Imagine being told you have less than a month to prepare for something you've never done before.

That was the reality for the Sahaba (RA) in the second year after the Hijrah. Ramadan had just been legislated. Many of them were still learning the foundations of their deen. Taraweeh was a brand-new concept. Alcohol hadn't even been fully prohibited and some in the community were still struggling with it.

They were not ready. Not by any measure we'd use today.

And yet, they were not stressed.

The early Muslims didn't approach Ramadan with anxiety. They approached it with hope. They saw it for what it truly was: a gift of mercy from Allah. So they paced themselves.

Abu Musa (RA), a companion known for his devotion to fasting and prayer, compared his preparation to training a racehorse. He would begin slowly building endurance over time, not sprinting out the gate and burning out by day ten. He had a long-term plan. He knew the finish line was far, but also closer than it seemed. His goal was to end strong.

And the Salaf followed a similar rhythm. Instead of splitting the month into three equal parts, they used a 20/10 approach. The first twenty days were about building — setting goals, establishing routines, deepening consistency. Then, in the final ten nights, they shifted into another gear entirely. They amplified everything. Their worship. Their du'a. Their connection to the Quran.

Don't be overwhelmed by what you haven't done. Don't let guilt from the past steal the barakah of this time. Ramdan was never meant to crush you. It came down as a mercy.

Set your pace and trust the process.

Start where you are, not where you think you should be.

The goal isn't to explode out of the gates on night one. The goal is to still be standing, still be striving, still be growing on night twenty-seven.

Ramadan is a marathon, not a sprint.

How will you run yours?

Reflect on this:

Are you approaching Ramadan with anxiety or with trust in Allah's mercy? What would it take to shift your mindset?

^{Share your reflections in the poll at the end of the email.}