Ramadan Reflections: 30 days of healing from the past, journeying with presence and looking ahead to an akhirah-focused future

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You need to be patient with yourself. Some days, despite your efforts, will not go to plan. You need to trust when Allah intervenes and turns your plans upside down, placing you on a different path. You need to be patient for the answer to your du’a. You need to be patient when you feel you are doing this alone, unsupported. You need to choose patience because patience is always needed on any journey and this journey of God-consciousness is the most intense, most surprising, most beautiful and yet testing journey of them all. Know when you choose patience, really choose it from deep within, know “Allah is with the patient” (Surah Anfal 8:46)” Ellis is from the video production team, and Fawaz is a GenieClass English teacher. Both of them were extremely excited to answer Ramadan-related questions many people are curious about. Here we go! 1. Do you lose weight during Ramadan? The Holy month of Ramadan has graced us by its presence, thereby giving us the opportunity to experience yet another month of Ramadan, the month of mercy, forgiveness, and emancipation from Hell-Fire. When we reflect upon this holy month, we find that there exists a unique golden triangle that is closely interconnected with each other. This holy triangle consists of the following three: Sometimes it’s not that we don’t know something, but just that we need a reminder, a little nudge to remember the good something has for us. Day 28 on Istakhara teaches us to turn to Allah in times of desperation, in times when we truly need the guidance of Al-Hādi (the One who guides) to light the way for us. I learnt how to perform Istakhara correctly and with conviction that this is the best way to resolve my conflicting mind and heart.

Featuring inspirational real-life stories from those who have experienced miraculous results from living with du’a, this book is a comforting guide to revive and develop a close relationship with Al Mujeeb – The One Who Responds. Through life’s challenges and struggles, with tools from the Qur’an and Sunnah, you will learn how to:Ramadan Reflections is pretty much a roadmap for our lives; the reason, the seasons, the battles, and Our Merciful Lord, Whom she proudly shows off by some of His Magnificent Names and Attributes and Whom I proudly love more. This book is a keeper. You can keep returning to it over and over, as you grow and develop and find new meanings to each chapter/topic previously read. The introduction alone, had me bracing myself. The quote Aliyah used to end the introduction, allured me to surrender my heart & mind- to accept her invitation, and embark on a soul searching journey. I feel like I’ve put myself through something that is challenging but hope to complete the month as a better person. I would like to wish everyone Eid Mubarak –& hope you have a blessed and safe Eid with your family and loved ones.”

I usually spend the first couple of weeks of Ramadan working, and will have short breaks during the day to pray. I will also ensure that any parties to the proceedings are given sufficient breaks to enable them to participate fairly. During Ramadan, I avoid going to the lunchroom and use this time effectively to work. After work, I will rest for a few hours before the fast opening time and this enables me to catch up on sleep. I will then open my fast at around 7:45pm, it is customary to open the fast by eating a date and have some fruits, which is then followed by a meal with family and friends. What a book! Each word in Ramadan Reflections should be written in gold! A masterpiece. I couldn't stop reading it as it felt like it was written for me, I felt so sad when I finished reading it.Ramadhan used to be a time of trepidation and caution for me when I was young. I am a big foody and not being able to eat or drink during the daytime hours FOR A WHOLE MONTH! was daunting. However, I always used to get through it. What I learnt over the years is that Ramadhan is like no other month, there is a collective spirit in people partaking in this annual blessing, people are blessed with patience during this month that helps them endure the fast.

Ramadan Reflections: a guided journal is a collection of intimate, healing, Islam-focused reflections aimed at guiding readers through the 30 days of Ramadan. Fawaz: Of course. We generally say Salam Ramadan, which loosely translates to ‘Ramadan greetings’. So from all of us at Geniebook, we’d like to wish all our Muslim friends Salam Ramadan! The book has been written very practically and beautifully. Aliyah has this gift to connect the readers actual feelings and thoughts as if she is inside their own minds. She effortlessly draws clear lines of truths to the truth, while connecting us to our Creator, presenting Him and His Choices and Actions in our lives in such deeply beautiful considerations. She reminds us of our purpose and life in the hereafter. This is her debut book. This guided journal is divided into three parts which focus on the past, the present and the future respectively. There is a chapter with its own topic for each day of Ramadan with some prompts/questions at the end for the reader to write their own reflections and thoughts.Ironically each of these corners of the golden triangle has contributed and presented divine gifts to the other corners and we shall review these unique blessings here. Onto repentance on Day 6; moving forward to self-love on Day 14 to having tāwwakụl on Day 23 and one of my faves learning the beauty of istakhara on Day 27 — it has been like a mental rollercoaster ride. There have been days I’ve cried. Cried thinking about my past, thinking about the hardships, trials and of my sins. I’ve cried whilst learning to let go by forgiving others (Day 7). I was always a believer in forgiving, not so much in forgetting but that day I truly let go… The anger. The hurt. The pain. I let it all go. And from that day the journey to Allāh seemed more easier! I felt my heart really open wide. Spending further days smiling whilst learning of the blessings Aliyah had and has ma’sha’Allāh (Allāhụmma barįk laha); feeling hopeful that I too will get through my hardships with persistence and a little sabr (Day 26). It's well written and will speak to everyone in some way- each chapter has a theme and the writing style- part memoir, part advice- is really well balanced. It felt like having a conversation with a trusted friend. Within each chapter, the author shares her own personal stories and experiences related to each topic. She weaves in ayahs from the Quran, Hadiths, and quotes from Islamic texts. Each chapter ends with a dua, which was my favourite part. We often make the same duas without my variation and we don’t know what else to ask for, but Aliyah has written some beautiful duas related to the messages in each chapter and they really felt meaningful and heartfelt.