My dear brother, my dear sister, imagine for a moment that a noble guest is on the road to your house. Would you leave your home dusty, disorganized, and unprepared? Of course No and what about the Blessed Ramadan? A guest so honored that Allah Himself announces his arrival. I think it is necessary that we discuss how to prepare for Ramadan so that we won’t move in unprepared and lose its rewards.
Preparation for Ramadan is not optional, it is itself an act of worship. The Salaf used to ask Allah for six months to allow them to reach Ramadan, and six months after to accept it from them. That tells you it’s something great, not a casual season.
Many Muslims fast during the days, stand some nights, and yet exit Ramadan the same way they entered it. May Allah guide us from this. Not because Ramadan failed, but because we failed to prepare for Ramadan properly. Ramadan does not magically change people. Rather, people who prepare allow Ramadan to change them.
For the one who asked how to prepare for Ramadan, it is upon him or her to start his or her preparation for Ramadan by learning its rulings, increasing in voluntary worship, and purifying his or her intention. His or her intention transforms his or her preparations into acts of worship, doing it all seeking Allah’s pleasure and to enable him or her to worship better.
How to prepare for Ramadan?
The month of Ramadan is a great month like others, but the month to intensify our worship more. Our Prophet ﷺ would intensify his worship in the month of Sha’ban, the month directly before Ramadan, as preparation for Ramadan. Before asking how to prepare for Ramadan, we must ask why. Why should you prepare for Ramadan at all? Allah answers this question clearly in the Qur’an:
“O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed upon you as it was prescribed upon those before you, so that you may attain taqwa.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:183)
Ramadan is not about hunger. It is not about food schedules, sleep routines, or even cultural iftar gatherings. All of those are secondary. The true purpose of Ramadan is taqwa (piety), an upright awareness of Allah to control your tongue, your eyes, your hands, and your heart from sins. This is why real preparation for Ramadan begins with the heart, not the stomach. The Prophet ﷺ warned us clearly:
“Whoever does not abandon false speech and acting upon it, Allah has no need of him abandoning his food and drink.” (Bukhari)
Our preparation for Ramadan is a form of Ibadah (worship) in itself. It signals to Allah our sincere desire and respect for His sacred time. This foresighted approach helps us overcome the initial sluggishness and dive straight into deep worship. This preparation for Ramadan will be divided into which we’ll discuss deeply in them…
1. Spiritual Preparation: Preparing Your Heart Before the Fast Begins
If someone were to ask me, “Shaykh, what is the most important part of how to prepare for Ramadan?” I would answer firstly with preparing your heart before your body. This is the axis upon which the entire Ramadan experience turns. At the center of this spiritual readiness is niyyah, a firm, clear, and sincere intention. The Prophet (ﷺ) said..
“Indeed, deeds are only by intentions, and every person will have only what they intended.” (Bukhari & Muslim)
Let us walk through the foundations of spiritual preparation from the Prophet ﷺ, the Salaf, and the scholars.
1. Perform Sincere Repentance (Tawbah) and Seek Forgiveness
The first step in preparation for Ramadan is not fasting, it is repentance. Turn to Allah, regret what has passed. Resolve to abandon the sin. Beg Allah not to return you to it. Allah says:
“And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed.” (Surah An-Nur 24:31)
A heart weighed down by sin struggles to taste the sweetness of worship. The scholars compared it to a dusty mirror that exists, but it does not reflect light. Sins extinguish the light of the heart, while repentance relights it. Ramadan’s light only shines fully in a heart that has been cleaned beforehand.
If you truly want to know how to prepare for Ramadan, begin by clearing the slate. Recall your shortcomings, and feel a genuine, piercing regret not just for major sins, but for the heedlessness that has hardened your heart. The sincere repentance itself is a form of worship that draws you closer to Allah even before Ramadan begins. It is the essential first step in your preparation for Ramadan.
2. Increase Your Voluntary Fasting in Sha‘ban
One of the clearest prophetic methods of preparation for Ramadan was fasting in Sha‘ban. Usamah ibn Zayd رضي الله عنه asked the Prophet ﷺ:
“O Messenger of Allah, I do not see you fasting in any month as much as you fast in Sha‘ban.”
He replied:
“That is a month people neglect between Rajab and Ramadan, and it is a month in which deeds are raised to the Lord of the worlds, and I love that my deeds be raised while I am fasting.” (An-Nasa’i, authenticated by Al-Albani)
Observing the voluntary fasting like Mondays and Thursdays, or the Ayam al-Beed (13th, 14th, 15th), does two powerful things. Firstly, it disciplines the body, making the transition into obligatory fasting (Ramadan) smoother. Secondly, it disciplines the soul, teaching patience, restraint, and sincerity before the pressure of Ramadan arrives.
