by Muslim.Sg
https://www.muslim.sg/articles/good-deeds-to-do-in-ramadan
List of good deeds for Ramadan
Ramadan is a month where the rewards for good deeds are multiplied. This is the Month of Mercy where the gate of hell is closed, and the doors of paradise are wide open. It is a month where we increase our acts of worship and are in a state of deep spirituality.
As we seek to transform our relationship with God in this holy month of Ramadan, this month also offers us splendid opportunities to do good to others. Our spirituality is not confined to just our relationship with Allah s.w.t, but also extended through our service to His creation.
This Month of Mercy, let us take the opportunity to maximise our efforts in attaining Allah’s pleasure by performing good deeds.
Here are 5 things we can do this Ramadan:
1. Pay zakat
Zakat forms the third pillar of Islam. As Muslims, it is our obligation to pay zakat when it is due. Your Zakat contribution does not only help one individual or family but it impacts the entire community.
Every person from the 8 asnaf has a rightful share of our wealth. A person who fulfils Zakat is actually “purifying” his wealth by separating from it the portion that belongs to the poor.
As mentioned in the Quran:
“And in their wealth, there was a rightful share for one who asks and for one who is deprived.”
(Surah Ad-Dzariyat, verse 19)
You can fulfil your Zakat via these methods:
Remember to also check with our parents who may not be aware of how they can fulfil their third pillar of Islam. Help them to make their zakat payments online. Reassure them that the rewards and blessings for paying zakat online are similar to the rewards and blessings of paying in person, insya’Allah.
Read Understanding Better the Third Pillar of Islam & Its Practice
2. Donate/Sadaqah in Ramadan
Allah s.w.t mentioned in the Quran,
آمِنوا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسولِهِ وَأَنفِقوا مِمّا جَعَلَكُم مُستَخلَفينَ فيهِ ۖ فَالَّذينَ آمَنوا مِنكُم وَأَنفَقوا لَهُم أَجرٌ كَبيرٌ
“‘Believe in Allah and His Messenger, and spend (in charity) out of the (substance) whereof He has made you heirs. For, those of you who believe and spend (in charity), for them is a great Reward.”
(Surah Al-Hadid, 57:7)
In this challenging time, if we are blessed with more, let us share it with others who need it more than us. Let’s support one another and lift each other up.
With regards to making donations, we can help feed those in need by pledging our donation to the Blessings to All Project initiative by the Rahmatan lil Alamin Foundation (RLAF). About 7,000 households will receive a ‘Blessings to All’ gift bag filled with supplies such as grocery vouchers and items for personal hygiene, protection, and health care.
3. Share food for breaking of fast
It has always been part of our tradition to share food with our family, friends, neighbours and the community at large. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen our community organise communal break-fast sessions, inviting both Muslims and non-Muslims to join the festivities. The joy and love of Ramadan are being shared with everyone, with neighbours exchanging food with each other.
As the maximum number of unique visitors per household has been adjusted from 5 to 10 persons at any one time, we are able to gather and break fast with our loved ones this year.
Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. said,
مَنْ فَطَّرَ صَائِمًا كَانَ لَهُ مِثْلُ أَجْرِهِ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ لَا يَنْقُصُ مِنْ أَجْرِ الصَّائِمِ شَيْئًا
“Whoever helps to break the fast of a fasting person (giving food), he will have the same reward as him without decreasing anything from the reward of the fasting person.”
(Sunan At-Tirmizi)
For those whom you are unable to meet because of the cap on the number of visitors, you can use various food delivery services to order and send food to them.
4. Volunteer in Ramadan
We can also volunteer our time to benefit others this Ramadan.
Rasulullah s.a.w. mentioned in a masyhur (well-known and widely corroborated) hadith compiled by Imam At-Tabarani,
خير الناس أنفعهم للناس
“The best of people are those that benefit humanity.”
(Al-Mu’jam Al-Awsat)
For example, you can participate in BlockWalk by Habitat by Humanity Singapore and clean up our previous shared spaces around us. BlockWalk takes place monthly with April’s session taking place on 24 April 2022 from 7.30 am to 9.30 am.
Here are some items that you would need to prepare:
Basic Items
- Face mask
- Mobile phone (with Zoom app installed)
- Large trash bag or a few plastic bags
- Standard BBQ tongs
- Gloves (or you can use small plastic bags as gloves to keep your hands clean)
Recommended Items
- Mosquito repellent (beware of the increase in dengue cases!)
- Earphones (for listening in on our Zoom program while on the go)
- Mobile power bank
- Hat or cap
- Umbrella or poncho (in case it rains)
Read more information here.
To volunteer for this activity, click here. Register by 23 April at 7.30 am.
For more volunteering opportunities, read Five volunteering opportunities in April 2022.
5. Be even more involved at home this Ramadan
One of the things that many of us can do during this Ramadan to get ourselves more involved at home and be with our loved ones. Use these moments to do household chores together more extensively than before.
For the gentlemen, this is the moment to be more involved in the kitchen if we haven’t been doing it previously. We can prepare meals for sahur and buka puasa. After all, the reward of feeding those who fast is the same as the reward that a fasting person gets. Imagine getting the reward for your own fast, and the rewards of preparing it for your loved ones at home!
Rasulullah s.a.w. said,
خَيْرُكُمْ خَيْرُكُمْ لأَهْلِهِ وَأَنَا خَيْرُكُمْ لأَهْلِي
“The best of you is the one who is best to his family, and I am the best of you to my family.”
(Sunan At-Tirmizi)
We may also use this Ramadan to enhance our spirituality together with our loved ones. Use this opportunity to pray together, such as performing Terawih and Tahajjud prayers. Let’s enlighten the spirit of Ramadan in our own homes, Insya’Allah.
