Schedule For Ramadan

Daily Base Schedule

Praise be to Allaah.

May Allaah accept all our righteous words and deeds, and help us to be sincere in secret and in public. 

There follows a suggested program for the Muslim during this blessed month: 

The Muslim's day in Ramadaan: 

The Muslim starts his day with suhoor before Fajr prayer. It is better to delay suhoor until the latest possible time of the night. 

Then after that the Muslim gets ready for Fajr prayer before the adhaan. So he does wudoo' at home and goes out to the mosque before the adhaan. 

When he enters the mosque, he prays two rak'ahs (tahiyyat al-masjid – greeting the mosque). Then he sits and keeps busy making du'aa', or reading Qur'aan, or reciting dhikr, until the muezzin gives the call to prayer. He repeats what the muezzin says, and says the du'aa' narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) to be said after the adhaan ends. Then after that he prays two rak'ahs (the regular Sunnah of Fajr), then he occupies himself with du'aa' and reading Qur'aan until the iqaamah for prayer is given. He is in a state of prayer so long as he is waiting for the prayer. 

After offering the prayer in congregation, he recites the dhikrs that are prescribed following the salaam at the end of the prayer. After that if he wants to sit in the mosque until the sun has risen, reciting dhikr and reading Qur'aan, that is preferable, and that is what the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to do after Fajr prayer. 

Then about one-quarter of an hour after the sun has risen, if he wants he can pray Duha prayer (a minimum of two rak'ahs), and that is good. Or if he wants he can delay it until the preferred time, which is when the day has grown hotter and the sun is higher in the sky – that is better. 

Then if he wants he may sleep to prepare himself for going to work, and he can intend by sleeping to strengthen himself for worship and earning a living, so that he will be rewarded for it in sha Allah. He should also follow the etiquette of sleep that is prescribed in sharee'ah, both actions and words. 

Then he goes to work, and when the time for Zuhr prayer comes, he goes to the mosque early, before the adhaan or immediately after it, and he should get ready to pray beforehand. So he prays four rak'ahs with two tasleems (the regular Sunnah before Zuhr), then he keeps busy reading Qur'aan until the iqaamah for prayer is given, and he prays with the congregation, then he prays two rak'ahs (the regular Sunnah after Zuhr). 

Then after the prayer he goes and finishes whatever of his work is left, until it is time to leave work. If there is a long time to go after finishing his work until the time for 'Asr prayer, then he can rest. But if there is not enough time and he fears that if he sleeps he will miss 'Asr prayer, then he should keep busy doing something suitable until the time for 'Asr comes, such as going to the market to buy some things that his family needs and the like, or going straight to the mosque when he has finished his work, and staying in the mosque until he has prayed 'Asr. 

Then after 'As, it depends on his circumstances. If he can stay in the mosque and keep busy reading Qur'aan, this is a great opportunity. But if he feels tired, then he should rest at this time so that he will be ready to pray taraaweeh at night. 

Before the adhaan for Maghrib, he should get ready to break his fast, and he should do something at this time that will benefit him, whether reading Qur'aan, making du'aa', or having a useful conversation with his wife and children. 

One of the best things that he can do at this time is to take part in offering iftaar to those who are fasting, whether by bringing food to them or helping to distribute it to them and organizing that. This brings a great joy which no one knows except those who have experienced it. 

After iftaar, he goes and prays in congregation in the mosque, and after the prayer he prays two rak'ahs (the regular Sunnah of Maghrib).