Fasting before Ramadan is like warming up before prayer, it prepares both the limbs and the heart. Some who rush into Ramadan without this training might often feel overwhelmed. Those who prepare feel welcomed.
If you want Ramadan to feel like a reunion rather than a shock, follow the Sunnah. Train gently before the command becomes obligatory.
3. Revive Your Connection With the Qur’an
Ramadan is the month of the Qur’an but the Qur’an should not be a seasonal guest in your life. It is something we should read daily but it should be increased during Ramadan. Allah says:
“The month of Ramadan is the one in which the Qur’an was revealed, as guidance for mankind.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:185)
Many people ask how to prepare for Ramadan, yet they wait until the first night of Taraweeh to open the Mushaf. By then, the heart is rusty, the tongue is slow, and the mind is distracted. Start now. Even 15–20 minutes a day can transform your Ramadan into a great act of worship.
4. Make Earnest Du‘a (Supplication)
Never underestimate du‘a in your preparation for Ramadan. You may plan perfectly, but only Allah allows hearts to benefit. The Salaf used to beg Allah months in advance: “O Allah, allow us to reach Ramadan.” And after it ended, they would beg Him to accept it. A simple but powerful supplication is:
“Allahumma ballighna Ramadan.”
O Allah, allow us to reach Ramadan.
But do not stop there. Ask Allah for life, health, sincerity, focus, humility, and acceptance. Ask Him to help you restrain your tongue, guard your eyes, and soften your heart. When you begin with a sincere heart, a body trained in obedience, reading the Quran, and saying dua (supplication), you have laid the most perfect foundation. Then, and only then, will the sacred month find you ready, not just to fast, but to be transformed.
2. Practical & Physical Preparation For Ramadan
My dear brothers and sisters, Islam is a religion of order, balance, and intentional living. Just as the heart must be prepared, the body must also be aligned. When your daily affairs are in order, worship flows naturally instead of feeling forced. This form of preparation for Ramadan may look worldly on the surface, but in reality, it is a form of ‘ibadah because it removes obstacles between you and Allah.
1. Plan Your Schedule and Adjust Priorities
Take your calendar seriously. Look honestly at your daily commitments. Which ones are essential, and which ones can wait? If possible, negotiate flexible work hours, remote days, or lighter schedules. Reduce all your social activities and prioritize worship during this time. Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet ﷺ, ascended the pulpit and he said, “Amin, amin, amin.” It was said,
“O Messenger of Allah, you ascended the pulpit and said amin, amin, amin.” The Prophet said, “Verily, Gabriel came to me and he said: Whoever reaches the month of Ramadan and he is not forgiven, then he will enter Hellfire and Allah will cast him far away, so say amin. I said amin. (Sahih Ibn Hibbaan 907)
Whoever does not organize his time will find Ramadan slipping through his fingers. Time in Ramadan is more valuable than gold. If you are serious about preparation for Ramadan, treat your time as an amanah. The days will pass whether you plan or not. The question is what they will leave behind.
2. Prepare Your Body With Healthier Habits
Islam does not separate the body from worship. A weak body struggles to serve a strong heart. Gradually reduce food like caffeine, sugary drinks, and heavy meals before Ramadan begins. Many people suffer severe headaches and fatigue in the first few fasting days, not because fasting is hard, but because their bodies were shocked into change. The Prophet ﷺ encouraged moderation in eating, saying:
The son of Adam cannot fill a vessel worse than his stomach, as it is enough for him to take a few bites to straighten his back. If he cannot do it, then he may fill it with a third of his food, a third of his drink, and a third of his breath. (Tirmidhi, authenticated by Al-Albani)
Train your body gently. Eat lighter dinners. Sleep earlier. These adjustments may seem small, but they have a massive impact on your focus in salah and your patience while fasting. Know that neglecting the body leads to weakness in worship. Physical preparation is not a luxury, it is a strategy to facilitate worship.
3. Organize Your Food and Meals
Ramadan was not meant to turn kitchens into battlefields or iftar into competitions. Plan simple, nutritious meals and healthy food for suhoor and iftar. Stock your food store early so you are not wasting precious Ramadan hours shopping or stressing.
