Relationships require constant check-in’s and intentional renewal, whether it’s a relationship with a person or your faith. Our relationship with the Quran is also something that requires reviving and attention. If we want to really connect with the Quran on a deeper, more meaningful level, we have to sincerely work at it. And what better month to do so than in the holy month of Ramadan, the month of the Quran!

Every year I come into Ramadan intimidated by the expectation (set by society) that we should finish reading the entire Quran in the holy month. Although this is a beautiful goal to set and achieve, we are all in various stages of our lives with different types of circumstances. For some of us, completing the Quran is a challenge that we are ready to meet. For others, just reading the Quran daily and really connecting with it is the goal.

At the start of the month I asked a few friends on how they manage to keep the Quran a daily and consistent part of their lives while managing their other roles and responsibilities during Ramadan. I was so inspired by all of their tips!

For those who are feeling a disconnect with their Quran and are unable to fulfill these spiritual goals year after year, there are other ways in which we can keep our relationship with the Quran going by setting realistic, manageable and attainable goals, Insha’Allah.

The Prophet Muhamad (saw) says, “Take up good deeds only as much as you are able, for the best deeds are those done regularly even if they are few.” (Ibn Majah). He also said, “The most beloved of deeds to Allah are those that are most consistent, even if it is small.” (Bukhari).

If your Ramadan goal is to finish reading the entire Quran throughout the holy month, this is a simple tip that can be easily embedded into your pre- and post-prayer rituals five times a day. Splitting up the daily juz into two page increments that you read before and after each of the five mandatory prayers can help lighten the load of reading a juz in one sitting. You will need to do the math and figure out how many juz you will need to make up to account for the juz you do not read during your thikr week (when you are not fasting due to menstruation).

This is a great tip for those who want to focus on understanding various aspects of the Quran. Before starting your Quran reading, pick a topic that you are interested in diving into or a theme that you’d like to explore while you are reading the verses. This can also mean that you are not necessarily reading in any specific order. If tackling the entire Quran during Ramadan seems unrealistic for you, this is a great way to keep your daily readings in check.

There are many ways to go about this and with practice you will start to pick up your own rhythm. In general, every surah (chapter) in the Quran focuses on a specific story, or set of themes. Start by picking a surah you’d like to dive into. Read the selection of ayahs or pages you want to focus on for the day and use a highlighter or write down any common words or correlations you come across. Have your tafsir books handy in order to look back and read the translation of the verses you are exploring. This will also help you extrapolate the meaning and recognize a pattern in topics that are mentioned in the verses.

You can also use the 99 names and attributes of Allah (S) as a starting place to look for themes in your Quran reading. For example, if I choose to focus on the name Al Rahim, The Compassionate in my daily reading of the Quran, I will highlight or write down all of the times I see the name Al Rahim or verses that speak to Allah’s mercy and compassion. I can then go back and read the translation of those verses to get a better understanding of the context, what is being said, and then make further connections to the verses that tie in the theme of Rahma (compassion) throughout the page, set of verses, and the entire chapter.

As you go through different chapters of the Quran, you will begin to make correlations with the same theme of Rahma (for example) in the different places it is mentioned. You can start to reflect on the similarities and differences in which the theme is presented.

Samia Mubarak from Quranic Ocean is especially talented in this style of Quran study. She loves reflecting on verses based on themes in the Quran and extrapolating meaning, connections and insights. Be sure to write down your gems!

Reading the Quran in Ramadan does not have to be a burdensome task where we are stressed and racing to finish the entire book. I grew up with this mentality, and I can tell you that it can definitely take a toll on your Ramadan experience as well as on your encouragement to keep coming back to reading the Quran. If this is something within your capability (with some pushing and diligence), by all means go for it! Ramadan is a time to push ourselves in our ibadah (worship). But there are other ways to connect with the Quran.

Instead, focus on one ayah every day for the rest of the month and really dive into the tafsir (translation) of that ayah. Look into the reasons behind its revelation, its meaning, the situation of the Prophet at the time the verse was revealed. There is so much to explore with just one ayah. Write down your reflections as you learn more about the ayah you are reading and connect with this one verse on a personal level. Write down any questions, or thoughts that come up.

Here are some tafsir books and dictionaries recommended and used by Samia Mubarak:

This tip resonates with me the most during this season of life for me as a mom of two young children. While I remind myself that tending to my children is an act of worship, sometimes my lack of time for reading Quran will especially l weigh heavy for me during Ramadan. Listening to the juz of the day play in my home helps me feel like I am still connecting with the Quran even though I am not sitting down and reading from it.

After listening to the juz by my Quran reciter of choice, I like to listen to the correlating episode of Quran 30 for 30 by Yaqeen Institute and Dr. Omar Suleiman. It’s a wonderful way to dive into the verses of the juz and connect with the words of Allah (S) on a deeper level with the insights Imam Omar and his guests discuss.

Whether it is a page a day, half a page, or even just one verse, take the time to read a select portion of the Quran and then go into a book of tafsir to read word for word the translation of the verses. Write down the definition on top of the Arabic text in your Quran that you read from frequently. Read the verses with translation. After learning the definitions of the words, reread the select portion for maximum understanding and absorption of what you learned.

I hope these tips have inspired you to revisit the relationship you have with the Quran and have shown you that it can be a very manageable part of our daily worship. While learning from others on how they incorporate Quran into their day as well as doing so in a communal setting can be encouraging, remember that we are all unique in our circumstances, seasons of life and spirituality journeys. Hold back on comparing yourself with others and focus on growing your relationship in a way that will keep you coming back and seeking more.

I ask Allah (S) to make the Quran the spring and light of our hearts and the evacuation of our concerns and our sorrows. Ameen.