The past year has been very testing for most of us here in the UK and across the world. Our mental, physical, and spiritual health have been affected severely during the third lockdown, and maintaining our food intake had proven to be difficult.

But, The Sunnah of our beloved Prophet (SAW) provides us with a substantial amount of information on foods with innumerable health benefits that help to cleanse our immune systems and prevent and cure certain illnesses.

Prophetic foods are foods that the Prophet (SAW) used to eat daily. They are foods that are packed filled with nutritious goodness that help you feel great about yourself, prevent diseases, and help you stay physically and mentally fit.

Ramadan is a special month for us all for many different reasons. This month helps us grow into our worship and gives us the best opportunity to develop our relationship with Allah SWT. There have been some significant events that have occurred during this holy month throughout our Islamic tradition.

Below are some of the more well-known events as well as some lesser-known moments that took place. It is important to look at the sacrifices and the hardships endured by our pious predecessors who all helped make it easier for us to practice our religion with ease and paved the way for us to arrive at this point in our lives. We must remember their struggles so we can truly appreciate how much those who came before us. It is also equally important to reflect on the miracles gifted to us by Allah SWT in this holy month.

What are the 99 Names of Allah? Allah SWT is best known by His Name, Allah, which means ‘The God’ in Arabic. He refers to Himself as Allah in the Qur’an, but He also mentions that He has other names:

“Allah—there is no deity except Him. To Him belong the best names.” (Quran 20:8) He also says in a different place in the Qur’an:

“And to Allah belong the best names, so call on Him by them.” (Quran 7: 180) These are the Names and Attributes that Allah SWT has described Himself with. We do not ascribe to Allah SWT anything except that which He has prescribed to Himself, but He has given us plenty of Names with which to remember Him by and call upon Him in dua.

The state of our heart determines our spiritual state. Our spiritual state either positively or negatively impacts our interactions and experiences in all areas of life. Being in a good spiritual state does not take all our problems away, but it gives us the strength to bear them. We can perform our religious duties with enthusiasm and love instead of with guilt and fear. As such, it becomes clear that purifying the state of our heart is crucial from both a Dunya and an Akhirah perspective.

When it comes to holidays like Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Halloween, the stores start their preparations months in advance. People shop and look forward to the holiday as the tunes of the season play in every public place imaginable. Many children, unfortunately, do not grow up surrounded by the same festive energy when it comes to Ramadan and Eid. This is why we as parents and caregivers need to make sure that we create the best atmosphere with our children during our celebrations.

We live in a world that demands so much from us. We work tirelessly and fatigue our bodies in this pursuit to take care of our families. Taking care of our families is an act of worship alongside many other acts of ibadah. It is important we do not lose ourselves to the Dunya and forget our true purpose, to worship Allah SWT. This can be done in many ways. It is integral to our spiritual health that we follow in the example of the greatest human being to walk the earth, the Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

One of the ways we can do this is by following the sunnah and worshipping Allah SWT, the way he (SAW) did, to the best of our abilities. The sunnah acts of worship can tragically be neglected and this is depriving the heart of that which benefits it. We must strive to revive and implement the sunnah and this is the best way to ensure we live enriched lives and have empowered communities.

As Muslims, it is important to try and excel in our worship during the month of Ramadan. A good way to do this is to start establishing extra sunnah prayers. The prayers we will focus on are the Duha, Tahajjud prayer, and Witr prayer.

Make the most of your mercy this Ramadan. When you tick the Gift Aid box, your donation will be completely admin fee free!

Give mercy now.