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With Ramadan ending, it is easy to fall back into our old habits. However, it is important to remember that the sign of a productive Ramadan is that we are better people in the months after Ramadan than in the months preceding Ramadan.
With that in mind, it is important to find simple ways to continue the good habits we started or strengthened during Ramadan. Here are 3 easy-to-do habits that can help us receive blessings in our post-Ramadan lives:
FEED THE POOR
Feeding the poor and needy is an act that draws us closer to Allah. We earn His forgiveness, mercies and blessings through this act of charity.
“Anyone who looks after and works for a widow and a poor person is like a warrior fighting for Allah?s cause, or like a person who fasts during the day and prays all night. (Bukhari)
1. CONTINUE BUILDING OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE QUR’AN
As mentioned in Surah Al-Baqarah:
The month of Ramadan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion.. (2:185)
Ramadan holds its significance because it is the month in which the Qur’an was revealed. This is why many Muslims seek to strengthen their relationship with the Qur’an during this month by reciting it and studying its meaning.
Though Ramadan may have ended, we should not abandon our relationship with the Qur’an. After all, one of the best ways to build a relationship with Allah is to build a relationship with His Word. The recitation doesn’t have to be a major daily commitment. It can be as simple as reciting three verses a day or studying a few pages of tafseer a day.
When it comes to reciting the Qur’an, some people may be hesitant to do it because they may be slower readers or not as smooth in their Arabic recitation. Remember, Allah loves effort more than he loves perfection. In an authentic hadith, the Prophet (PBUH) said:
Narrated Aisha: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Such a person as recites the Qur’an and masters it by heart, will be with the noble righteous scribes (in Heaven). And such a person exerts himself to learn the Qur’an by heart, and recites it with great difficulty, will have a double reward.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari)
2. ENCOURAGE TWO PEOPLE A DAY
Kindness is one of the best forms of Islamic charity, and kindness can be as simple as a smile. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said in one famous hadith:
“Every good deed is charity. Verily, it is a good deed to meet your brother with a cheerful face, and to pour what is left from your bucket into the vessel of your brother.” (Tirmidhi)
The way we treat others is just as important as the traditional worship that we do (prayers, fasting, etc.). With that in mind, we should try to consciously be kind toward others because the rewards for kindness are many-fold. One habit that can really benefit us in the long-run is to encourage or uplift two people a day. This can be in the form of an encouraging text or a phone call, an uplifting word to a co-worker or a stranger we meet at the grocery store, or a friendly smile when we walk by someone.
READ MORE: After Ramadan: Keeping the Connection – Part 1
A smile may seem minute, but think of how you would feel if a stranger offered you a genuine smile when they walked by you. Chances are that you’d feel great, and that is what we can do to others through small acts of kindness.
Remember, you never know which good deed will be the one that allows us to enter Jannah, and even a small deed can have an immense reward when done with pure intentions. Encouraging others costs us nothing, but it can give us everything.
3. PLEDGE TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF MONETARY CHARITY ON THE WEEKLY OR DAILY BASIS
Abu Huraira reported: Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “Take up good deeds only as much as you are able, for the best deeds are those done regularly even if they are few.” (Ibn Majah)
The deeds Allah loves best are the small deeds that are done on the regular basis. Giving a dollar a day or fifty cents a day will not put a dent in most of our bank accounts; however, that small amount can change lives and reap us an immense reward if we do it with the right intention.
READ MORE: HONEY: Health Benefits of Honey In Islam
With Ramadan ending, it’s the best time to create good habits like these. One fantastic way to do this is to sponsor an orphan or a family. In regards to orphans, taking care of orphans and widows are two of the greatest forms of monetary charity, and there are countless hadiths about this. Thankfully, there are many Islamic charities that have set up systems to make sponsoring orphans a very convenient endeavor for us.
READ MORE: What Does Islam Teach About Justice?
I’d like to end by saying that anything good I said came from Allah. Anything I unintentionally said in error came from me, and I ask for your forgiveness if I said anything wrong.