he will have twice that reward.” (Muslim)

You have to write down your goals or checklist instead of mentally relying on yourself to fulfil the things you want to do this Ramadan. It could be finishing the full Qur’an, random acts of kindness or giving extra charity to gain reward. By doing this you are subconsciously storing these in your mind. Then hang where you can see this every day to remind you of your goals.