A Ramadan Checklist for the Heart - Light Upon Light by IslamiCity - Episode 41

Ramadan does not arrive suddenly.

Long before the crescent moon is sighted, its arrival is already felt-in the quiet restlessness of the heart, in the fatigue of the soul, in the growing awareness that we need Allah more than ever.

Ramadan is not simply a month we enter.
It is a guest we prepare for.

And the question is not when Ramadan comes, but how we meet it.

Allah reminds us of the purpose of this sacred month when He says:

"O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed upon you as it was prescribed upon those before you, so that you may attain taqwa." (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:183)

Ramadan is a journey toward taqwa-God-consciousness. And like any meaningful journey, it requires preparation.

What follows is not a checklist for perfection, but a checklist for presence. A way to approach Ramadan intentionally, as the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ did, with sincerity and care.

Preparing the Intention

Before fasting the body, we prepare the heart.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

"Actions are judged by intentions, and every person will have what they intended."

Ramadan begins with an honest question-one we should ask ourselves quietly and sincerely:

Why do I want Ramadan?

Is it simply habit and routine?
Or is it renewal, forgiveness, and closeness to Allah?

The Prophet ﷺ understood the importance of preparing early. When the months of Rajab and Sha'ban arrived, he would make du'a:

"O Allah, bless us in Rajab and Sha'ban, and allow us to reach Ramadan."

Reaching Ramadan is not guaranteed. Preparing for it is an act of gratitude and awareness.

Cleaning the Heart Before the Schedule

As Ramadan approaches, many of us prepare planners, meal schedules, and prayer goals. But before all of that, the heart must come first.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

"Indeed, there is a piece of flesh in the body-if it is sound, the entire body is sound. And if it is corrupt, the entire body is corrupt. Indeed, it is the heart."

Before Ramadan begins, we are invited to reflect:

Who do I need to forgive?
What resentment am I holding onto?
What sin have I been postponing repentance from?

Ramadan does not cleanse what we refuse to release. Sha'ban, in particular, offers us space to soften the heart before the month of fasting arrives.

Reconnecting with the Qur'an

Ramadan is known as the month of the Qur'an.

Allah says:

"The month of Ramadan is the one in which the Qur'an was revealed as guidance for mankind." (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:185)

The Prophet ﷺ would revise the Qur'an every Ramadan with the Angel Jibreel عليه السلام. In his final Ramadan, this revision occurred twice-highlighting the deep connection between Ramadan and the Qur'an.

Preparation means returning to the Qur'an before the first night of Taraweeh. It does not require lengthy recitations or ambitious goals. Even one page a day. Even one verse reflected upon.

The Qur'an is not waiting for perfection-it is waiting for attention.

Training the Body Gently

Ramadan is not meant to shock the soul.

The Prophet ﷺ fasted voluntarily throughout the year, and especially in the month of Sha'ban. Aisha رضي الله عنها said:

"I never saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ fast more than he did in Sha'ban."

This gradual preparation teaches us that spiritual consistency is built gently, not abruptly.

Simple steps can make a difference:

• Reducing distractions
• Fasting a few days before Ramadan
• Waking up earlier for Fajr
• Reviving neglected sunnah prayers

When the body is invited in early, Ramadan becomes a mercy rather than a struggle.

Making Space for Du'a

The Prophet ﷺ said:

"Three supplications are not rejected: the du'a of the fasting person, the du'a of the ruler, and the du'a of the oppressed."

Ramadan is a month where du'a flows more freely-but preparation means beginning now.

Write down what you have been carrying silently:

• The du'as you stopped making
• The dreams you buried
• The healing you are still asking for

Ramadan is not only about discipline. It is about hope.

Preparing to Be Changed

The Prophet ﷺ said:

"Whoever fasts Ramadan with faith and seeking reward, his previous sins will be forgiven."

But forgiveness requires openness. It requires a willingness to change.

Before Ramadan arrives, ask yourself honestly: Am I willing to leave Ramadan different than I entered it?

Not louder.
Not busier.
But softer.
Closer.
More aware of Allah.

Ramadan is not waiting for us to be ready.
It is waiting for us to be sincere.

As the days approach, remember-we are not preparing for hunger. We are preparing for light.