Is Your Heart Prepared for Ramadan?

During the winter months, when I was working full-time as a teacher, my husband would always remind me: “Warm up the engine before you drive. It needs time to prepare for the journey ahead.”

As I stepped out into the cold, lunch in one hand and my bag in the other, I'd reluctantly take a moment to start the car and let the engine warm up before driving off.

At the time, I was too busy to fully grasp the importance of his advice.

Now, as I reflect, I realise it was a simple yet necessary step to ensure the car ran smoothly. This little moment of preparation ensured everything functioned as it should.

And as I think about it now, I realise that it’s much like the importance of preparation in our own lives - especially as we prepare to welcome the blessed month of Ramadan in just a few weeks.

Just as a car engine needs to be warmed up before it’s ready to drive, our hearts need time to prepare for Ramadan.

We often expect that when the month begins, we’ll automatically become more focused and devoted: fasting with sincerity, reciting the Quran, and praying Tahajjud in the quiet of the night.

But in reality, our hearts need time to prepare. They need time to settle, adjust, and ready themselves for the journey ahead.

That’s where the month of Sha’baan comes in. This sacred month is just around the corner, and will begin in a just a few days.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “Sha'baan is a month that people neglect between Rajab and Ramadan. It is the month in which deeds are raised to the Lord of the Worlds, and I would love for my deeds to be raised while I am fasting.” (Sunan an-Nasa'i: 2356)

Subhan’Allah.

The Prophet ﷺ described Sha’baan as the time when our deeds are raised to Allah ﷻ. It was during this month that he ﷺ would prepare himself mentally and physically for Ramadan: engaging in extra acts of worship, fasting, and reciting the Quran.

Yet, how often do we overlook this opportunity?

It’s easy to understand why the Prophet ﷺ referred to Sha’baan as "a neglected month." Instead of focusing on our hearts, we often get lost in the details: cooking schedules, freezer meals, and planning suhoors and iftars to the last minute. In all that preparation, we sometimes forget to plan for what truly matters: the state of our hearts.

Sha’baan is the month of preparation.

Think of it like the soil before a harvest: the earth needs time to be nourished before it can bloom. In the same way, Sha’baan offers us the chance to nourish our hearts and prepare them for the month of Ramadan.

Here are 3 simple steps to prepare for Ramadan from now:

1. Make up missed fasts: Missed fasts from last Ramadan are a debt to Allah ﷻ. Use the month of Sha'baan to repay them, and if you are fasting voluntarily, combine your intention with the blessings of this month, so you can earn extra rewards insha'Allah.

2. Make thikr as often as you can: The deeds of Sha’baan are raised to Allah ﷻ, so fill these days with His remembrance.

3. Refine your recitation: The Quran deserves to be recited with beauty and precision. Sha'baan is the perfect time to work on your Tajweed, so you can approach Ramadan with smooth and more confident recitation. By starting now, even with just a few verses a day, you'll find it easier to connect deeply with the Quran throughout the blessed month.

And if improving your recitation feels daunting, my course Tajweed Made Easy simplifies everything. It breaks Tajweed into manageable, visual steps, helping you recite with clarity and confidence, insha'Allah. This isn't just about rules… it's about transforming your relationship with the Quran in preparation for the blessed month.

We all long for a Ramadan filled with Quran, dua, and worship, but it doesn't happen on its own. It starts with the small, consistent habits we build today. Take a moment to reflect from now: How will you prepare your heart in advance, for when this blessed month arrives?

May Allah ﷻ bless these upcoming days of Sha'baan for you and grant us all the blessing of witnessing Ramadan, Ameen!

Speak to you all soon insha’Allah! :-)

في أمان الله
(I leave you in the protection of Allah),

Tajweed Tip of the Fortnight 
The Madd: When you see a small wavy line (~) or the letters of Madd (ا, و, or ي) in the Quran, it indicates that you need to lengthen the sound for 2, 4, or 6 counts, depending on the type of Madd.

When reciting the Quran, it’s essential to lengthen the Madd by the correct count as it enhances the beautiful, melodic flow of Allah ﷻ’s Words.

Whenever you're ready, there are 3 ways I can help you: 

1. Learn to Read the Quran in Two Hours: My self-paced course guides you step-by-step to reading the Quran confidently from scratch in just two hours. Perfect for reverts, beginners, and non-Arabic speakers. Join the growing community of students who have started their Quran reading journey.

2. Tajweed Made Easy: Master the essential Tajweed rules with my visual self-paced course, designed for even the absolute beginner. Perfect for improving and beautifying your Quran recitation and connecting deeply to the Words of Allah ﷻ. Join 200+ students transforming their recitation today!

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