How Do We Enter Ramadan?
Two essential steps you must not enter Ramadan without:
1- Repentance (Tawbah)
2- Absolute Neediness before Allah (Iftiqar)
First: Repentance (Tawbah)
Do not let Ramadan begin while you are persistent in sin without repenting. For indeed, through sin, one is deprived of sustenance (Rizq), and the blessing of standing in prayer at night (Qiyam) and fasting during the day!
Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) used to say: “Indeed, a man may be deprived of the night prayer and the daytime fast because of a single lie he tells.”
True deprivation is to be turned away from acts of obedience despite the absence of physical obstacles. Will you remain in this state of deprivation? Or do you think it will be lifted on its own?
Repentance is deeply connected to seasons of goodness; without it, you will be barred from acts of worship. So, stand up and break free from your shackles!
And if you say, "I do not need to repent," then you must repent for your heedlessness (Ghaflah), for such a statement shows that you truly do not know the Magnificence of Allah nor the reality of yourself!
Repentance means: Quitting your sins now and on a daily basis (listen to a lesson on the conditions of Tawbah). Whenever you sin, repent and feel regret. Remember the scene of standing before Allah, having passed away while committing a sin—this will make you feel true remorse.
Second: Absolute Neediness (Iftiqar)
You will not be able to repent, nor will you be able to obey, except through Allah.
"La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah" (There is no change nor power except by Allah) means: No change (turning away) from disobedience, and no power (energy) for obedience.
In every prayer, we say: {إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ} It means: {You (Alone) we worship, and you (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything)}. [Al-Fatihah: 5]
Establish a consistent number of Hawqalah (repeating: La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah) daily (100 or 1,000 times, for example). It is a treasure from the treasures of Paradise, as the Prophet ﷺ said. Use it to hope for a transformation from a poor state to a righteous one, and for the strength to maintain a good state.
Increase in the supplication of Prophet Musa (peace be upon him): {رَبِّ إِنِّي لِمَا أَنْزَلْتَ إِلَيَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَقِيرٌ} It means:“My Lord, I am in need of whatever good You send down to me.”
Through this, you hope for the goodness of Ramadan, fearing to be among those mentioned in the supplication of the Prophet ﷺ and Jibril (peace be upon him): «وَرَغِمَ أَنْفُ رَجُلٍ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ رَمَضَانُ ثُمَّ انْسَلَخَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُغْفَرَ لَهُ»
«May he be abased who passes through the whole of Ramadan before his sins are forgiven him.»
So, say to Allah: "O Lord, I am in desperate need of goodness, so do not withhold it from me because of my sins!"
If you take just one step on your path to Allah, then rejoice! Allah said in a Hadith Qudsi: «ومَن تقرَّبَ إليَّ شبرًا تقربْتُ منه ذراعًا ومن تقرَّبَ إلي ذراعًا تقربتُ منه باعًا، ومن أتاني يمشي أتيتُه هرولةً»
«Whoever draws near to Me a hand span, I draw near to him an arm's length; whoever comes to Me a forearm's length, I draw near him an arm's length; whoever comes to Me walking, I come to him in a hurry.»