Clear the Clutter | In the Shade of Ramadan 10.3 DISCUSSION -Think about your relationship with the Quran, prayer and good deeds in light of the quote, 'Don’t give Allah the leftover scraps of your time.' Does this apply to you and in what ways? -Is there a place and time when you feel the Quran touches you more? -We can use specific times and events in our day as cues to initiate a Quran habit. As part of improving your Ramadan routine, can you identify what cue you will connect your Quran recitation to? PRACTICE -Think about your daily routine and select the best time of day for your appointment with the Quran. Add a daily reminder to yourself of your upcoming appointment, just as you do for other important commitments. READ MORE We’ll find that when we immerse ourselves in a calm setting, the sacredness of the Quran seeps into our consciousness. Quiet and stillness heightens our sensitivity. When our environment is tranquil, we are less inhibited in expressing our emotions, allowing the words of God, if we are so inclined, to wring our hearts dry and draw out our tears. The most genuine prayers will flow from our tongues without even having to calculate what it is we should be praying for. Part of creating an environment conducive to benefiting from the Quran is selecting the right time to recite. We’re conditioned to view our time with the Quran as secondary to our studies, jobs, and our leisure time. Reciting the Quran is reserved only for our spare time— that is, any time left over after working, eating, scrolling through endless media feeds, and making sure we catch up on our favorite television series. Maybe you play your favorite Quran recitation while driving, with your mind swinging between the road (where it should be), your daily tasks, and maybe every so often how beautiful that ayah that just played is. Or perhaps you complete your daily portion of recitation while commuting on the bus or train, trying with all your might to keep your eyes on the page despite the blur of passing bodies in the peripheries. Some of us might delay our recitation until we’re lying in our beds at the end of the day; while the quiet environment may be appropriate, your fatigued mind no longer has the capacity to engage with anything on a substantial level. Listening to the Quran while occupied with a physical or mental task is acceptable and helps us reap some benefits, but it should not be the basis of our primary conversation with the Quran. Give the Quran a time of day when your heart is active, your mind is fresh, and you can be focused on the meanings of God’s words. Don’t forget, as well, to make wudu and brush your teeth before reciting. Aside from any technical rulings that may be relevant here, this is an effective practical step to prepare yourself both physically and psychologically to recite God’s scripture. Cleanse your body to hold His book, freshen your breath to recite His words, and build within yourself a sense of respect and honor for the source of humanity’s guidance. (Excerpt from Faith First p. 168)