When is Ramadan 2023?
Based on the many announcements, the first day of Ramadan will be on Thursday, March 23, 2023, insha’Allah. According to the Shura Council website, “The Astronomical New Moon will be on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, at 17:23 Universal Time. On that day, there is no place on earth where at sunset the elongation is 8 degrees and moon is 5 degrees above the sun.” As the moon won’t be able to be sighted on the evening of March 21st, the first day of Ramadan can’t be on March 22nd. Therefore, Ramadan 2023 is expected to start on March 23, 2023.
Although each year, Ramadan may seem the same. Let’s ensure that Ramadan 2023 is different in some ways to help us make it work for us more. Here are some of the ways we can make it different.
(Before start of Ramadan, make sure you get your Dua book at this link here.)
We should thank Allah
First, we should thank Allah for all that He has provided to us and our families. While it can be quite easy to focus on the negatives, we should strive to constantly remind ourselves of all the blessings that we are blessed with and enjoy. Gratitude (shukr) is highly valued and is considered to be a fundamental aspect of our faith. We are encouraged to recognize and appreciate the blessings and favors that Allah has bestowed upon us, and to express our gratitude through various means.
Thanking Allah can also help us to cultivate a sense of humility and a recognition of one’s own limitations. By acknowledging that all good things come from Allah, we are reminded that we are not in any way in control of our destiny and rather are dependent upon Allah for everything.
Let’s also not forget that shukr can be the reason and a means of increasing our blessings and rizq. The Quran states, “And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, ‘If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.'” (14:7). By expressing gratitude for what we have, we can thus attract more blessings and opportunities into our lives for years to come.
Let’s make the Ramadan of 2023 as the year of Taubah (Repentance)
As human beings, we have lots of sins in our record and unfortunately they are increasing constantly. For some of us, it’s worse than others. The only hope that we have to expunge our accumulated sins is to ask Allah for His mercy and to make Taubah to Him with a sincere heart.
Taubah (repentance) provides us a way to turn back to Allah seeking forgiveness for our sins. As Muslims, we believe that human beings are inherently fallible and may sometimes commit mistakes or engage in sinful behavior. However, Islamic teachings tell us that Allah is merciful and forgiving, and that it is never too late to repent and seek forgiveness. So, this Ramadan let’s make Taubah to Allah. In order for our repentance to be accepted, we should first acknowledge and feel remorse for our actions. Secondly, we must stop engaging in any sinful behavior and make a firm commitment to avoid it in the future. Finally, let’s make a resolve to make amends for any harm caused by our actions.
As Muslims, we are encouraged to make repentance a regular part of our spiritual practice, as a means of seeking Allah’s forgiveness and improving our character. The Quran emphasizes the importance of repentance, stating that “All?h loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves.” (2:222). In addition, Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) is reported to have said, “All human beings are sinners, but the best of sinners are those who repent” (Sunan Ibn Majah). Let’s not forget that sincere repentance and seeking Allah’s forgiveness can lead us to spiritual purification and provide us with a renewed sense of purpose in life.
For a number of us, 2023 could be our last year
Whether we like it or not, it’s inevitable that for many of us this could be the last Ramadan. As the Quran tells us that every soul will taste death, and that the life of this world is temporary and fleeting, while the eternal life of the hereafter is the true and lasting reality. Our teachings from the Quran and Hadith encourage us to prepare for death by ensuring that we are always prepared for it by living a righteous and virtuous life, fulfilling our religious obligations, and doing good deeds. We are also encouraged to remember death often, as a reminder of the temporary nature of this life and the need to prepare for the hereafter. So, let’s ensure that we engage in sincere worship and make all the Du’as that we can make. If we were told that this truly was our last year, what Duas would we make? Create that list for this year’s Ramadan of 2023 and let’s make it happen.
Pray for the people of Syria and Turkey who died in the 2023 Earthquake
As we know, the 2023 earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria was one of the worst on record in recent history. The earthquake caused widespread damage and loss of life, with tens of thousands people who have lost their lives and property. Countless are injured and millions have become homeless. We know that no amount of money and aid can bring life the way it was to them. So, during this year’s Ramadan, we should sincerely make dua to Allah to alleviate their sufferings. It’s only Allah who can truly alleviate our suffering, and as Muslims we can find solace in our belief in Him during difficult times.
Life has become challenging, and uncertain in many ways.
The many world events during the past twelve months gives us an indication how life has become challenging for so many, especially Muslims. For example, disasters related to climate change alone has brought a lot of suffering to many in the Muslim countries. According to a recent World Hunger Report, global hunger has increased for the past five years, with almost more than 800 million people facing chronic undernourishment. This is due to various factors such as climate change, conflict, economic crises, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, a large number of those people are in Muslim countries.
So, let’s ensure that we ask Allah to alleviate the suffering of the so many Muslims around the world. Our Dua can go a long way to alleviate their pains and challenges.
Commit to a continuous improvement journey in 2023
The concept of continuous improvement is an important aspect of Islamic teachings, emphasizing the need for ongoing self-reflection, personal responsibility, and a commitment to both internal and external effort. By striving to better ourselves in these ways, we can seek to please Allah, serve our fellow human beings and other Muslims, and achieve success in the hereafter.
In Islam, continuous improvement (tazkiyah) is an important concept that refers to the process of spiritual purification and self-improvement. As Muslims, we are encouraged to constantly strive to better ourselves, both in our outward actions and in our inner states. The Quran teaches us that humans are inherently flawed and imperfect, and that it is only through continuous effort and self-reflection that we can hope to achieve a state of spiritual excellence. This process of self-improvement is seen as a lifelong journey, with each one of us working to overcome our weaknesses and become a better person.
The concept of tazkiyah is closely tied to the idea of personal responsibility. We know that we are accountable for our actions and must work to better ourselves in order to please Allah and achieve success in the hereafter. This responsibility extends not only to our individual spiritual journey, but also to our relationships with others and one’s responsibilities in the world.
Islamic teachings emphasize that the process of self-improvement requires both internal and external effort. We are, therefore, encouraged to engage in acts of worship and devotion, such as prayer and fasting, as a means of purifying our hearts and minds. We are also encouraged to engage in good deeds and acts of kindness towards others, as a means of serving Allah and benefiting our fellow human beings.
Increase your Dua’s in general in 2023
Let’s not forget that dua is a form of worship and ibadah, and that Allah loves to be called upon and asked for help. In the Quran, Allah says, “And your Lord says, “Call upon Me; I will respond to you.” (40:60). So, let’s increase our Du’as this year.
Ensure that you get your Dua book at this link here.)
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