Ramadan Notes #5: Are you waking up energized this Ramadan?

As-salamu’alaykum,

A friend stopped me in the masjid hallways after Fajr salah a few days ago and asked me how come I looked so energized despite the long nights of Ramadan. I paused for a minute because my friend was quite a bit younger than me and I was like “dude…are you for real?” He went on to explain the reality and yes…not only was it “for real”, he had been waking up pretty tired. May Allah SWT make it easy for all of us. Amin.

It dawned on me that it’s a struggle for many of us including myself to find renewed energy with every passing day of this blessed month.

Key insights from our conversation centered around the choices we make especially from the moment that we break our fast till we go to bed.

The Quran provides guidance in this regard;

Surah Al-Baqarah v168: O humanity! Eat from what is lawful and good on the earth and do not follow Satan’s footsteps. He is truly your sworn enemy.

and the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) also teaches us some practical wisdom in the following hadith

Miqdam bin Madikarib said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: ‘A human being fills no worse vessel than his stomach. It is sufficient for a human being to eat a few mouthfuls to keep his spine straight. But if he must (fill it), then one third of food, one third for drink and one third for air.’”  Grade: Sahih (Sunan Ibn Majah 3349)

These references highlight a key principle in nourishing our bodies for peak performance in and outside of Ramadan; practice Taqwa (mindfulness of Allah) with your food choices as well as with the portion sizes. 

Here are some important choices that impact your energy levels on an ongoing basis especially in Ramadan when opportunities to refuel are limited. Consider these as you approach your evenings in Ramadan and beyond (not an exhaustive list by any means);

1. Follow the sunnah in breaking your fast - say Bismillah, followed by the recommended adhkar and eat fresh dates followed by some water. 

2. Take the opportunity to make du’a including asking Allah SWT for renewed energy

3. Eat a wholesome meal with emphasis on recommended daily portions of fruits and vegetables in addition to moderate portions of carbs and proteins.

4. Avoid fried foods, high refined sugary options and heavy portions - these are energy drainers 

5. Avoid caffeine at any point in the evening and late night meals close to your bedtime as it interferes with high quality sleep (even if you do get to fall asleep - the quality is far from what you need to re-energize you for the coming day)

6. Make wudu at bedtime and say the adhkar that Prophet Muhammad (SAW) gifted Fatima (RA) when she approached him for a maid - Allahu Akbar (34x), Subhannallah (33x), Alhamdulillah (33x)

7. Go to bed as soon after your evening prayers as possible as studies have shown that the sleep prior to midnight is higher quality than what you get past midnight.

Sleep is great medicine as the saying goes and is probably one of the most important gifts from Allah SWT to help re-energize us. Do what you can to make it count in Ramadan - quality over quantity! We all recognize that our duration of sleep in Ramadan is generally shorter. 

Following the sunnah taps into the spiritual energy force of Barakah while we “tie our camels” by making better choices with sources of physical energy - food and sleep as well as manage our social energy when the peer pressure hits - think samosas!...fried chicken!!…iftaar galore!!!

May Allah SWT, Al-Muqeet (the Nourisher) enable us to seek nourishment that is halal (lawful) and Tayyib (wholesome/good) in a way that optimizes our energy levels this blessed month and beyond. Amin

Sincerely,

Sulyman

P.S. Join like-hearted #HealthCareWorkers on Zoom every Thursday this Ramadan for weekly check-ins at 4.15pm CST/9.15pm GMT/10.15pm WAT . Register and join with this link.

P.P.S. What other suggestions do you have for me and others in this regard? Share in the comments section or reply to [email protected]

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