A Ramadan guide for single Muslims | SoundVision.com

A Ramadan guide for single Muslims

For most Muslims, Ramadan is family time. You get up together, eat Iftar together, pray together, etc. But what if you don't have your family near you?

Waking up in a lonely apartment and eating food you've sometimes burnt in an effort to catch Suhur in time are some of the realities of being a single Muslim in Ramadan. But there are ways to make Ramadan special when you're on your own. Here are a couple of ideas. Please feel free to post yours at the bottom of this article.

1. Establish a Suhur telephone tree

Get a couple of friends together and establish a telephone tree to wake each other up for Suhur. Establish a time to call and a schedule of who will call whom. Make it a little exciting by adding some funny phrases every week that will really wake everyone up (e.g. "ASSALAMU ALIAKUM" This is the Suhur Sister/Bellowing Brother calling. Rise and shine y'all for some morning grub?).

2. Invite people over for Iftar

Even if even you couldn't eat the food  the last time you cooked, invite people over for Iftar. Make it a potluck, order pizza or if you can afford it, get it catered. The food isn't the thing. The blessing is in the company, and you'll be rewarded for feeding everyone. Make sure to especially invite those who are away from their families.

3. Attend prayers at the local mosque/MSA

Even if the Imam's recitation isn't the best and the behavior of other Muslims can be more than annoying, try to attend Tarawih prayers organized by your local mosque or your Muslim Students' Association (MSA). While praying alone in peace and quiet is great, praying shoulder-to-shoulder with other Muslims with whom you have nothing in common except your faith is a unique and uplifting experience.

4. Get involved in community programs

It may seem hard to squeeze in time for anything else in Ramadan, but try, at least once, to do some volunteer work. Cook a meal for those who attend the MSA Iftar; volunteer for a day at a soup kitchen; help make or distribute flyers for a Ramadan program; make Ramadan Mubarak loot bags of candy for the kids at your local mosque. The possibilities are numerous. The point is to give to others so you can get back what's priceless.

5. Keep the Quran playing when you are alone at home

It's often tempting to keep the TV or radio on when we're alone at home to avoid the silence. This Ramadan, find a CD of a Quran reciter you like and play it during those moments when you want to fill your place with some sound. Choose selections you'd like to memorize, like the 30th part of the Quran.

6. Eat properly- don't resort to burnt toast and egg

Not eating Suhur and Iftar properly will make you crabby, irritated and sick (as opposed to healthy, wealthy and wise). Establish a personal Ramadan meal plan. Choose healthy, easy-to-make recipes so you're not scrambling at the last minute for something to eat.

7. Keep in touch with family and friends back home

Send Ramadan e-cards, thoughts, reflections, questions, etc. via phone or email to family and friends. Keep in contact at least once a week and share three Ramadan-related things you've done in the last ten days of Ramadan.

8. Take care of others

Know a new person at the school/office? Is a friend who lives nearby having problems with their spouse? Or is someone you know having money problems? This Ramadan, reach out with an attentive ear, a generous hand, and most importantly, an open heart to others. Don't let these small opportunities for gaining blessings slip you by.

9. Decorate your crib

Add some festivity to your spare surroundings by dressing the place up with a Ramadan banner, balloons and streamers. Even after a rough day, coming home to a decorated home is a boost to the spirits.

10. Pick and pursue Ramadan goals

Choose at least three goals to pursue this Ramadan. Whether it's curbing a bad habit or starting a good one, doing this will help you focus and work harder this month to change for the better. It takes 21 days to establish a good habit. With Ramadan, we've got 30. Why not make the best of it by picking up the good? 

Photo Attribution - Hamed Saber - http://www.flickr.com/photos/hamed/277221852/

Comments

Nice to Remember. Actually it helped a lot.
Thanx a ton.

Location

Berlin, Germany

Very nice points to remember. Being in exactly that situation, I know how hard it is to be a single Muslim and that too during Ramadan. What one misses most is the family but my firm Faith in Allah Almighty helps tremendously, Alhumdulilah. Playing verses of the Noble Quran is a very good suggestion. So considerate of you to think of ones like us. Most of our Islamic community centers seem to be specifically about families and extended families as if ones like myself don't exist .. as if a single Muslimah is not part of the Ummah's jammah. May Allah bless you. Allah is the Greatest.

Location

North America

Salaam alaykom, very helpful jazaka'Allaahu ghairan. I feel so bad for not looking forward to Ramadhan, as all muslims are supposed to. I just get so anxious at the thought of doing it all alone. May Allaah swt help us.

Location

its a very good may ALLAH give you something good

Location

irun spain

I am a convert, totally alone and confused about how to do Ramadan. I will do my best. Inshallah I will find friends to socialize with. Loneliness is harder in Ramadan.

Location

southington, CT

Assalamou alaikoumThanks brother for this great idea, i am a single muslim these tips really help.

Location

FALLS CHURCH

as stated above it was great, very helpful.I will pass this on. I am doing a lecture this week and I will certainly use some of this information. Thank you

Location

Philadelphia

very nice articlei suggest u send us so dua's that are very relevant in our daily livies and may be special duas in RamathanSalaam alaikum

Location

uganda East Africa

THis was helpful...The ten things listed can help keep your spirits up during Ramadan.

Location

Augusta

This list is appreciated as people tend to forget those of us who don't have an immediate family of our own to observe this time with. I think the list is great however the use of the word "crib" is rather inappropriate for a text of this kind. Some would say that such use of slang is not even appropriate for a muslim to use at all. I will just say that it would have been more appropriate to say "home/office".

Location

Kuala Lumpur

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