Taking the Qur’an as a Refuge in Ramadan

Early Morning Reflections

When trying to connect with the Qur’an, it may not happen in the perfect form one expects it to happen. When making Ibadah in the month of Ramadan, one should first make a clear intention:

“Oh Allah, I am dedicating this time to You. Grant me the ability to use this time to its maximum benefit.”

The first difficulty as women is looking for time in a day that has no time; it is a race against all one’s responsibilities to get to their Qur’an, which leads to being irritable.

• Remove the negative mindframe of finishing a set number of pages in one sitting or reading to get the Qur’an ‘out of the way’.
• Instead of focusing on completing the Qur’an as a goal, one should find joy and the ‘sweetness’ of Ibadah when doing so.
• This will help one to savour their time with the Qur’an.
• Enjoin acts of Sadaqah to help in reading the Qur’an.

Another toxic mindset to combat is harbouring the mentality of unfairness, in that men benefit in the Masjid, whereas for women, Ibadah is secondary to responsibilities in the home.

• It is a heavy feeling, and Allah recognises it.
• A woman’s responsibilities, however, do not come from one’s families. It is from Allah. He designed women to be nurturers and carers.
• With this reframing, the animosity from this mental load lightens.

In Ramadan, acquire strength from the Qur’an. It is a refuge from turmoil.

• To do this, one should make affirmations before reading the Qur’an: that it gives life to the heart; that it is a comfort and a joy in one’s busy life.
• Instead of making goals, the believer should intend to ‘sink’ into recitation–to enjoy reading the Qur’an. And that it is a cure for doubts, animosity, and grief.
• An easy way to make Tadabbur during other tasks is focusing on and pondering the beautiful names of Allah.