Lets take a break and picture the image I am trying to paint for a second. Imagine a world where we take this month to mend our religious life. We are people who have slumped in our worldly pursuits thereby forgetting the real reason we are alive. We should take full advantage of this one month after having allowed eleven months of the year go by destroying ourselves. I know there are people who have to be in their offices as early as 6am, but my question to them is. What difficulty will it be for them if they at least in Ramadan, spend a few minutes between the time from Subuh until their hours of employment in reciting the Qur'an. After all, don't we see that for our worldly needs we do find time in spite of office hours. Then come the businessmen, shopkeepers and merchants. Nothing prevents them in Ramadan from reciting their Qur'an during their shop hours or cutting short trading time in order to make time for recitation thereof. After all, there is very strong link between Ramadan and the Tilawat of the Qur'an. Almost all of Allah's great scriptures were revealed in the month of Ramadan. Similarly, in this month the Qur'an was brought down from the Lawhul Mahfuz, and revealed bit by bit to Rasulullah (SAW) over the next twenty three years. Nabi Ibrahim AS received his scriptures on the first and third of this sacred month. Nabi Dawud AS received the Zabur on the twelfth or eighteenth. Nabi Musa AS received his Torah on the sixth. Nabi 'Isa AS received the Injil on the twelfth or thirteenth. From this we note the great connection between the divine scriptures and the month of Ramadan. For this reason, we should be performing as much Tilawat of the Qur'an as possible during this month. This was the habit of our pious predecessors and saintly elders.

Jibril AS used to recite the whole Qur'an to Nabi Muhammad (SAW) in the month of Ramadan. In some reports it is stated that Rasulullah (SAW) used to recite and Jibril AS used to listen. By integrating these reports, the knowledgeable of Deen have said that it is Mustahab (desirable) to read the Qur'an in such a manner that - while one recites, the other person listens. Thereafter the other person recites while the first person listens.

The Qur'an should be recited as much as possible, particularly in the blessed month of Ramadan. Whatever time remains thereafter should not be wasted.

From Hadith, Rasulullah SAW has drawn our attention to four more things and advised that we should practice them as much as possible. They are :

1. the recitation of the Kalimah Shahadah,

2. the recitation of Istighfar,

3. begging for Jannah from Allah SWT, and

4. seeking refuge from Jahannam (Hell) from Allah SWT

Therefore it must be regarded as an honor to spend as much time as available in these recitations. This will indeed be the true appreciation of the teachings of Rasulullah (SAW). What is so difficult about keeping the tongue busy with the recitation of Salawat or Laa Ilaaha Illallah while being engaged in our daily tasks? Rasulullah (SAW) has also mentioned that Ramadan is the month of patience. Hence even if great difficulty is experienced in fasting one should bear it with patience. One should not complain like those people who are fond of doing during hot days and as we did as kids. If by chance Suhoor is missed, we should resort to patience. Similarly, should difficulty be experienced at the time of Taraweeh, -due to the length of the verses recited or whatnot-  it too should be borne with patience. Do not consider it a great calamity or trial, otherwise these deeds may be void of blessings.

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