Ramadan is a time to reflect, reset, and recalibrate habits and choices to align them to be more Allah-concious.
This Ramadan, focus more on becoming aware of how you are choosing your thoughts, words, reactions, and actions – are they just happening by default or are you really being Allah-concious in your choices in how you behave and respond to life irrespective of your circumstances?
As an ummah, we have collectively been through an intense traumatic time these past 17 months.
And in our personal lives too, many of us struggle with our relationships, finances, our spiritual connection, and our ability to diligently dedicate our time and resources towards the upliftment of our Islamic practices.
As we welcome this blessed month of Ramadan once again, we may benefit from some important self-reflective pondering.
One of the best ways is to become really honest with yourself and come clean about your thoughts and feelings in relation to your physical, emotional, mental, financial, and spiritual health.
Self-reflection enlightens the heart and mind. It brings about self-awareness and a personal reflection of one’s thoughts, feelings, emotions, values, beliefs, and deep intentions and a long hard critical analysis of all inherited paradigms of culture, religion, politics, and one’s perspectives on the meaning of life and death.
When we reflect on these things we become clearer on our life’s meaning and purpose, we become aware of what we fear, why we fear it, what limitations we have within ourselves or in our environment that affect the fears and insecurities we hold.
We also become aware of what potential solutions we could adopt to overcome these fears and insecurities.
Being honest with your own self and really admitting your own flaws and negative choices and being extra kind with yourself to work upon these flaws and negatives is how you develop good morals and character.
The following questions can prompt you to find your honest truth. You could do this exercise by journaling by yourself, or in the form of a conversation with a trusted friend or family member or even a professional counsellor.
Reflective questions to identify what really matters to you:
- What incidents come to mind where you felt really down but then Allah showed you a way to bounce back? What lessons came out of those incidents?
- Who are the people in your life (dead or alive) who inspire you to be a better Muslim? What about their habits and behaviours inspire or motivate you?
- Who are the people in your life who negatively impact your connection with Allah? What about their habits and behaviours put you off?
- Who are the people you are struggling to forgive? Why? How long do you want to feel this burden?
- Who are the people you need to seek forgiveness from? What’s stopping you?
- What can you do starting today to bring more quality in your relationship with Allah?
- What can you do starting today to bring a positive change to your physical, mental, emotional, financial, and spiritual health?
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