is brushing your teeth in Ramadan haram?

Note: Parents, as much as possible, should enlist children in the work of running the household smoothly during Ramadan in quarantine. If there are two parents in the house, each must ensure one parent is not burdened with dealing with all of the children’s needs. 

If you are a single parent, every child should be involved in helping out around the house, in preparing meals, etc. if they already don’t. One important question which is asked is brushing your teeth in Ramadan haram??

1. One hour before Fajr: Wake up any children who will be fasting with you. Eat Suhoor together, and if there is any time left. spend at least five minutes making Dua, one extra prayer, and/or Sujood (prostrations). Make sure everyone brushes their teeth after eating. 

2. Pray Fajr. Read the morning Adhkaar and have the kids go back to bed. 

3. Read some Quran with the meaning of the verses, even if it is only five minutes. 

4. Sleep.

5. Get ready for work. 

6. Go to work. During your commute:
   -listen to Quranic recitation and try to memorize the verses. You can also listen to talks about building closeness to and love for Allah, or any topic you feel you need to work on to build Taqwa
   -Text or message a family member or friend to be your “Iftar buddy” for that day. In other words, a few minutes before Iftar, Facetime them so you can break your fast together virtually. 

7. Once you reach the office, call home and wake up the kids:
   -If there is a parent at home or there are older siblings, they should help younger children with breakfast. After this, all kids should make their beds, change clothes, brush teeth, etc.
   -Kids should clean up anything in the kitchen that needs to be cleaned up from Suhoor and breakfast time. They can wash the dishes or load a dishwasher; wipe counters and tables; sweep the floor, etc.
   -After a short break, they can start their schoolwork if they are elearning. Otherwise, they can work on their own Quran and Islamic studies goals for Ramadan, as well as whatever workbooks, online programs or other things you’ve set up for them academically while in quarantine
   -Younger children can watch an episode of Adam’s World, work on coloring sheets, and workbooks

8. Work.

9. Take a mid-morning break (about 15 minutes) to:
   -check in on the kids to see that their work is getting done
   -listen to Quranic recitation and try to memorize the verses. You can also listen to talks about building closeness to and love for Allah, or any topic you feel you need to work on to build Taqwa. 

10. During lunch hour, do the following:
    -call to make sure everyone has eaten lunch. Older kids should prepare and feed lunch to younger ones whenever possible. Also remind them to pray Dhuhr together, then take a short nap or rest if they have finished their schoolwork for the day
    -pray Dhuhr
    -follow this up with a 15- to 20- minute nap in your car. If your boss is an understanding person, consider arranging a separate place you can nap at the office (e.g. empty room). Here is a sample letter you can send him/her about this.

11. Work.

12. Check in on the kids to see if they are done with school. If they are and the weather is nice, let them spend some time outside if your spouse or another trusted adult can supervise them. Remind them to pray Asr. 

13. Pray Asr at work if you are still there and head home.

14. With the help of older kids, make dinner. 

15. Feed non-fasting kids dinner.

16. One hour before Iftar:
    -rest
    -prepare or help prepare Iftar with the family
    -10 minutes before Maghrib, sit at the dinner table and make Dua together
    -Call your Iftar buddy and prepare to break your fast together if you are going to do that that day

17. Break your fast with a date(s) and water.

18. Pray Maghrib. Say the nightly Duas to be made at this time for ending the day. 

19. Eat dinner.

20. Clean up. During clean up, as you put food away, prepare a plate for Suhoor for each person so that you can just microwave it quickly in the morning. Also, get whatever caffeine you need in the morning ready so you only have to warm it. If you have older kids, they should make their own plate. 

21. Prepare for Isha and for going to bed. Make Wudu, brush your teeth, etc. Have all kids do the same.

22. Pray Isha.

23. Offer a few Rakat of Taraweeh. 

24. Plug in your phone and any other devices that need to be charged. Preferably not in your bedroom, unless it’s for an alarm you need to get up. 

25. Read younger kids a short Islamic bedtime story. Also read the nightly Adhkar and Duas with them. 

26. Make sure older kids are not staying up late unnecessarily. Give them a specific time to finish any work they may have, after which they must go to sleep. Recite the nightly Adhkaar and Duas with them. 

27. Read at least six minutes of Quran or an Islamic book in bed to make it easier to fall asleep. A 2009 study conducted by the University of Exeter found that reading was more effective and quicker at reducing stress than other common stress-busters like taking a walk, drinking a cup of tea and listening to music. In fact, the researchers found that just six minutes of reading could be enough to reduce stress levels by up to two-thirds. Many of us find it hard to fall asleep because of stress. 

28. Read your nightly Adhkar and Duas and go to sleep.