Ramadan and a Desired Muslim Behavior

Ramadan is just around the corner and we should be ready both mentally, psychically and spiritually to welcome and make the most of it. Ramadan is not just a month that requires Muslims to abstain from eating/drinking and offering prayers and do charitable deeds. It offers an opportunity and training period to bring about major improvements in our personalities. Sadly, some Muslims celebrate Ramadan as a some kind of ritual and festival where they do not reflect a bit on their behaviors/habits and relationships with others. 

Ideally, Ramadan is not just about stopping eating and other forbidden acts from sunrise to sunset. It offers a rigorous routine so that the changed behavior becomes permanent part of ourselves. A lot of us unfortunately overlook the spiritual and mental side of Ramadan and only focus on psychical aspects of it. 

So, what are the spiritual and mental sides of Ramadan that should reflect in our behaviors even after Ramadan ends. Each of us is struggling with some personality issues related to behavior. The following possible behaviors and practices every Muslim should try to incorporate into their lives. 

READ ALSO: THINGS YOU SHOULD AVOID IN RAMADAN 

                     THINGS YOU SHOULD DO IN RAMADAN    

Practice Forgiveness 

Forgiveness is a virtue in itself and Allah loves people who have a forgiving nature and heart. Don't hold grudges with people who hurt you and harmed you. Forgive yourself. Forgive your parents for their shortcomings and forgive all who have come into contact with you. Once adopted, this trait will cultivate a stronger and more upright personality within you. A lot of people mistake forgiveness for weakness. Forgiveness is power as it liberates you from the negative influences of people/events and things around you. 

Practice Anger Management

If you are a person who gets offended and angry at the slightest of things, Ramadan is the most befitting time for you to change this self-destructive behavior. By consciously restraining from expressing anger and controlling it, you can reduce this habit by 50 to 70 percent in a month. Whenever you feel enraged during the time of Ramadan, just remind yourself that Ramadan is not just about abstaining from eating/drinking, it requires Muslims to bring positive changes in their personalities. 

Practice Gratitude

Gratitude is the most powerful human emotion. There is a reason why Allah says in Quran: 

"‘If you are grateful, I will certainly give you more. But if you are ungrateful, surely My punishment is severe.’” (Surah-Ibrahim: 14:7)

Gratitude has transforming power in itself and it gradually makes us appreciative and optimistic. Instead of trying to be optimistic via another technique method, practicing gratitude will achieve the same goal with less effort. When we are being grateful, we automatically are appreciative and optimistic about life and any other issue we are having issues with. 

The simple gratitude practice can begin with: thinking about the blessings and appreciating them such as good health, having enough money, having good parents and friends.