Have you ever wondered why there is such emphasis on the Quran during the month of Ramadan? When asked by non-Muslim friends, neighbors, family or co-workers, we tend to introduce Ramadan as the month of fasting, and for sure, fasting is very important! It is one of the five pillars of Islam to fast during the month of Ramadan. And yet, the only place in the Quran where the word “Ramadan” is directly mentioned talks about the Quran first:

شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَىٰ وَالْفُرْقَانِ

“The month of Ramadan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:185)

Let’s honor this ayah (verse) this year and try our best to connect with the Quran rather than just displaying it on a nice shelf or passively listening to it while we cook or during Taraweeh insha’Allah. Here are 5 steps to make that happen insha’Allah!

Step #1: Read!

Build a daily habit of Quran reading (in Arabic) from now – don’t wait until Ramadan is here! Sometimes we are tempted to think that delaying a good deed will give us more time to prepare for it, to make it “perfect.” Or we think that waiting until that “perfect” day, that “perfect” time is better. This is a trick of Shaytaan – or of our own nafs (lower self) sometimes. If we don’t read the Quran throughout the year, we can’t expect that we will miraculously read it during Ramadan. And even if some people have this ability because they can fluently read Arabic, neglecting the Quran the rest of the year is never a good habit to have and will surely impact our faith in ways that we cannot necessarily see. The best time to start reading the Quran on a daily basis is NOW, even if it is just one ayah a day at the beginning. Don’t wait for Ramadan – no one even knows who will live until Ramadan, let alone complete this blessed month. In fact, the companions of the Prophetﷺ used to pray to Allah to let them reach Ramadan of the next year. May Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى protect us all and allow us to witness this blessed month once more in its entirety, Ameen.

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Step #2: Understand

As you work on your reading skills, make sure to also start working on your understanding of the Quran, especially if Arabic is completely new to you. Every day, read a part of the translation, explanation and context of revelation for at least one ayah of the Quran. By taking this kind of small but consistent step, you will allow yourself to start building a true relationship with the Book of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى, and Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى will open your heart to its content insha’Allah.

Step #3: Dig deeper

Attend or actively listen to a Quranic halaqah (learning circle) at least once a week. Make sure to take notes and review these notes the following day to give yourself a chance to retain the information and reflect upon it: what do these ayaat (verses) or this Quranic story mean to you? How can you apply these lessons and tips in your life to become a better servant of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى? Once you take time to dig deeper into the meaning of the words of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى and how they apply to your life, you will start to unlock the sweetness of the Quran and appreciate it even more insha’Allah. It will become a dear friend that you look forward to not only meeting regularly but also getting to know better and listening to its great pieces of advice and wisdom.

Step #4: Live it

The Quran is not something that Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى sent us to just recite, find a translation, put back on a shelf and then go on with our lives as we would with a good novel. The Quran is a blueprint, a guide, a compass to help us live our lives in the best of ways that is pleasing to Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى so that we can enter Paradise insha’Allah. Reading the Quran is an amazing deed not to be diminished in any way. Finding ways to understand its meaning and context and stories is even better. Now your next step is to actually put what you have learnt into practice in your own life.

Step #5: Share in the khayr (goodness)

As much as possible, while being realistic with everyone’s schedules, responsibilities and needs, try to implement these changes with your child, your spouse, other members of your household or with your closest friends. Make it a fun bonding time during which everyone gets a chance to share and feel a part of the group, no matter what their level of knowledge or background is. If you have family members who are really dragging their feet to those moments, despite all your efforts to make it a fun time for them, remember that, at the end of the day, seeing you interact with the Book of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى more and witnessing the positive impact it has on your life will speak for itself and might influence them to follow your path insha’Allah.

May Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى allow us to reach the month of the Quran and make the most of it, ameen!

For more Ramadan resources, free downloads and other tips, visit our dedicated page at studioarabiya.com/lp/ramadan

This article was originally published in our Studio Arabiya Times magazine (Spring 2023). CLICK HERE to read the whole magazine!