_“School is very stressful. I’m always too tired.”_
_“I have a lot of work to do. I can barely squeeze out time to do anything else!”_
_“As the head of this sector, I am always so busy organising those working under me that I barely have time to organise myself.”_
On and on the list goes, with a whole bunch of excuses for not being able to perform other acts of Ibadah during Ramadan expect the compulsory one: *The Fast.*
The fact is, no matter the kind of work you do, you don’t have an excuse. Whether you’re the head or the assistant, the student or the lecturer, it doesn’t really matter. You cannot not slide through the whole month of Ramadan with the only achievement of “I fasted”.
My dear, millions of people around the world fasted.
Fasting is the major obligation in Ramadan, sure. However, we should remember the other obligation that is not limited to Ramadan alone, Solah. It’s as necessary as eating: it’s like the food for your soul. Why in the world would you give up the chance to connect with the One Who gave you life because you’re busy typing computers?
Let’s move away from Solah. There are people who, no matter what, will never skip it. Alhamdulillah for you. But in the month of Ramadan I have to tell you, it’s not enough.
This month is when the best of all Books was revealed by the Best of all Bests. In this month you are expected to finish this Book. But even if you can’t finish it, you cannot not open the Book at all.
_”But how?!”_ You will ask. _”I need to earn a living. I need to pass my exams. They are also important!”_
Of course they are. But like a timetable, you need to organise your daily activities in such a way that there’s still time for other acts of Ibadah except Fasting and Solah.
For example, Al-Qur’an has 30 juz. You could read one juz per day (four pages after every solah) and finish it in a month, and you could read more if you have the time and the ability. If that’s too much, Go for two pages after solah. This means you won’t finish the Qur’an, but you will at least feel It’s light in your heart.
If you still can’t do that, make it a page per Solah. And if that’s still too much, make it a page per day. Whichever one you choose, just do not let a day go by without you opening The Book that holds the regulations for the whole of mankind!
You could read it immediately you wake up, or immediately you get home, after Sahuur or after Iftar, in the bus on your way home or while waiting in the traffic. Whatever and whenever, just make sure you READ! Because trust me, on the Day of Judgment, when you see the rewards of those who did read, you will blame yourself over and over. But by then, it will be too late.
“Read the Qur’an, for it will come as an intercessor for its reciters on the Day of Resurrection” – Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
