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Ramadan Preparations: How to Make the Most of the Holy Month

Ramadan 2026
G oing from your day-to-day routine to the month of Ramadan can feel a bit overwhelming without proper preparation. No longer eating breakfast but suhoor, late nights spent praying instead of sleeping, and going through the day without energy are big changes. Getting ready now can eliminate any overwhelm that inevitably happens whenever there is change. Here are some things you can do to transition into Ramadan smoothly.
PRO TIP

Preparation is the key to a smooth transition. Small changes today lead to a transformative Ramadan tomorrow.

Make up for missed fasts

Missing fasts during Ramadan could happen for several reasons. This could be due to menstruation, sickness, or travel. Whatever the reason is, you must make up those missed fasts as soon as possible, ideally before the upcoming Ramadan. Stop yourself from saying you’ll make up the fasts next week or during the weekend, and just do it. Set your intention, wake up for suhoor, and fast. If you don’t have any missed fasts or you’ve already made them up, try including some voluntary fasts to prepare for the upcoming month to follow in the footsteps of our beloved Prophet (peace be upon him).

How to make intention for Ramadan

The most important step before doing anything in Islam is intention (niya). This involves planning to do something purely for the sake of Allah. Intentions in Islam are more than just planning; they involve trying your best to achieve what you planned to do to please Allah. Before Ramadan starts, take some time to sit with yourself and reflect on your character and habits. Are you interacting with the Quran? Are you practising modesty? Is your heart clean? Asking yourself these uncomfortable questions can help you identify your weaknesses in order to eliminate them. Take action in advance so that you are more likely to complete whatever you intend. For example, if you plan to dress more modestly, prepare your outfit the night before, so that in the morning, there’s no time for you to overthink and switch to something less modest.

Good habits to start in Ramadan

The most difficult part of starting something new is just that – starting. Think about when you are procrastinating a task, the hardest part is starting, but if you can get yourself to begin, the rest is simple. If you take small steps now, such as increasing your engagement with the Quran, adjusting your sleep schedule, and giving charity, the month will feel less overwhelming. Start small, set a timer for five minutes and read the Quran. Go to bed five minutes earlier so that it is easier to wake up for Fajr. As time goes on, you will be able to turn those five minutes into ten minutes, and by the time Ramadan starts, you will be motivated to follow through with your goals. Finally, make sure to download beneficial apps for Muslims that will help inspire you to remain consistent with these good habits.

How to stop sinning in Ramadan

You’ve probably wondered if Shaytan is locked up during Ramadan, why am I still sinning? A reason for this could be that it has become a habit for you to do a certain sin. Stopping a certain sin before this holy month will ensure you sin as little as possible, God willing. This is why it is important to work on eliminating them before Ramadan, so that you don’t fall victim to Shaytan’s whispers after the month is over.

The Inner Work

Eliminating sins is done by working on your inner self before working on your outer self. You need to first become self-aware and understand why you are doing a certain sin. Once you’ve established that, you should make a gradual change rather than a sudden change to ensure that you properly get rid of that sin. Through doing some inner work, your actions will mirror your thoughts, and eventually, you will physically stop what it is you wanted to get rid of.

 The Physical Change

Physical change can look like changing your environment or your behaviour and take a while to become permanent. You mustn’t lose hope once a mistake is made, but instead start over until you are successful in giving up that sin entirely.

Reflecting on the Quran

Ramadan is the month of the Quran because this is when it was revealed; because of this, it’s encouraged to read as much Quran as possible. It’s important to note, however, that while it’s great to read Quran, it is also important that you understand what you are reading. This can look like reading the translation of whatever your preferred language is, and maybe even taking the time out of your day to watch or read an explanation of the surah you’re reading. Any effort towards understanding the Quran is a great way to feel closer to Allah. If you don’t know where to start and you want to interact with the Quran more, check out our podcast and listen to this episode!

Plan for Eid in advance

You’re probably wondering, if Ramadan hasn’t even started, why should I prepare for Eid? That’s because this month should be as stress-free as possible in order to put the most energy into worshipping Allah. The stress of not having an outfit for Eid can lead to the distraction of the overall importance of Ramadan. Instead of spending time with the Quran, you’re spending your time scrolling on websites for clothes or shopping. Planning your Eid attire allows you to make the most of your time during Ramadan and reduces the stress of last-minute shopping.
Deepen Your Knowledge

Want some more tips on how to prepare for Ramadan?

Listen to our dedicated podcast episode where we dive deeper into spiritual and practical readiness for the holy month.

