Ramadan is not just about fasting. It is a month to focus on Ibadah and deepen your connection with Allah. For 30 days, your routine shifts, your heart softens, and your spirit renews.
If you have ever struggled to make good habits stick, this is your moment. The environment is perfect, and your spiritual motivation is at its peak. Think of this month as a ‘training camp’ for the soul.
Why Ramadan Is the Best Time to Build Habits
Ramadan gives you 30 days of consistent practice. During this month:
- Spiritual Support: The Shaytan are locked, making it easier to resist bad urges.
Allah’s Messangert ﷺ said: When the month of Ramadan comes, the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of the (Hell) Fire are closed, and the devils are chained. [Sahih al-Bukhari 1899, Sahih Muslim 1079]
- Multiplied Rewards: Every good deed carries more weight, providing massive spiritual motivation to stay consistent.
- Stronger Intentions: Your Niyyah (intention) is already set for the sake of Allah, creating a rock-solid foundation for change.
- Fixed Routine: Your eating and sleeping schedules are disciplined.
- Community Support: The collective energy of the Ummah fasting together makes discipline feel natural rather than lonely.
Let’s explore the powerful habits you can focus on building this Ramadan to reshape your life.
Habit 1: Reading Quran Regularly
Ramadan is the month of the Quran. Instead of just “finishing” it, focus on building a sustainable bond. The goal is to make the Quran a daily companion that stays with you long after the moon sets on Eid.
- Build the habit: Read a small amount after every Fard prayer. Consistency is more beloved to Allah than a one-time burst of effort. You can use the Planner feature of Al Quran app to schedule your sessions. Also keep your momentum high by tracking Streaks and earning Badges to celebrate your progress.
- Beyond Ramadan: Don’t let your connection fade once the blessed month ends. Aim for at least one page daily to keep the light of the Quran in your life. Our app’s Streak feature is specifically designed to help you stay disciplined and transform a 30-day practice into a lifelong habit.
Habit 2: Learning to Have Taqwa
Fasting is a training ground for Taqwa, the constant awareness of Allah. In Ramadan, you refrain from Halal food solely because you know Allah is watching. Apply this same logic to the rest of your life.
- The Practical Shift: Before you speak, act, or click, ask yourself: “Will Allah be pleased with this?” If the answer is yes, proceed; otherwise, leave the act to please Allah. This is how you practise true Taqwa.
- The Habit: Just as you check the clock for Iftar, check your intentions throughout the day. This mindfulness turns your entire day into an act of worship.
Habit 3: Being in Touch with the Community
Islam is a faith of brotherhood. Ramadan pulls us out of our individual bubbles and into the Masjid to connect with the community, reminding us that we are part of something much larger than ourselves.
- Action: Make it a priority to attend Taraweeh and spend more time at the Masjid. Use this time not just for prayer, but to sincerely meet your brothers and reconnect with the community.
- The Goal: Build relationships that encourage you to be better. A community that prays together, stays together. When you surround yourself with those who love Allah, staying on the right path becomes much easier.
Habit 4: Digital Detox
Your Taqwa should extend to your screen. Constant social media consumption clutters the mind and distracts the heart from what truly matters.
- The Strategy: Use Ramadan as a reason to reduce mindless scrolling. High social media consumption often leads to comparison, gossip, and a shorter attention span for prayer.
- A Better Way: When you feel the urge to check your phone, redirect that habit to apps that benefit your soul, like Sadiq.
- Protect Your Gaze: For a cleaner digital experience, we recommend using Kahf Guard to filter out distractions and harmful content, allowing your heart to remain in a state of Dhikr.
Habit 5: Treating the Body as an Amanah (Trust)
Your body is a trust (Amanah) from Allah. Use this month to reset your relationship with food and health.
- Mindful Eating: Choose nutritious, Halal, and Tayyib (pure) foods. Avoid the “food coma” caused by heavy, fried Iftars. When you eat light and healthy, you have more energy for Taraweeh and Tahajjud.
- Movement: Light physical activity, like walking to the Masjid or a 15-minute stroll after Taraweeh, honors your body’s design and gives you the energy to stand in prayer without lethargy.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
إِنَّ لِجَسَدِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا
Indeed your body has a right over you. [Sahih al-Bukhari 5199]
Habit 6: Memorising the Quran
Ramadan is the month of the Quran, the best time to connect with it on a deeper level. Increase your recitation daily, refine your Tajweed, and challenge yourself to memorise new Surahs.
- The Taraweeh Motivator: Listening to the Imam’s beautiful recitation in Taraweeh softens the heart and inspires us. Imagine how powerful your own prayer will feel when you can recite Allah’s words with that same beauty and confidence.
- Deepen Your Prayer: Memorizing new Surahs directly improves your Khushu (focus). Instead of repeating the same short Surahs out of habit, you will find yourself more focused and present in every Salah.
- Tech Support: We recommend using Tarteel. Its AI-powered feedback helps correct your recitation and speeds up your memorization.
Habit 7: Be Comfortable with Boredom
In a world that fears boredom, the believer finds peace in it. We are often “busy” just to avoid being alone with our thoughts. Ramadan is the perfect time to slow down and embrace the quiet.
- The Concept: Dedicate time before or after Fajr, and before Maghrib for your Morning and Evening Adhkar. Put the phone away and sit in silence alone for sometimes to think and connect your Robb (Allah). Itikaf could be a great way to practice this.
- Why Boredom Matters: In the silence of boredom, your heart finds space to reflect, repent, and find tranquility. Peace isn’t found in a loud world; it is found in a quiet heart.
Allah says,
أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ
Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest. [Surah Ar-Ra’d 13:28]
How to Make These Habits Last after Ramadan
- Start small: Don’t try to change everything overnight.
- Be consistent: Little by little is better than all at once.
- Focus on quality: It’s about the heart, not just the numbers.
- Keep at least 3 habits: Choose three favorites to carry into the rest of the year.
- Make Du’a: Ask Allah for Istiqamah (steadfastness).
You can also follow these tips to hold Ramadan spirit after it ends.
Conclusion
Ramadan is not meant to change you for 30 days. It is meant to change you for life. Build these good habits and avoid the bad ones. Even if you keep half of them after Ramadan, your year will be different.
May Allah allow us to do more good deeds in Ramadan, and make us steadfast in keeping the Ramadan spirit throughout the year. Ameen.
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