Ramadhan Goals....

are not something I've been that big on making in recent years...
Perhaps it's been the move to Algeria, perhaps it's because Ramadhan seems to have an easier flow here than it did in the UK. To be honest I don't really know why I fell out of the habit of prepping myself for ramadhan and having a clear focus and some sort of game plan... but I did, and now I feel ready to get back on track.

Personally speaking the last couple of ramadhan experiences have been my best in terms Ibadah. I spent alot of time reading my mushaf and ALOT of time in the masjid mashallah and really felt that I had conquered some bad habits and adopted some good ones.

And so this year I've been thinking about some more far reaching goals I'd like to achieve inshallah.
A friend of mine did a series of Ramadhan posts last year that I enjoyed ALOT...  so I'm knicking her idea of listing my goals and doing a  weekly review of my progress...

So here's my list inshallah...

• Read My Qur'an:

 I actually did fairly well with this one last year. I had intended to read my mushaf twice, but in fact I only managed it once... which was a good achievement in itself mashallah but this year i'd like to try and manage to get through it twice if I can.

• Pray On Time:

This one I have to admit is sometimes a bit challenging in a house with so many people demanding so much time and attention.
Last year I did well but this year I want to do better, and I need to learn to push everything aside when the adhan calls and just get on with praying regardless of what's going on around me. Which means ignoring the children (to the best of my ability) turning off the stove, switching off the phone and making Salat my priority inshallah.

• Pray Sunnah Salawat:

This is always my biggest failure. Aside from taraweh I never seem to find the time to engage in  extra salat during the day. This year I want this to change especially, and more than that I want it to be the start of a good habit I can continue outside of Ramadhan.

• Be More Mindful Of How I Spend My Time:

I am without doubt a consummate time waster... I do it to perfection. I am by nature lazy and I have to force myself at every turn not to just veg out and do nothing... so finding ways to combat that and spend my time productively may be one of my bigger challenges this year.

• Blog Ramadhan:

Internet allowing I'd like to find the time to blog this years ramadhan. I'm having trouble with a dying PC and it may be a picture-less one but I'd still like to share as much as I can inshallah.

I don't know if I could manage a daily post as things get quite frantic around here and the schedule this year is already looking a bit tight, but I'll try.

• Learn Some Qur'an:

This is another biggie for me... I can't actually remember the last time I actively tried to memorise a new surah, so if I manage even one this Ramadhan it will be nothing short of a minor miracle.

• Memorise Some Du'aat:

Again, a weak area for me... and anyone that know my own short term memory problems will understand where I come from !

I aiming at one new dua per week... I may have to shift this particular goalpost a bit....

• Be More Active In Making Dua:

Alot of people need our prayers out there this year. There is alot of suffering in the Ummah... Last year at least two of my biggest and consistent dua's were answered and I need to be more pro-active in this area.

To be honest I have issues with making personal dua... I think it's a guilt thing, and it's something I need to get over. 

• Eat Moderately:

This one is easier for me... I've been dieting for a couple of months already and lost over 2st already, so I'm pretty confident I can approach the Iftar suffrah with some modesty and reserve... 

• Be T.V Free:

This again is a pretty easy one for me... Ramadhan comes in and the T.V goes off...

Apart from news and religious programmes my tribe doesn't get to indulge in any kind of T.V time...

They don't like it, but it's too much of a distraction and quite honestly a waste of time. I just wish we could manage to keep this one up outside of ramadhan....

And there you have it... I think it's a modest set of goals... 

Perfectly do-able if approached in the right frame of mind and correct Niyyah...

And now I have to go and prep for tomorrow inshallah... I have to make Brioche and Barley bread for tomorrows suhoor, and there are last minute cleaning jobs and crafting going on here... it's all systems go for a month of deep spiritual cleansing inshallah....

May Allah ta'ala accept all of your fasts and guide you rightly, ameen