By Muhammad A. Adedokun

Is it bad to hope for a better tomorrow? If such hope can be likened to a person who designs a house he dreams of living in, then there comes the concern of how this will come to reality. So, for a better tomorrow, the intentionality of how it can be achieved remains a concern.

Although having proper planning is indispensable and cannot be overlooked, taking no action to execute the plans makes it a waste of effort, since the former doesn’t guarantee the realization. This is similar to the designer of a house who never lays its foundation, yet expects it to stand firm.

As the glorious month of Ramadan draws closer, many have been drafting their expectations for this month, neglecting the importance of their state before the month begins. Be informed that what you’re engaged in before Ramadan is a determinant as to whether the expectations come to realization. If you want to achieve your plans for Ramadan, then you do not need to wait until Ramadan begins. However, if you see the implementation of your Ramadan expectations before the month begins as an unnecessary exercise, then you are not different from a farmer who expects a harvest without first tilling the land by planting seeds to prepare for growing vegetation and crops.

There’s no doubt that an athlete needs to train beforehand if winning the race truly means a lot to him. Why then do you feel there’s no need to start those plans you have for Ramadan from now on? Oh, you feel that the condition of Ramadan will automatically make those things achievable, maybe because Shaytan would have been chained by then. Do you mean if an untrained soldier has never learned how to shoot, the chaos of the battlefield can suddenly grant him that skill? Internalize!

You can look back at your previous Ramadan, and ask yourself, “In which of them was I able to achieve my mountainous goals?” Is there any? Examine the case of someone who spends close to 8 hours in the office daily, but sets goals like: Qur’an from start to finish every day, long hours in Taraweeh every night, observing Solaatu Duha every day, attending Tafsir session regularly, daily charity, paying a visit to the burial grounds two times a week, and the like. How these will be achieved is questionable. It’s neither because they’re not achievable nor because the blessing of the month can’t make it possible, but it’s due to how unrealistic you make those expectations.

The mistake we often make is that we set expectations based on what we feel seems huge, expecting huge rewards from each, without asking ourselves this question: “Will I be consistent with these?” Don’t forget that the Prophet ﷺ taught moderation! When the Prophet ﷺ was asked about deeds that please Allah, he said:
“The most beloved deeds to Allah are those done consistently, even if they are small.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari & Sahih Muslim)

You can testify that having sufficient daily bread constantly is better than a day filled with excess, but followed by several years of hunger. This is similar to spending a whole night on prayer only to sleep the rest of the night in the month. A person who consistently prays moderate raka’aat (let’s say 2, 11, or any other convenient raka’aat) with a good intention is better than he who spends the whole night praying, followed by long days off from such. Islam values consistency over fleeting fervor.

Ask yourself the following when setting those goals: “Will I be consistent with these?” “How can I plan this to make it palatable with my schedule?” “Have I been doing this even before Ramadan begins?” “How can I start doing those listed plans to make the expectations realistic when Ramadan begins?”

Remember, in order not to be like a traveler who expects to reach his destination without ever setting out on the journey, you have to start those plans and expectations you have for Ramadan from now. It’s also important to take note that the essence of a training session is not to celebrate your achievements during the training only, but to equip you with the skills you’ll make use of even when the training is not on.

In conclusion, the Prophet ﷺ did not meet Ramadan empty-handed, nor did he leave it empty-hearted. He entered Ramadan with habits of obedience, intensified them during it, and carried them forward afterward.