By Hishaam Hussain –
The ninth month of the Islamic calendar, Ramadan, is officially here. It is a time of intense spiritual discipline and reflection on one’s relationship with God.
During this month Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, except for those who are physically unable or those who have not reached puberty.
Should you be participating this month, and what measures must you take to ensure that you have a fulfilling, healthy, and blessed month?
Muslim Chaplain from the More in Common Faith Centre in Huddersfield, Mawlana Muhammad Muzzammil Patel, and Karen Brooks, BANT registered nutritionist are offering their expertise . So, let us delve into it.
Organisation
Given the already subpar levels of energy during the month of Ramadan, to reduce further stress be sure to complete any prior personal or work-related commitments.
Having a timetable is a prerequisite, it is not an option, but it is essential so that you can sustain yourself and not burn yourself out. It is also important to consider the people you live with and work with express your expectations, sit down together let them know your routine” said Mawlana Patel.
Please be sure to plan proactively if you have any during the month because you will be able to minimise the burden you have on yourself. Which will allow you to focus more on your personal well-being and avoid procrastination.
Eating Habits/Dieting
Be sure to gradually adjust your diet as you ease into fasting for the duration of daylight. Reducing your intake of sugar will prevent any unhealthy weight gain or tooth decay, which are the last things you want to be experiencing.
Karen Brook, BANT Registered Nutritionist in Huddersfield, said: “Ramadan can be a time to make positive changes to your diet.”
“It can provide an excellent opportunity to work on balancing blood sugar. In the UK, many people eat lots of refined, processed, and sugary foods.”
“Eating meals comprising these types of foods can cause big variations in blood sugar levels which often manifests as fluctuations in mood, concentration, and energy levels.”
Karen Brook added: “Focus on eating foods cooked from scratch, including wholegrains, lots of veg and fruit, and good levels of protein foods and healthy fats.”
“This will help with blood sugar stability, keep you full for longer, and result in more consistent energy levels.”
Maintaining a balanced diet will be the cornerstone of maintaining good physical health this month.
Embracing Spirituality
Reminding yourself of the significance of Ramadan will enable you to become more attuned with your spirituality as it can be forgotten when juggling physical and mental hardships of the month.
“The core concept in most spiritual communities, is no pain, no gain. By going through some reasonable form of struggle, you will be able to grow yourselves, and reach a place you had not expected before, people should celebrate it, we should consider it a spiritual mountain to climb or a spiritual marathon.” said Mawlana Patel.
Additionally, watching videos and studying relevant Quran verses will help you achieve this. Learning about time management will enhance your productivity as you will become better at allocating time to pending tasks. Leaving you with more time more time to lean into your spirituality.
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Mental Clarity
Meditating, reflecting, and praying will keep you calm and grounded during the flurry of emotions experienced during Ramadan.
Self-restraint is an integral factor in having a fulfilling month. Taming the mental turmoil within your mind is a pressing task given it is a month of sacrifice, but also a month of celebration.
Meditation allows you to organise your clouded mind, and to help with this reflecting onto a physical outlet like a notebook, diary, or even a digital device.
This will help you recognise your thoughts and feelings, and writing them down will allow you to remember any outstanding practises that you would like to continue doing after Ramadan ends.
Sleep
Various festivities, in Ramadan, will occupy the preliminary stages of the night. The Circadian Rhythms of our 24-hour internal body clock will become disrupted. Leading to mood swings and headaches.
That is why achieving good sleep quality is paramount to retaining adequate energy and productivity levels whilst fasting.
Longer blocks of sleep will be more beneficial for achieving sufficient rest. At least four hours a night after Iftar, but before getting up for Sehri and Fajr prayer. A few hours after will get you ready for the day ahead.
Also, Minimising Blue-light exposure at night will minimise the detriment electronic devices have on your sleep quality.
Connecting With Others
Ramadan can be a lonely time for many, so it is even more important to engage with your immediate family and community. There will be a plethora of opportunities to connect with others.
The mosque will always remain open whether you are coming alone or with friends, you will be able to socialise with your fellow Muslim brothers and sisters during Iftar. And in between prayer.
Charity work and events will be a wonderful way to build new connections, while also doing some good for the wider community.
Mawlana Patel said: “Community is essential to Ramadan; it is a community that is fasting, not an individual, from a theological perspective, God expects the community to turn to God through fasting, through night worship, and other activities like charity and volunteering.”
“Community is not an additional bonus it is part of the pillar itself.”
To Learn More:
I hope these suggestions prove useful to you, thanks to Mawlana Patel and Karen Brooks for their expertise.
Should you have any questions or queries please feel free to contact them here:
Most importantly, Ramadan Mubarak!
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