It is one of the blessings of Allah The Almighty upon the Muslims that He prescribed for them fasting the month of Ramadan. He made Ramadan an opportunity for the individual, family, and the whole society to seek perfection in faith, and improve their level of determination and morals to lead a happy life. In doing so, their hearts get closer to their Lord The Exalted, their faith deepens, their determination becomes stronger, and their commitment to Islam increases, so they enjoy the delights of the universe.
The Muslim family must set for itself a special program during Ramadan, that makes provisions for performing both types of righteous deeds: actions of the heart as well as external deeds, that meet the aspirations and hopes of the individuals in Ramadan.
First: The actions of the heart:
They are divided into two categories:
- Individual deeds performed by each person separately.
- Collective deeds which all family members cooperate to accomplish.
Examples of individual deeds:
1 – To specify a period of time during the day for contemplating the creation of Allah The Almighty, for such contemplation increases faith in the Power and Greatness of The Creator, love for Him, reliance upon Him and attachment to Him. This time interval varies from one person to another, each according to his circumstances.
2 – To specify a time to recite the Quran, as well as to make remembrance of Allah The Almighty, for the remembrance of Allah The Almighty revives the hearts as in the Hadeeth of Abu Moosa, may Allah be pleased with him: The Prophet, said “The similitude of the one who remembers his Lord and that the one who does not, is like the living and the dead person.” [Al-Bukhari]
Through remembrance, the heart finds tranquility; Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah. Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured.} [Quran13 : 28] The term remembrance comprises seeking forgiveness, supplications, reciting the authentic Athkaar, reciting the verses of the Quran, and so on. These actions can be done by each individual, according to his capacity and circumstances at any convenient place.
3 – To establish the prayer as soon as its time begins: it is one of the most beloved deeds to Allah The Almighty, according to the Hadeeth of ‘Abdullaah ibn Mas‘ood, may Allah be pleased with him, “I asked the Prophet ’Which deeds are the best?’ The Prophet, , said: ‘To perform the (daily compulsory) prayers at their (early) stated fixed times, to be good and dutiful to one's parents, and to participate in Jihaad for the sake of Allah.’” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
If Allah The Almighty loves the deed this means that He loves its doer, and so Allah The Almighty will increase his happiness; and the more one prays in congregation in the mosque, the more rewards he receives.
4 – To specify some time in the pre-dawn hours to perform a few Rak‘ahs (units of prayer) wherein one beseeches his Lord The Almighty, keeping in mind the verse (that means): {And from [part of] the night, pray with it as additional [worship] for you; it is expected that your Lord will resurrect you to a praised station} [Quran 17:79] One should realize with certainty in his heart that in the last third of the night, the divine Descent to the lowest heaven takes place.
- The collective deeds:
Most of the above-mentioned deeds can be performed collectively among the members of the family, depending on the circumstances of individuals, as the family gathering to perform acts of righteousness results in cooperation, intimacy, and tranquility.
Second: Practical behavioral deeds:
This means to take advantage of the power of faith and determination in Ramadan in order to adhere firmly to some basic Islamic ethics, including individual and collective deeds.
Some of the moral values that can be inculcated on an individual basis:
1 –Lowering one`s gaze from what Allah The Almighty has forbidden, as it trains a person to acquire piety and brings the sweetness of faith into the heart.
2 - Holding the tongue from backbiting, tale-bearing, mockery, lying, and so on. It was narrated on the authority of Sahl ibn Sa'd, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, , said: {Whoever can guarantee (the chastity of) what is between his two jaw-bones and what is between his two legs (i.e. his tongue and his private parts), I guarantee Paradise for him.” [Al-Bukhari] Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, said: The Messenger of Allah, , said: “Whoever does not give up false statements (i.e. telling lies), and evil deeds, and speaking bad words to others, Allah is not in need of his (fasting) leaving his food and drink.” [Al-Bukhari]
3 – Fulfilling one`s promise: as it saves time, efforts, and improves relations, Allah willing.
Collective deeds include:
1 – To endeavor to gather at the pre-dawn meal (Suhoor) and at the time of breaking the fast. This meeting serves to train family members on many of the values of Islam such as cooperation in serving the food and clearing the table, getting together in a friendly atmosphere around it, satisfaction with the provision of Allah The Almighty, saying 'Bismillaah' (in the Name of Allah) at the beginning of the meal and 'Alhamdulillaah' (all praise be to Allah) at the end, favoring others over oneself, not mentioning the defects of the food, remembering the poor, adhering to a sense of moderation, and maintaining appointments, and other such things.
2 – To participate in serving the community as it trains one to cooperate with the community, maintain positive interaction between its members, sincerity in working for the sake of Allah The Almighty, and calling others to Islam.
Serving the community is of many aspects, for example distributing basic provisions to the poor, feeding them, distributing the alms, hosting relatives, neighbors, colleagues and friends, or visiting them, or giving presents to them – all these things increase intimacy and solidarity, besides spreading the teachings of Islam.
The head of the family should sit with the other members and engage in a friendly discussion to share the views and proposals with each individual, and decide what they can do together. Such a dialogue encourages the family members to fulfill their goals without compulsion, as they are self motivated.
This meeting should be held on a weekly basis to follow up the implementation of the collective decisions that were agreed upon, to identify and amend the shortcomings, to encourage the actions which were performed successfully, and to maintain them as much as possible after the end of Ramadan.