This is the final chapter in the Beginner's Guide on Fasting.

We began the guide by explaining what fasting (sawm) meant and why Allah commanded us to perform this act of worship during Ramadan.

Ramadan is a great opportunity to build a stronger bond with Allah (SWT) by increasing in worship, prayers and reflection over His Words. 

It is an incubator that facilitates spiritual growth, resolve to a higher self, and increased knowledge of this religion. As much as we hate to see this blessed month pass, we must make sincere dua that Allah (SWT) allows us to live to witness the next one.

Many of us are able to stop bad habits and replace them with good ones during this beautiful month of forgiveness. However, many of us also struggle to maintain our increased good habits after the “high” of Ramadan passes. Despite the month coming to an end, we can still keep up the momentum.

The same Lord of Ramadan is the same Lord of every other month. Find comfort in Allah (SWT) by cultivating your relationship with Him and increasing in many optional acts of worship.

Fasting is a very special type of worship which you can do outside of Ramadan, whether it be on Mondays and Thursdays, the three white days, and more, as we covered in Chapter XX. There is ample opportunity to attain extra rewards all year long.

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said:

So for those who need to make up days from Ramadan, it is highly recommended to make them up right away, then follow them up with the sunnah of fasting six days in the month of Shawwal.

Keep up your recitation, reading, memorization and reflection of the Qur’an! Don’t let a day pass by you without reciting the Speech of Allah (SWT). It is a Book that only contains virtue; it honors its reciters, intercedes for its companions and blesses those who learn and teach it. What better way is there to draw closer to Allah (SWT) than by His Perfect Speech?

Our Prophet (pbuh) said:

Making dua isn’t exclusive to Ramadan, nor are the supplications that are recommended to use during it. The Prophet (pbuh) said: “Verily your Lord is Generous and Shy. If His servant raises his hands to Him (in supplication) He becomes shy to return them empty.” [Tirmidhi]

Rely on Allah (SWT) for all your affairs. Indeed, dua is the weapon of the believer!

Increase in supererogatory prayers outside of Ramadan. We have another free guide that teaches how to pray salah correctly that you can check out.

Value your private conversations with Allah (SWT) and take advantage of the last third of the night.

The Prophet (pbuh) said: “Our Lord, may He be blessed and exalted, comes down to the lowest heaven every night when the last third of the night is left, and He says: ‘Who will call upon Me, that I may answer him? Who will ask of Me, that I may give him? Who will ask Me for forgiveness, that I may forgive him?’” [Saheeh Bukhari & Muslim]

Anything you can do during Ramadan can be done outside of it. You may be restricted in time but never forget that habits are built through repetition. 

It’s not about how much you do, it’s about being able to do something. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, “Take up good deeds only as much as you are able, for the best deeds are those done regularly even if they are few.” (Sunan Ibn Majah 4240)

Don’t overwhelm yourself. Pick a routine that works for you.

May Allah bless us all to witness Ramadan this year, next year, and for many more years to come.