Saudi Gazette Ramadan is a month of blessing that calls for forgiveness, compassion, charity and self-reflection. It allows us to strengthen our faith by devoting ourselves to Allah in worship, through prayers and acts of kindness. According to a hadith reported by Al Tirmidhi, giving alms can erase sins just like water ceases fire. Young men turn up in huge numbers along with the elderly from different cultures, race and stature to serve those in need during Ramadan on the streets of Saudi Arabia. The strong passion to serve during Ramadan runs through every Muslim household in the Kingdom and across the world. Here are 30 good deeds we can carry out during these 30 days and more, in a bid to get closer to Allah, to accumulate good deeds and spiritually enrich ourselves this month. Lets keep the spirit alive no matter where you are and practice compassion and benevolence that Islam teaches us. 1.Visit an orphanage and donate food or clothes. If this is difficult, then share a meal with a child in need. 2.Help people stuck in traffic during Maghrib to break their fast with dates and water. 3.Share Iftar with people at your neighborhood mosque. 4.Help around the house and that includes chores during Iftar. 5.Buy a poor household one month's groceries and essentials so they can spend Ramadan with ease. 6.Give out bottles of water to laborers and street cleaners who work harder than most of us during Ramadan or any given day. 7.Prepare meals at home for poor families with children during Ramadan. 8.Think before you spend. Instead of spending SR 300 on an Iftar buffet, buy those many bottles of water to give to 300 workers instead. 9.Treat your drivers, security guards, laborers and cleaners with Al Baik or chicken with rice meals and a drink for iftar or suhour. 10.Perform Umrah during Ramadan and try not to go more than once so others can get a chance to do so with ease. 11.Pray Taraweeh prayers with your family or at the mosque. 12.Help family members break their fast by offering them dates and water. If someone is diabetic or with an illness, help give them their medication. 13.Try not to indulge in activities that will aggravate you or invoke unnecessary desires. 14.Help ease someone's suffering even if it is paying off a debt. 15.Donate money to a charity of your choice. 16.Perform Itikaaf, take some time off and spend a day or part of it in remembrance of Allah. You can do this in a quiet room, mosque or even the two holy mosques if you are in Makkah or Madinah. 17.Teach something beneficial to siblings or children about Islam. 18.Volunteer at a local charity or old age home even if it is to spend quality time or offer assistance. 19.Make dhikr (remembrance of Allah) as often as you can. Learn more from Islamic books or discussions with scholars. 20.If you can't contribute to the Iftar spread at the mosque, go early and help them set it up before prayer. 21.Calculate Zakat and pay a recipient this month. 22.Smile, that is charity too. Let go of the cynicism, sarcasm and frowning. 23.Spread knowledge about Ramadan with non-muslims and peers. You can do so verbally or even on social media. Make sure you are kind and inviting. 24.Send iftar or bake something for neighbors or non-muslim friends who aren't fasting to share the spirit of Ramadan. 25.Read your duas before Iftar instead of staying in the kitchen the whole time till the Adan. 26.Thank Allah for all your blessings and every lesson. 27.Make cards, gifts and sweets to share with children at orphanages and on Eid. 28.Improve your character, work on yourself. It is not about how much you spent. It is about building your character and letting go of bad habits and characteristics. It is reported in a Hadith that the Prophet (PBUH) said: "Whoever did not give up lying and practicing falsehood, Allah is in no need of his giving up food and water." 29.Recite or listen to the Quran everyday. If you read 4 pages after every Salah then you've completed the Quran. 30.Use the last ten nights of power. This crucial time allows you to get closer to Allah, ask for His forgiveness and pray for another chance. Stand in prayer on Laylatul Qadr.
