4] Suggested program for the Muslim during Ramadaan

4]
Firstly, let me congratulate you on the beginning of the blessed month
of Ramadaan; I hope that Allaah will accept fasting and prayersfrom us
and from you.
I hope that I can make themost of this opportunity to do as much
worship and earn as much reward as possible. I hope that you could
give me a program that is suitable for me and my family so that we can
make the most of this month in goodness and obedience.
Praise be to Allaah.
May Allaah accept all our righteous words and deeds, and help us to be
sincere in secret and in public.
There follows a suggestedprogram for the Muslim during this blessed month:
The Muslim's day in Ramadaan:
The Muslim starts his day with suhoor before Fajr prayer. It is better
to delay suhoor until the latest possible time of thenight.
Then after that the Muslim gets ready for Fajr prayer before the
adhaan.So he does wudoo' at home and goes out to themosque before the
adhaan.
When he enters the mosque, he prays two rak'ahs (tahiyyat al-masjid–
greeting the mosque). Then he sits and keeps busy making du'aa', or
reading Qur'aan, or reciting dhikr, until the muezzin gives the call
to prayer. He repeats what the muezzin says, and says the du'aa'
narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
to be said afterthe adhaan ends. Then after that he prays two rak'ahs
(the regular Sunnah of Fajr), then he occupies himself with du'aa' and
reading Qur'aan until the iqaamahfor prayer is given. He is ina state
of prayer so long as he is waiting for the prayer.
After offering the prayer in congregation, he recitesthe dhikrs that
are prescribed following the salaam at the end of the prayer. After
that if he wants to sit in the mosque until the sun has risen,
reciting dhikr and reading Qur'aan, that is preferable, and that is
what the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to
do after Fajr prayer.
Then about one-quarter of an hour after the sun has risen, if he wants
he can pray Duha prayer (a minimum of two rak'ahs), and that is good.
Or if he wants he can delay it untilthe preferred time, which is when
the day has grown hotter and the sun is higher in the sky – that is
better.
Then if he wants he may sleep to prepare himself for going to work,
and he can intend by sleeping to strengthen himself for worship and
earning a living, so that he will be rewarded for it in sha Allah. He
should also follow the etiquette of sleep that is prescribed in
sharee'ah, both actions and words.
Then he goes to work, and when the time for Zuhr prayer comes, he goes
to the mosque early,before the adhaan or immediately after it, and he
should get ready to pray beforehand. So he prays four rak'ahs with two
tasleems (the regular Sunnah before Zuhr), thenhe keeps busy reading
Qur'aan until the iqaamahfor prayer is given, and heprays with the
congregation, then he prays two rak'ahs (the regular Sunnah after
Zuhr).
Then after the prayer he goes and finishes whatever of his work is
left, until it is time to leave work. If there is a long time to go
after finishing his work until the time for 'Asr prayer, then he can
rest. But if there is not enough time and he fears that if he sleeps
he will miss 'Asr prayer, then he should keep busy doing something
suitable until the time for 'Asr comes, such as going to the market to
buy some things that his family needs and the like, or going straight
to the mosque when he has finished his work, and staying in the mosque
until he has prayed 'Asr.
Then after 'As, it depends on his circumstances. If hecan stay in the
mosque and keep busy reading Qur'aan, this is a great opportunity. But
if he feels tired, then he shouldrest at this time so that hewill be
ready to pray taraaweeh at night.
Before the adhaan for Maghrib, he should get ready to break his fast,
and he should do something at this time that will benefit him, whether
reading Qur'aan, making du'aa', or having auseful conversation with
his wife and children.