Ramadan is such a fortunate time for us Muslims, and I cannot be more excited about being on this spiritual adventure once again – but if there is any time during Ramadan when I get shaky, it's when I'm on my period.

Because I'm not praying or fasting during these days, as per God's command, my inner resilience can be truly tested during this interval. If you're anything like me, read on! I gathered a few guidelines to help keep you spiritually afloat while on your period during Ramadan. After all, there is no other time of the year where the reward for our deeds is multiplied by 70 times!

How to conquer Day 1 all the way to Day 30 of Ramadan like a boss lady:

Islamically, a woman cannot pray or fast while on her period. But because a bulk of our worship during Ramadan consists of performing prayer, it can be easy to fall off the wagon. But that doesn't have to be the case. We can use this time to invoke Allah (S)'s presence in ways other than praying and fasting. I like to fix myself a cup of herbal tea, sit down & listen to lectures that will benefit me in my faith. Something I've been fancying recently is Yasmin Mogahed's podcast. This is also a brilliant way to engage your mind while getting dressed or getting work done around the house.

I live in a house with six members, so you can imagine the pressure of cooking & cleaning. I like to use this extra time to help around the house and relieve others who are fasting of their duties. It’s an incredible way to spend quality time together with your family & provide 'physical' charity!

Often the most complex problems we face in life have the easiest solution: reminding ourselves who our creator is. Allah (S) says,

This is the golden stairway to finding peace. I like to memorize & essentially internalize a few dua's or write those I exclusively need for my betterment. I also try to center my activities around phrases of gratitude & repentance to the best of my capability.

"If you give thanks, I will give you more" (14:7)

Fasting and prayer are certainly not the only two forms of worship! Don't forget charity – which doesn't always have to be financial. 

I’ve seen others around me engage themselves in activities such as packing goods for the poor, preparing food for their neighbors & relatives, lending a hand at their local Masjid, teaching children with disabilities, and so on. All these are also considered forms of charity! Allah (S) reminds us this in the Quran, 

As seekers of knowledge, it is only natural that from time to time we come across matters that may lead to doubt. Usually, these issues arise in the form of grey areas of fiqh. For instance, I was curious about the validity of wudhu being done after applying makeup and wanted to know what the ruling behind that is. However, they could also be related to other core areas of faith such as Aqeedah and Tawheed. Use this extra time on your hands to come back to these queries and deal with them through right research and reflection. In my experience, tackling the confusion as soon as possible is the best way to deal with it and it sure makes me feel more confident about myself.

This time around, I ticked-off the Eid Shopping before Ramadan, but if you didn't have the time to do that, do it now! Pre-cook meals, get some pre-eid cleaning done or organize that messy sock drawer.

I won't just let you go without mentioning exercising. Even if you're not into intense workouts during Ramadan, doing a 15-minute warm-up should be considered essential! It will also help you get back to the swing of fasting once your period is over.

No night in the whole year is as paramount as this night. It is referred to in the Quran and ahadith as better than 1000 months. Stay up to perform thikr, offer the supplications that you would normally offer at every sajdah or after any Salah – the beauty of our religion is the belief that God attends to every caller. Learn the Quran through another medium. Channel everything in your power to worship Allah (S) and foster your connection with Him. Remeber, you are actually worshipping God by following His command to NOT pray or fast during your period. 

It's not nice to eat in a room full of people who are fasting. Younger kids who are fasting, especially, have a low-tolerance, so you need to be extra cautious even while preparing food around them. Once you’re alone, munch away!

Filling up your belly unnecessarily is the worst thing you can do! The after-effect will weigh you down, making you unable to perform nightly worship. Plus, it can make fasting that much harder for you once your period is over.

There is a blessing in disguise for us not being able to fast for the days of our menstrual cycles. Create a balance for yourself so that your journey is spiritually afloat, always.

Ramadan Kareem to you and your family! Please keep my family and I in your dua's! Also, as a side note: I have built this year’s Ramadan Planner to help you make the best of this holy month. Check it out and share it along if you find it useful!