BEYOND HUNGER AND THIRST

By: Aslam Abdullah - Islamicity

HERE ARE A FEW SUGGESTIONS THAT WE CAN TRY TO INCORPORATE IN OUR DAILY RAMADAN AND BEYOND.WE SHOULD:

• Not react immediately if we dislike any thing. Rather, we would take time and try to respond in a calm and polite manner.

• Ignore those useless talks that serve no purpose.

• Ensure that we do not indulge in backbiting or demeaning anyone.

• Ensure that we show kindness to youngsters and respect to elders.

• Not focus on food and consume things that are not nutritious because Allah asks to be mindful of our health also.

• Control our anger, egos, arrogance and rash talking.

• Not hurt anyone and if we cross our limits we would immediately apologize.

• Maintain quietness most of the time.

• Greet everyone with a sweet smile.

• Give our children a feel of taraweeh prayers by praying with them this nightly prayer.

• Invite the poorer and the needy families to our homes at least once in the month of Ramadan to honor them.

• Be generous in sharing our resources to the poor and the neglected.

• Try to read the Quran with translation and understanding if we do not know Arabic and with reflections if we know Arabic.

• Spend sometime alone to observe prayers and recite the Quran and reflect on our life.

• Focus on some of the suras of the Quran so that we could either memorize them or understand them in depth..

• Give the Zakat ul Fitr so that the money could be distributed in an organized manner to the poor and the needy.

• Ensure that not a single prayer is delayed.

• Give one book on Islam to anyone who wants to learn more about Islam.

• Hug our children, our parents and our nearest ones to thank them for their presence in our lives and to remind ourselves of the importance of family.

• Ignore the minor or major behavioral issues of people and treat them with patience.

• Ensure that we would not visit internet sites that are provocative or that promote immorality.

• Help our spouses in home chores and avoid criticizing them for their mistakes.

• Always remember that all that we are doing is to fulfill our obligations to our Creator who seeks our wellbeing in this life and the life hereafter.