Ramadan is Almost Here: 7 Things Every Muslim Should Do Before the Moon is Sighted
by Hadiza Abdulraheem
Most Muslims hope to make the most of Ramadan each year, but that usually depends on what is done before the month begins. Ramadan changes daily routines, priorities, and energy levels, so preparing in advance helps the month run more smoothly and allows worship to happen with less distraction. Here are seven simple things you can do now to make this Ramadan spiritually meaningful.
1. Prepare Your Heart with Sincere Intentions
Before anything else, sit quietly and ask yourself: What do I want from Allah this Ramadan? Write down your spiritual goals. Maybe you want to feel closer to Allah. Maybe you want to break a bad habit. Maybe you want to pray with more focus or heal your relationship with the Quran.
Be specific. Instead of “pray better,” write “learn the meanings of the surahs I recite” or “make dua after every salah.” Instead of “be kinder,” write “call my parents weekly to strengthen family ties.”
Make dua for these intentions now. Ask Allah to help you achieve them and to make this Ramadan a turning point in your life. Put these intentions somewhere you’ll see them daily—in your Quran, on your mirror, as your phone wallpaper. When Ramadan gets busy, they’ll remind you why you started.
2. Create a Space for Worship
Prepare a clean, quiet corner for prayer. This is where you’ll meet Allah for the next month. Make it comfortable—a prayer rug, good lighting, your Quran within reach.
Clean the distractions from your life too. Delete apps that waste your time. Unfollow accounts that pull you away from remembrance of Allah. Leave group chats that don’t benefit you spiritually.
Set boundaries with your phone. Turn off unnecessary notifications. Consider setting “prayer time” hours where your phone goes silent. The goal is to remove what pulls you away from Allah so you can focus on what brings you closer to Him.
3. Plan Your Time with the Quran
The Quran was revealed in Ramadan. This is the month to reconnect with Allah’s words.
Decide now how you’ll engage with it. Don’t just aim to finish—aim to understand. Even if you only read one page a day with translation and reflection, that’s better than racing through thirty without connection. Schedule your Quran time like you schedule prayer. After fajr when your mind is fresh? Before bed? Pick a time and stick to it.
If you want to complete the Quran, you’ll need about four pages after each prayer. But be realistic. Quality matters more than quantity. Start reading a little bit now. Don’t wait for Ramadan to begin your relationship with the Quran—warm up to it so you’re ready when the blessed month arrives.
4. Set Aside Money for Charity
Ramadan is the month of generosity. Plan your giving now so you’re not scrambling later.
Decide how much you can afford to give this month. Set it aside in a separate envelope or account. This could be for daily sadaqah, feeding people at iftar, helping those in need, or your zakat if it’s due. Also consider setting up automatic donations to causes you care about—orphanages, food banks, water well projects, supporting students of knowledge.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) was most generous in Ramadan. Follow his example by planning your charity in advance so giving becomes easy and consistent throughout the month.
5. Start Breaking Bad Habits Now
Don’t wait until Ramadan to quit bad habits. Start now.
If you gossip, practice guarding your tongue today. If you waste hours on social media, start limiting your time now. If you’re short-tempered, begin working on patience this week. Ramadan will be easier if you’ve already started the work. Use these days before Ramadan as training. When you enter the blessed month, you’ll already have momentum.
6. Prepare Your Body to Serve Your Spirit
Fasting is an act of worship, and your body needs to be ready for it.
Start eating suhoor-style meals now—something small before fajr. If you drink coffee, gradually reduce it so headaches don’t distract you from prayer.
Drink more water throughout the day. Start adjusting your sleep to wake before dawn. These small changes help your body adapt so you can focus on worship instead of discomfort. If you take medication or have health concerns, talk to your doctor now.
Remember: taking care of your body is part of preparing for ibadah. When your body is comfortable, your heart can focus on Allah.
7. Mend Your Relationships
You can’t enter Ramadan with a pure heart if it’s weighed down by grudges or broken relationships.
If you’ve wronged someone, apologize now. If someone has hurt you, consider forgiving them—not for their sake, but to free your own heart for worship.
Talk to your family about supporting each other spiritually this Ramadan. Maybe you can wake each other for tahajjud. Maybe you pray together more. Maybe you share what you’re learning from the Quran.
Tell the people around you—family, friends, coworkers—that you’ll need their support and understanding during Ramadan. When they know what you’re doing, they can help.
Most importantly, ask Allah for forgiveness for everything you’ve done wrong. Start this month with a clean slate and a heart ready to turn back to Him.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Take advantage of five before five: your youth before your old age, your health before your sickness, your wealth before your poverty, your free time before your preoccupation, and your life before your death.” (Al-Hakim)
Ramadan is a month of mercy, forgiveness, and closeness to Allah and this preparation is about preparing your heart to receive these blessings. Start now. Set your intentions, create space for worship, plan your Quran time, prepare your charity, begin breaking bad habits, care for your body, and heal your relationships.
May Allah accept your preparations and make this your best Ramadan yet.