1️ Purify your heart. Do sincere tawbah. Reflect over your past. Repent. Turn back with sincerity. Increase in istighfar. Revive your heart with Zikr. Give sadaqah as much as you can. Let go of bad feelings towards others. It stops you from getting close to Allah. Ask Allah to free you from bad feelings. If you wronged anyone make amends. Overcome bad feelings by making dua for that person.
2️ Muhasabah. Call yourself to account. Are we improving and coming close to Allah? What goals do you want to set? What sins or bad habits do you want to focus on? Backbiting, wasting time, missing prayers. Start trying to change now. What good habits can be adopt to improve? Take steps towards Allah. Dhuha, start your day on shukr, azkar, akhlaq.
The highest levels of reward in Ramadan are for those with ihsan.
3️ Increase in good deeds. Increase in reading Quran. Rawaatib prayers - house in jannah. If you’re not used to it it will be heavy. Work on it to make it easy. People who are able to recite Quran and Zikr before dying it’s because their hearts were used to it. Qiyam al Layl.
Ibn Rajab said Shaban is like an introduction to Ramadan. Fast and recite Quran in order to prepare so the soul is disciplined upon obedience.
4️ Make yourself excited for Ramadan. Spring clean your house. Complete your assignments and appointments before Ramadan. Choose good company. Make up missed fasts. Memorize some Quran to recite in salah. Make a personal daily plan for how you’re going to spend your day. Where will you pray taraweeh? When will you recite Quran?
Make du’a to Allah to give us Tawfeeq. We can’t rely on our efforts and plans and Ramadan journals. No one will be successful without Allah’s help. اللهم اعني علي ذكرك و شكرك و حين عبادتك
Only Allah knows how many more Ramadans we have left. How many people have passed away. How many people are sick and can’t fast. Don’t take this blessing for granted. Ask Allah to help you stay safe to see Ramadan.
Al-Jawzee said if it was said to those in their graves wish, they would wish to come back to fast one more day in Ramadan.