What is your Ramadan personal best (PB)? And what is the best app to help you capture that? Let’s come back to this towards the end.
Most of us are familiar with PBs in the world of sports. In my world, I am surrounded by brothers who excel in pushing their PBs, māshāAllah!
Whether it’s running, cycling, trekking, or benching, we are constantly pushing the boundaries of personal ability, endurance, stamina, and fitness, seeking to improve our timings by mere seconds.
No activity goes without capturing it on Strava, Garmin, Apple.
As the humorous saying goes in our relentless pursuit,
If I collapse, please make sure you stop my Garmin.”
We study the sciences, theories, nutritional advice, and expert opinion meticulously. MāshāAllah, why not?
Personally, I am constantly seeking my next challenge, an improved PB, and pushing my fitness levels.
If we do this in the context of seeking ihsān (excellence), of meeting the Sunnah of fitness, and of healthy living, it is all praiseworthy, provided that we avoid being excessive at the expense of other obligations.
Apply this spirit of seeking our PB to Ramadan
Just like many of us are keen to constantly push our performance levels, likewise we ought to apply and carry a similar mentality, approach, and spirit to Ramadan.
This will lead to seeking a more elevated experience and satisfaction from our worship.
In for example, improving our levels and commitment to Sadaqah, supplication, reciting Qur’ān, reading the Sīrah, offering night prayers, and meditation and contemplation.
We can also boost our performance in giving back and helping others, seeking to help broader causes, connecting further with the global Ummah, engaging more within our communities, working harder towards much-needed Islamic political change, and feeling the pain and understanding the cause of the Ummah’s suffering.
In a nutshell, the aim should be to improve our Ramadan metrics and statistics on a year-on-year (YOY) basis.
Make this Ramadan your PB!
We can improve the metrics when it comes to the pounds given in Sadaqah or the number of times we complete the Qur’ān, the number of raka’āt prayed or the times we visit masājid, or the hours spent supporting voluntary charitable causes and helping the Ummah. The list is endless.
Now going back to the beginning, I asked what is the best app to help us track all of these Ramadan PBs. Will the Garmin or Strava help to measure my Ramadan?
The truth is, no Garmin, Strava, or Apple Watch can capture your ibādāt metrics.
You have to start by consulting your heart. Ask yourself — your conscience — and you’ll get your answer.
That’s the beauty of siyām, sadaqah, zakat, and your sacrifices. Your commitment, dedication, focus, and intentions are known only by you and our Creator.
How much have you pushed this Ramadan?
Only you and Allah (subḥānahu wa ta’āla) know whether you have met or are near to meeting your PB, and that suffices.
Ramadan is made or lost in the last ten days, and we have only three or four days to go. So as we move through these last few moments, I know you have it in you to make your PB!
Go for it, increase those efforts, and prove to yourself that you can push even harder and make this Ramadan your personal best.
May Allah (subḥānahu wa ta’āla) accept our Ramadan, āmīn.
Source: Islam21c
