In the name of Allah, the Lord and Giver of Mercy.

SubhanAllah, Ramadan is coming up pretty soon! We are passing the 2 week mark! When the Holy Month of Ramadan begins, we usually start with the intentions of making it a transformative experience. Every Muslim that observes the Ramadan, young and old, healthy and sick, rich and poor — the main objective through Ramadan is becoming a better servant of Allah (SWT). Even Muslims who may have not been the best at practicing Islam the rest of the year, they want to make a change in their lives as well, and none of us has the right to judge them for their efforts.

Nevertheless, the world that we live in, in the environment we are exposed to — we are extremely distracted from this noble objective. Not to be the bearer of bad news but, the Holiest month observed in the faith tradition of Islam is being capitalized off of by businesses and the entertainment industry! Even in our predominantly Muslim societies, such as the Middle East and the Subcontinent, did you ever notice that the BEST television shows are premiered in the month of Ramadan? Ramadan is the Month of Qur’an, Forgiveness, Mercy, Patience, Charity and Submission to Allah — but unfortunately, a lot of us who have recent and direct roots overseas have been sucked in by brand-new, action-packed, well-orchestrated dramas! This article is not here to complain and slam Muslims who are engaged in this! Not at all, this is an article addressing the issue, because it seems to have sneaked up behind us by surprise. Moreover, this article will provide the reader with several solutions on how one can productively utilize the internet, and television this Ramadan. By the Mercy of Allah, outlets such as the television and the internet have their benefits and their harms. By the permission of Allah, this article will help the reader seek out the benefits — in order to optimize their experience this upcoming Ramadan!

1.) Qur’an Weekly

Ramadan is the Month of Qur’an right? What’s a better way to spend your Ramadan committing at least 30 minutes of your day to watch our prominent scholars such as Nouman Ali Khan, Abdul Nasir Jangda, Omar Suleiman, Hussain Kamani and many more who share short, and powerful videos discussing gems in the Qur’an! I started doing this last Ramadan, and man, this project is run by some very devoted volunteers that work really hard to benefit a mass amount of us! To say this page changed my life is an understatement. As you spend your Ramadan watching their videos, please keep the volunteers and their families in your prayers! It is not easy!

2.) The Ramadan Tafseer Series w/ Shaykh Abdul Nasir Jangda (via MuslimMatters.org)

Personally, being blessed with studying under this brilliant teacher last summer at the Bayyinah Institute Qur’an Intensive 2014 program — this by far, is one of the biggest gifts I could share with you all on the internet. Every Ramadan, our generous and knowledgeable scholar releases a WHOLE surah of tafseer through Muslim Matters, another project established by beautiful and humble servants of the Most Merciful. This year in shaa Allah, our Shaykh will be releasing my year’s surah’s tafseer — Suratul Hajj. All I can say is, that surah made our class shake in fear with tears in our eyes and also made us smile in hope as well. A very powerful surah. In addition, as aforementioned this happens every Ramadan, meaning that there have been other surahs completely covered such as: Al-Anbiya, Ta-Ha, Maryam, and Ya-Sin! So after you’re done with Surah Al-Hajj this Ramadan, or after you are done covering another surah this Ramadan — dedicate some time in your week to cover the other surahs. Our Shaykh, along with other instructors from Bayyinah Institute have truly mastered the skill of analyzing and explaining the Qur’an. Even as regular laymen, we can truly comprehend the Qur’an thanks to their beautiful, selfless contributions! May Allah continue to accept and bless them for their efforts, ameen! Once again, in shaa Allah, look out for Suratul Hajj this Ramadan (it will be in https://www.MuslimMatters.org/tag/RamadanTafsir15).

3.) Arabic with Husna (Bayyinah TV)

Since this is the third Bayyinah plug-in I may seem biased, but hear me out — Bayyinah Institute is one of the most effective institutes when it comes to learning Qur’an. They do not simply give you Tafseer and use fancy technical terms — they want YOU to learn the Arabic grammar required to develop a long-lasting connection with the Qur’an as well. And the Introductory Video Series, “Arabic with Husna” is your best route to accomplishing this important, life-changing objective. Watch the introduction video above, and if you’re interested, subscribe to Bayyinah TV to get access to all the beautiful material that will help you develop a better understanding of the Arabic language. A better understanding of the Arabic language equates to a better understanding of the Qur’an, and a better understanding of the Qur’an is a deeper connection with the One who loves you and cares for you more than anything existent, our Most Merciful Lord, Allah (SWT).

Learn in this very cute and informative way — where Nouman Ali Khan is teaching his baby daughter Arabic, but at the same time, you are learning with Husna step-by-step the grammar of the language of the Qur’an — Arabic.

4.) Seerah of Prophet Muhammad (S) by Dr. Yasir Qadhi

You want a close connection with the Qur’an right? Well, Umm-ul Mu’mineen Aisha (RA) referred to our Beloved Prophet (S) as the Qur’an walking. Rasulullah (S) is the most beloved figure in our faith tradition, and it is highly recommended that we send salutations upon his noble being and pray for peace and blessings upon him. Dr. Yasir Qadhi, one of America’s most prominent scholars has provided us with a long, and thorough series on the Life and Times of our Beloved Master — Rasulullah (S). Another way to connect to the Qur’an, is studying the life and stories of the individual who lived the Qur’an. As Muslims, we are required to love Rasulullah (S) more than our own selves (referring to this hadith) — how can we truly love our Beloved Prophet (S) if we do not know his life? Above is a playlist of 104 videos solely dedicated to the comprehensive, detailed and biographical story of the most perfect human being that walked on the earth, sayyidna Muhammad (S).

5.) Towards A #Nabawi Ramadan

Being affiliated with the Imam Ghazali Institute, I felt obliged to plug-in the institution I love by informing you all of an upcoming seminar that will be mostly targeting young Muslims going to college! RSVP here and make sure to take good notes, we are providing you with a good roster of scholars and teachers to equip you with the tools to optimize your Ramadan experience!

Conclusion

To end this article, I gave you five beautiful, long-lasting tools to optimize your Ramadan this year and even the Ramadans to come in shaa Allah (may Allah allow us to observe many more, ameen!). I pray you find these materials provided to be life-changing for you and a means to our ultimate goal — Al-Jannah! May Allah make this information beneficial to us, and remember — when seeking knowledge, take notes, digest the knowledge and pray for more! Imam Al-Ghazali always encouraged his students and readers to pray for knowledge that benefits, and for a heart that’s God-conscious. What is non-beneficial knowledge? A knowledge we don’t implement, and a knowledge we don’t follow after being taught. Oh Allah make our newly acquired knowledge a witness for us on the Day of Judgment and not a witness against us, ameen. May Allah preserve you all, and please keep the Beloved of Allah (S) in your prayers — Peace and Blessings be upon him and his righteous, and noble companions! Ameen!