Preparing for Ramadan - Firmly Rooted Podcast by Roots Academy Listen to the episode →
Ramadan 2026
PRO TIP

Preparation is the key to a smooth transition. Small changes today lead to a transformative Ramadan tomorrow.

Going from your day-to-day routine to the month of Ramadan can feel a bit overwhelming without proper preparation. No longer eating breakfast but suhoor, late nights spent praying instead of sleeping, and going through the day without energy are big changes. Getting ready now can eliminate any overwhelm that inevitably happens whenever there is change. Here are some things you can do to transition into Ramadan smoothly.

Make up for missed fasts

Missing fasts during Ramadan could happen for several reasons. This could be due to menstruation, sickness, or travel. Whatever the reason is, you must make up those missed fasts as soon as possible, ideally before the upcoming Ramadan. Stop yourself from saying you’ll make up the fasts next week or during the weekend, and just do it. Set your intention, wake up for suhoor, and fast. If you don’t have any missed fasts or you’ve already made them up, try including some voluntary fasts to prepare for the upcoming month to follow in the footsteps of our beloved Prophet (peace be upon him).

How to make intention for Ramadan

The most important step before doing anything in Islam is intention (niya). This involves planning to do something purely for the sake of Allah. Intentions in Islam are more than just planning; they involve trying your best to achieve what you planned to do to please Allah. Before Ramadan starts, take some time to sit with yourself and reflect on your character and habits. Are you interacting with the Quran? Are you practising modesty? Is your heart clean? Asking yourself these uncomfortable questions can help you identify your weaknesses in order to eliminate them. Take action in advance so that you are more likely to complete whatever you intend. For example, if you plan to dress more modestly, prepare your outfit the night before, so that in the morning, there’s no time for you to overthink and switch to something less modest.

Good habits to start in Ramadan

The most difficult part of starting something new is just that – starting. Think about when you are procrastinating a task, the hardest part is starting, but if you can get yourself to begin, the rest is simple. If you take small steps now, such as increasing your engagement with the Quran, adjusting your sleep schedule, and giving charity, the month will feel less overwhelming. Start small, set a timer for five minutes and read the Quran. Go to bed five minutes earlier so that it is easier to wake up for Fajr. As time goes on, you will be able to turn those five minutes into ten minutes, and by the time Ramadan starts, you will be motivated to follow through with your goals. Finally, make sure to download beneficial apps for Muslims that will help inspire you to remain consistent with these good habits.

How to stop sinning in Ramadan

You’ve probably wondered if Shaytan is locked up during Ramadan, why am I still sinning? A reason for this could be that it has become a habit for you to do a certain sin. Stopping a certain sin before this holy month will ensure you sin as little as possible, God willing. This is why it is important to work on eliminating them before Ramadan, so that you don’t fall victim to Shaytan’s whispers after the month is over.

The Inner Work

Eliminating sins is done by working on your inner self before working on your outer self. You need to first become self-aware and understand why you are doing a certain sin. Once you’ve established that, you should make a gradual change rather than a sudden change to ensure that you properly get rid of that sin. Through doing some inner work, your actions will mirror your thoughts, and eventually, you will physically stop what it is you wanted to get rid of.

 The Physical Change

Physical change can look like changing your environment or your behaviour and take a while to become permanent. You mustn’t lose hope once a mistake is made, but instead start over until you are successful in giving up that sin entirely.

Reflecting on the Quran

Ramadan is the month of the Quran because this is when it was revealed; because of this, it’s encouraged to read as much Quran as possible. It’s important to note, however, that while it’s great to read Quran, it is also important that you understand what you are reading. This can look like reading the translation of whatever your preferred language is, and maybe even taking the time out of your day to watch or read an explanation of the surah you’re reading. Any effort towards understanding the Quran is a great way to feel closer to Allah. If you don’t know where to start and you want to interact with the Quran more, check out our podcast and listen to this episode!

Plan for Eid in advance

You’re probably wondering, if Ramadan hasn’t even started, why should I prepare for Eid? That’s because this month should be as stress-free as possible in order to put the most energy into worshipping Allah. The stress of not having an outfit for Eid can lead to the distraction of the overall importance of Ramadan. Instead of spending time with the Quran, you’re spending your time scrolling on websites for clothes or shopping. Planning your Eid attire allows you to make the most of your time during Ramadan and reduces the stress of last-minute shopping.
Deepen Your Knowledge

Want some more tips on how to prepare for Ramadan?

Listen to our dedicated podcast episode where we dive deeper into spiritual and practical readiness for the holy month.

Preparing for Ramadan - Firmly Rooted Podcast by Roots Academy Listen to the episode →