Ready for Ramadhan? Part 2

24 Apr Ready for Ramadhan? Part 2

Assalaamu ‘alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakaatuhu                                                         

Welcome to Fee Qalbee’s pre-Ramadhan  feature : ‘Ready for Ramadhan?’                                          

This weekly post will focus on helping YOU develop consistent and effective review techniques ahead of Ramadhan, inshaAllah Ta’ala.

Following the introductory post which dealt with establishing one’s intentions, this week’s post seeks to assist you in formulating a (general) ground plan in preparation for a month of reading and reflecting upon the Qur’aan.

Focus of the week: Laying the foundation

‘Getting a head  S – T -A -R -T  with your Qur’aan’  introduces the Fee Qalbee reader to one of my methods utilised when teaching and mentoring women through the Hifdh journey:

Many of us have different goals in our journey towards the Qur’aan: some of us are striving to recite the Qur’aan with correct pronunciation and fluency; others have embarked on memorisation, whilst several sisters have aspired to further their knowledge of Qur’aanic vocabulary and commentary, etc.

Once we have identified our personal goals, we need to then formulate a ground plan of consistency and progress. For our Qur’aan goals to be achieved, it’s essential to develop a plan that can be implemented during and post Ramadhan – one that is integrated into our daily spiritual routine.

Perhaps you could try incorporating the S – T – A – R – T system in your preparatory process.

Start off by setting the wheels in motion. Set your intention, remembering that your intention is the soul of your actions. Establishing your intention and renewing your purpose will provide motivation in your learning experience. Your aspirations are your possibilities!

Target, aim, goal! Set your goal(s) with the intention of achieving them. These would include both short term and long term goals, regarding your intended progress. Set your personal targets and embark on accomplishing them. Remember that “Goals are the fuel in the furnace of achievement.” [Brian Tracy]

Assistance of a teacher, mentor, sister or spouse. Support is vital for your progress. With support comes assistance, either from a teacher explaining your Qur’aan lesson, a mentor coaching you through your Qur’aan journey, a friend encouraging you with regards to your goals, or a spouse who acknowledges your milestones.

Reviewing your tajweed lesson, hifdh homework or tafseer lesson ensures that you maintain a high standard of learning and retention. Hifdhul Qur’aan consists of the 3 R’s: Recite – Retain – Review. What generally sets apart the diligent student from the distinguished one, is constant review, review and… review! Work towards integrating review in your daily Qur’aan commitment, and begin noticing the significant improvement in your recitation and memorisation.

Time appreciation and effective time management will enhance your Qur’aan progress. One of the primary concerns of a Qur’aan student is the need to develop and maintain consistency. The solution lies in avoiding procrastination & valuing every available moment. Develop a weekly planner and organise your audio files or CD collection of Qur’aan, so as to introduce the spirit of this month gradually.

Strive towards a dedicated plan for your Ramadan experience and harvest the rewards beyond this Ramadan, insha Allah!

*’Ready for Ramadhan’ is a series of pre-Ramadhan posts which seeks to assist hifdh students, hafidhaat, teachers and parents alike. Each Tuesday, a new post addressing different questions or concerns is uploaded. Fee Qalbee welcomes your questions for future posts in this feature. Please direct your correspondence to hafidha Rayhaanah

Stay Inspired!

This article was first published in SISTERS magazine