Marhaban yes Ramadan! It doesn’t feel right, thank God, now we can all feel the beauty of Ramadan again. A holy month, full of mercy, full of rewards, truly special and different than usual. Although many people consider Ramadan to be a month of ‘physical, mental and spiritual training’, I myself prefer to think of Ramadan as a month of struggle. It is like, if in 1 year there are 12 months, then to face Ramadan, we need to ‘practice’ during the previous 11 months so that we are really ready to face the real war against lust in this Ramadan.
Why so? Because I often observe people ‘suddenly’ becoming pious during Ramadan. In fact, maybe only 3 weeks early Ramadan, where the next Ramadan is back to normal. It’s like people who just go along with it. For example, the tarawih prayer prayer in the mosque, if at the beginning of Ramadan it is difficult to find empty rows, but the longer Ramadan lasts, the more advanced the prayer (less). Maybe even after Ramadan is over, you never think of going back to praying midnight prayers every day.
What if we haven’t prepared anything for this month of Ramadan? So, here I would like to write down 7 challenges that friends can do so that this Ramadan is more focused and challenging. The goal is for us to better interpret Ramadan with favors and hopefully this challenge will be continued in the following months to prepare for the next year’s Ramadan to be even better. Want to know what the challenges are?
- Make a Clear Ramadan Target
The quality of a person’s Ramadan, will be very much determined by the targets he sets. It’s actually the same as our life. Now, Ramadan is an extraordinary month, why don’t we set clear and challenging targets? As the Prophet said, ” Whoever performs worship on the night of the month of Ramadan because of faith and hopes for the pleasure of Allah, his sins that have been past are forgiven. “(Muttafaqun ‘Alaihi). So, it’s a shame if we don’t have a clear Ramadan target?
- Looking for Friends / Partners to Remind Each Other.
This is also important, namely friends who both want to make good and optimal use of this Ramadan. Look for friends who are compatible with us to share worship goals . The point is sharing, which then conducts an evaluation every night. I felt it was very beneficial when before Ramadan I did this to my friend. I shared my target records, and he did the opposite too. Every night before bed we evaluate each other. The impact is devastating!
- How Many Times Khatam? How Much Understanding?
This is related to one of the activities that are identical to the month of Ramadan, especially among the brothers or da’wah activists. Competing to memorize the Quran. However, as I have observed a lot (I love observing huh, hehe) we usually only focus on the quantity we read, regardless of the quality of our reading. Whether it’s tahsin, recitation, to understanding the verses we read. That’s why I often ask those who have been worried many times whether they understand what they are reading? It would be better if you prioritize quality as well as quantity at the same time.
Tips: After completing the recitation of the Quran, read and understand its meaning. Read the Quran which has a translation.
- The Phenomenon of Funny Fardhu and Tarawih Prayers
One time I prayed the dawn prayer in congregation in the mosque, there were only two shaf (even though the month of Ramadan). Similarly, the maghrib prayer, which is only 1 shaf, only then the evening prayer and tarawih of the congregation abound until they go out. I just want to remind, that the Prophet once said, “A blind man met the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam and said:” O Prophet sallallaahu’ alaihi wasallam, I really do not have a guide to guide me to walk to the mosque. Then he begged the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam to be given relief so that he can pray in his house. Then he shallallâhu ‘alaihi wasallam allow it. When the man turned to leave, he called him and asked: “Did you hear the call to prayer?” He replied: “Yes”. He also stated: “Then come!” .
The lesson is (especially for the brothers), that congregational prayer in a mosque is a very important practice, even blind people are ordered to come to it. There has been a history that suggests that if someone does not pray in the mosque, then their houses are burned (as a parable of how important congregational prayer in the mosque is compared to at home.
The funny phenomenon is, “why are there only so many tarawih prayers?”
So, the next challenge is always obligatory prayers in congregation at the mosque.
TIP: Straighten the mindset that actually obligatory prayers in congregation in mosques are much more important, and tarawih is one of the means of training for that. Starting today, make it a habit to pray in congregation at the mosque, on time.
- Alms, Wani Piro?
This is also a cool challenge in the month of Ramadan. How much is your target for alms per day? Since the month of Ramadan, try giving alms with a larger nominal. If usually sadaqah only used a machete (one thousand money), now you have to wear a cap (one hundred thousand money). But maybe it’s tough, just drop it off at least 10,000. Don’t you dare? Then Wani piro?
TIP : Almsgiving must be accompanied by two things, quality and quantity. Quality is sincerity in charity and righteous intentions, quantity is the amount of alms. Now is the era of competition, do not differentiate between quantity and quality. If we look at someone who gives big alms, we immediately think, “the important charity is the intention.” Yes, why don’t you try a large charity but with a good intention for the sake of Allah? :). Can you do that?
- Quran Memorization, How Much?
Ramadan is the right momentum to remind us how high the degree of a Quran memorizer is in the eyes of Allah. From Abu Hurairah he said, “The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) sent a delegation of many umlah, then the Prophet tested their memorization, then one by one he was told to read what had been memorized, then convey it to the youngest Companion, he asked,” What letter do you memorize He replied, “I memorized this letter..this letter..and the letter of Al Baqarah.” Did you really memorize the letter of Al Baqarah? ” The Prophet asked again. Shahabi replied, “True.” The Prophet said, “Go you and you are the leader of the delegation.” (HR. At-Turmudzi and An-Nasa’i). That’s just one priority, the other is “Actually, the Quran is the clear verses in the hearts of those who are given knowledge. And none denies Our revelations except the wrongdoers. ” (Surat al-Ankabut: 49)
Not just anyone can memorize the Quran, but every Quran memorizer that I met must have had a different ‘aura’ and its own charisma (* – *). How many verses do we memorize?
TIP : Try every fardhu prayer, after recitation of the Quran try to memorize 10-20 Quran verses. My experience is memorizing the Quran, it makes my mind sharper, I memorize lessons faster, and my heart becomes peaceful. :), a power and a taste that I can’t describe.
- What Benefits Can Be Spread?
Islam is rahmatan lil ‘alamin. Grace to all of nature. This means that Islam brings light, shares it, and makes people happy around it. So, there is an important message that our life is not just about me, me, and me if we are to be a gift to all of nature. In this month of Ramadan, what benefits do we want to give? Do you want to teach TPA? Want to hold a lightning boarding school? Want to hold a social service? or any other program?
TIP: A blessed and happy life is one when we are not only oriented towards ourselves, but also contribute to others. While Ramadan is just starting, please think about what programs we can provide (it doesn’t have to be big, it’s simple) to share the benefits around us. For example, I write articles for Ramadan. Hopefully this will be one of my main practices in spreading benefits to many people.
Those are 7 challenges that you can consider doing this Ramadan. But remember, these 7 challenges must also be done in the following months. If we want next year’s Ramadan to be better than our current Ramadan, we automatically have to prepare for the previous 11 months. Hopefully these 7 challenges can be a guide to remain optimal in worshiping to get closer to Him.