The goal is not preparing food like a party, just something to sustain the worship and give to others. When iftar becomes heavy, worship becomes lazy. When meals are simple, hearts remain alert. Remember that the Prophet ﷺ often broke his fast with dates and water. Effective preparation for Ramadan means spending less time cooking and more time connecting with Allah, with the Qur’an, and with your family.
4. Set Your Worship Goals
Intentions guide the heart, but goals guide action. Instead of vague resolutions like “I want to worship more,” be specific. Know your goals. Clarity brings consistency. For example:
- “I will complete one full recitation of the Qur’an by reading one juz daily.”
- “I will pray extra prayers consistently, even if it is at home.”
- “I will give a fixed amount in charity every Friday of Ramadan.”
- “I will memorize one short surah this Ramadan.”
Make your goals realistic, measurable, and sincere. Overloading leads to burnout. Consistency leads to transformation.
3. Social & Communal Preparation: Strengthening the Bonds of Brotherhood and Sisterhood
My dear brothers and sisters, Islam was never meant to be lived in isolation. Ramadan, in particular, is not only a personal journey, but it is a collective revival. When Allah legislated fasting, He addressed the believers as a community, not as scattered individuals. This is why part of how to prepare for Ramadan is repairing hearts between people, not only the heart within yourself.
1. Reconcile and Mend Relationships
Begin Ramadan with a clean heart toward Allah and a clean heart toward people. Look honestly at your relationships. Is there resentment you have been carrying? A family member you avoid? A friend you cut off out of pride? Ramadan is not the month to carry grudges; it is the month to drop them. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The gates of Paradise are opened on Mondays and Thursdays, and every servant who does not associate anything with Allah is forgiven except for a man who has enmity between him and his brother. It is said: Delay these two until they reconcile.” (Muslim)
Your action step in this preparation for Ramadan is this: Look around your relatives, friends, and family. Is there a relative I have not called in a while? A friend I have wronged with my tongue? A neighbor I have neglected? Then, with courage and humility, reach out. A simple message: “As Ramadan approaches, I wanted to clear my heart and seek your forgiveness for any wrong I may have done.”
You are not seeking their reciprocation; you are seeking the pleasure of Allah by removing a barrier that blocks His mercy. Reach out. Send the message. Make the call. Apologize even if you think you were right. Strength lies in humility, not dominance. A fasting person whose heart is heavy with grudges finds worship difficult and du‘a slow to rise.
2. Plan for Family Iftars and Community Service
Ramadan revives generosity. It teaches us to think beyond ourselves. Plan at least one simple family iftar, not extravagant, not exhausting, but just a gathering where hearts connect. And if you are blessed, you can make more for people. Beyond the home, look outward. Reach local mosques, Islamic centers and volunteer to pack food, distribute meals, or support iftar programs. Even small acts carry enormous weight. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever feeds a fasting person will have a reward like his, without decreasing the reward of the fasting person at all.” (Tirmidhi, authenticated by Al-Albani)
This reward applies even if you feed someone a date or a sip of water. Ramadan turns ordinary kindness into an extraordinary reward. Part of effective preparation for Ramadan is deciding in advance how you will serve others. Charity planned is charity sustained. Service in Ramadan purifies wealth, softens hearts, and unites the Ummah. The effort might be minimal, but the reward is eternal.
3. Educate and Involve Children
If we want Ramadan to live beyond us, we must plant it in the hearts of our children. Do not wait for them to grow up. Start now. Explain why Muslims fast, not just that they fast. Youth are easier to guide than hearts repaired in adulthood.
Tell them stories around Ramadan, tell them about the gates of Paradise hanging open, the devils being chained, and the night that is better than a thousand months. Share the blessings, the mercy, the excitement of the moon sighting. When children associate Ramadan with warmth and meaning, not stress and hunger, they grow into adults who honor it willingly. This, too, is preparation for Ramadan, not just for this year, but for generations.
When relationships are mended, generosity flows, and children are nurtured, Ramadan becomes more than fasting. It becomes a shared transformation.
As Ramadan draws near, remember this, my dear brother and sister, that how to prepare for Ramadan is not about perfection, but about direction and preparation. Every sincere step you take in repenting, planning, reconciling, and returning to Allah is already counted as worship. Preparation for Ramadan is the doorway through which a transformed Ramadan enters.
Begin where you are. Start with sincere repentance. Start reading the Qur’an today. Start mending your relationship. For Allah loves those consistent deeds, even if small.
May this Ramadan not be just another month in our lives, but a turning point in our hearts. May Allah allow us to reach Ramadan with sound faith and good health. May He forgive us our sins and bless us in the world and the hereafter. Allahumma ballighna Ramadan. Aameen.
