Advice for Muslims

By Sheik Ahmad Al-Qattan, Kuwait

It is desirable for Muslims, during this holy month, to have a work program. The steps recommended for this program are as follows:

1.  One should return to God in true repentance to do so, one should give up committing sins, regret having committed them, and resolve never to commit them again

2. Every true Muslim should do good deeds in good faith he should never deny others their rights

3. A good Muslim should teach himself how to be patient for God’s Sake he should not use his organs of hearing and sight in doing something unlawful, nor should he take to lying or swearing

4. One should keep vigil in prayer, humbling oneself before God and contemplating the wisdom of creation

5. One should be keen on performing obligatory prayers in congregation

6. One should be interested in attending the first row in prayer and be there from its beginning

7. One should follow the Prophetic Traditions

8. One should offer regularly the Tarawih (Ramadan Night Supererogatory Prayer) it’s of 8 Rak`ahs at least and the Shaf` and Witr prayer (a confirmed traditional act of worship, offered in 3 units)

9. It’s recommended for a Muslim, if able, to invite one fasting person or more to have Iftar together

10. One should give to charity in this special month we should remember the poor or needy person every day

11. Paying visits to sick people, keeping ties of kinship, and attending funerals are all social duties of abundant rewards

12. One should be keen on reciting the words the Prophet used to praise God with in the early morning and before sunset, bearing in mind to remember God every time

13. One should adapt to reciting daily three Chapters (Sura’s) of the Glorious Koran, or at least one Chapter

14. It’s important to habituate oneself to offering two voluntary units of prayer each time one performs ablution

15. One should attend religious sessions learning something new about jurisprudence each day.

16. One should offer Duha Prayer regularly

17.  It’s important to memorise some verses of the Glorious Koran daily

18. One should learn by heart one or more Prophetic Sayings every day

19. One should read some simplified book on the biography of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, and another on subjects of belief

20. One should call others to believe in God, and draw their attention to the obligation of following God’s teachings and avoiding wrongdoing

21. Also in this blessed month, one should be extremely generous

22. One should, if able, perform `Umrah, for performing `Umrah during Ramadan is reckoned (in reward) as performing Hajj in the company of the Prophet himself, peace and blessings be upon him

23. On breaking fast, it is desirable for one to supplicate God using pithy expressions

24. One should seek to mediate between disputing people in an attempt to bring them to reconciliation

25. One should support Muslims in their fighting in the Cause of God

26. One should break fast soon after the sunset, and delay having the pre-dawn meal

27.  One should obey one’s parents if they are alive, and express gratitude to them, if they are dead, by praying for them and giving to charity in their favour

28. One should offer I`tikaf (spiritual retreat or seclusion in the mosque for the purpose of worship) during the last ten nights of Ramadan

29. One should perform the prayer of Eid ul-Fitr (End of Ramadan)

30. And one should be keen on fasting six days of the month of Shawwal (the month following Ramadan).