A timely reminder
Ramadan is only thirty days away. Be honest with yourself — are you excited, nervous, or perhaps even a little anxious that you’re not quite ready?
If that’s you, this reminder is for you. A gentle nudge to help shift our hearts and minds towards preparing for a meaningful and productive Ramadan, in shā’ Allāh.
Feeling excited, daunted, nervous, unsure — or a mixture of all of these — is perfectly natural.
Why we feel excited
For the believer, Ramadan is undoubtedly the greatest month of the year — a season of mercy, forgiveness, and boundless reward. The spiritual uplift, the increased charity, ifṭār and suḥūr with family and friends, the recitation of the Qur’an, and the night prayers all create an atmosphere unlike any other. For these reasons and more, the heart of the believer naturally yearns for its arrival.
Why we also feel nervous
At the same time, feelings of nervousness or apprehension can also arise — and that is completely understandable.
Why? Because great occasions bring higher expectations, greater standards, and a sense that “this matters”. Deep down, we don’t want to fall short or waste such a blessed opportunity.
Perhaps you’re wondering whether you’ll be better than last year, or whether you’ll have the same energy and motivation.
Perhaps your circumstances have changed — maybe you’ve recently gone through a divorce, you’re navigating single parenthood, or you’re newly married.
Maybe you’ve started a new job, you’re facing uncertainty at work, or you’re carrying something deeply personal — and you’re honestly asking yourself, “With everything going on, how am I supposed to manage Ramadan?”
What these feelings actually mean
Alḥamdulillāh, these feelings are actually a sign of a living heart. Don’t panic. The very fact that you care — that you are thinking about Ramadan — means your heart is awake and sensitive to what matters.
What we need now is to steady ourselves, channel these emotions constructively, and begin preparing with intention, clarity, and foresight — so that when Ramadan arrives, we enter it grounded and ready, bi’ithnillāh.
Tawakkul, not self-reliance
Some of us may already feel prepared and eager, counting down the days. Yet even then, we must not rely on our own strength. Instead, we place our reliance on Allāh, constantly asking Him for tawfīq, because without His help, none of us can truly succeed.
Sha‘bān: the month of preparation
Right now, we are in the blessed month of Sha‘bān. This is the moment for honest self-reflection and preparation.
It is time to face those difficult questions, sit with those emotions, and think ahead — so that we can reset, recalibrate, and get ready for the majestic month of Ramadan that is so close.
Remember: Allāh ﷻ does not expect perfection. He does not expect us to be angels. What He loves is your concern, your effort—and even your nervousness. That is a heart that Allāh ﷻ cherishes.
What is required from us
So what is required from us? To try. To push ourselves.
And at the end of the day, to place our hand on our heart and say sincerely:
“Yā Allāh, I genuinely tried my best.”
Allāh loves His servants who show concern, who struggle, and who strive. So let us commit to giving this Ramadan our very best effort.
We are not guaranteed tomorrow
Let us never forget: there is no guarantee that any of us will reach Ramadan. This is why we continuously ask Allāh to allow us to witness it, and to bless us with its arrival.
The time to prepare is now — and Sha‘bān is the perfect place to begin.
Practical steps to begin now
Start with optional fasting. Increase your time in the masjid. Begin gently reshaping your daily routine around your ṣalāh — now, before Ramadan arrives.
Sha‘bān is often neglected, yet in reality, it is the month of final preparation for Ramadan.
ʿĀ’ishah (رضي الله عنها) said:[1]
“The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ did not fast in any month more than he did in Sha‘bān. He used to fast most of Sha‘bān.”
Nasā’ī 2180
Let’s support one another
So let us support one another. Speak to someone you trust. Address your worries now — so that we are mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and physically ready to embrace Ramadan the moment its first night appears.
May Allāh allow us to reach it. May He prepare our hearts for it. And may He make us among those who succeed in it. Āmīn.
If this reminder has benefited you, share it with someone else so they too may benefit — and remember me in your duʿā’.
Source: Islam21c
Notes
[1] Nasā’ī 2180
