Ramadan has come and gone. The excitement of Eid and socialising is over. The bubble has burst, you have been thrown out of the warm embrace of the cocoon that was Ramadan and the aftershocks are real.

Every year, as we bid farewell to Ramadan and enter the month of Shawwal, many of us find ourselves feeling spiritually low; which is not surprising as after reaching peak spiritual heights and joy, we are bound to crash and hit a low. The time of Taraweeh prayers, the heightened sense of community, and the special moments of devotion that Ramadan graciously offers is over, leaving us feeling empty inside. It could also be that we feel a sense of shame or failure after hearing other people’s experiences and comparing them with our own. We might feel that ours fell short of the expectations we had when we entered Ramadan. In this sense of loss, also lies a great blessing. It is a sign that our hearts yearn for a connection with Allah (SWT) and for a pure connection with our communities that is devoid of any capitalistic gain. 

So what do we do now? How do we go back to feeling close to Allah (SWT)? How do we regain that sacred sense of community? The closeness we felt to Allah (SWT) when we endured a caffeine withdrawal each morning of Ramadan, when we abstained from speaking a bad word or listened to a lecture instead of watching something that is not aligned with Islamic values. The empathy we gained for our starving Muslim sisters and brothers every time our throat was dry and parched and we had another 8 hours to go. It might feel like all that we gained is slowly slipping away. We are back to succumbing to the whispers of Shaytan and despairing of our lowly old selves. 

First of all, grab on to that desperation! It is natural and we all go through it. How we utilise this feeling during this period is where the real test of our spiritual resolve begins. Capitalise on this feeling and think about who you want to be in this next year. Visualising the version of you that you want to see approaching next Ramadan can provide direction and motivation for your journey. Secondly, it is important to focus on what exactly it is that we are seeking.

Is it a spiritual high that we want? Or are we seeking nearness to our Rabb? Ramadan and all of its blessings are only from Him. So when we seek closeness to Him, we automatically gain the blessings and spirituality that comes with it. It is said that for those who worship the month Ramadan, it is gone. But for those who worship Allah (SWT), He is always there.

The question remains, how do we get closer to Allah (SWT) and regain the blessings of Ramadan outside of the sacred month? In this article, we’ll explore some practical tips on maintaining and reigniting our spiritual connection post Ramadan and Eid.

1. Have Regular Conversations with Allah (SWT)

Allah (SWT) says in the Quran:

“When My servants ask you ˹O Prophet˺ about Me: I am truly near. I respond to one’s prayer when they call upon Me. So let them respond ‘with obedience’ to Me and believe in Me, perhaps they will be guided ‘to the Right Way’.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:186)

Talk to Allah (SWT) during salah and outside it. Talk to Him while sitting, standing, lying down. Explain, beg, beseech. Set aside at least one day of the week where you wake up for Tahajjud and have a conversation with Him. Talk about your fears, lay bare your soul to the One Who is closer to us than our jugular veins. Tell Him openly if you feel incapable, explain that you are scared of losing your Ramadan routines and the good habits you have built, thank Him for the blessings you received in Ramadan, tell Him how you want to utilise them in the coming year in His path and for His sake, ask Him for His help in obeying Him and for Him to grant barakah in your time. No matter where you are in your journey, His help is near. Don’t wait for the next Laylatul Qadr. Allah (SWT) Himself comes down to the lowest heaven every night in the last third of the night to listen to us. We just have to believe and ask. 

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:

“Allah descends every night to the lowest heaven when one-third of the first part of the night is over and says: ‘I am the Lord; I am the Lord: who is there to supplicate Me so that I answer him? Who is there to beg of Me so that I grant him? Who is there to beg forgiveness from Me so that I forgive him?’ He continues like this till the day breaks.” (Muslim)

A dua to maintain that spiritual high you got in Ramadan:

رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْوَهَّابُ

Rabbana la tuzigh quloobana ba’da idh hadaitana wa hab lana milladunka rahmah innaka antal Wahhab

“Our Lord, let not our hearts deviate after You have guided us and grant us from Yourself mercy. Indeed, You are the Bestower.” (Surah Ali ‘Imran 3:8)

You can also read  How to Pray Tahajjud and the Benefits of This Beautiful Prayer

2. Reconnecting through Remembrance

Practising daily Dhikr, can help us find solace in Allah (SWT)’s remembrance, especially during moments of spiritual despair. Dedicate a few moments after Fajr and Asr salah to recite the morning and evening adhkar (remembrance of Allah). These adhkar are a collection of duas and remembrances prescribed by the Messenger (ﷺ) that can help bring ease to our hearts and protect us from many evils. Alternatively, you can listen to them on Youtube while making breakfast or on your morning and evening commute. Allah (SWT) says in the Quran:

يٰٓأَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ آمَنُوا اذْكُرُوا اللهَ ذِكْرًا كَثِيْرًا. وَسَبِّحُوْهُ بُكْرَةً وَّأَصِيْلًا

“O believers! Always remember Allah often, and glorify Him morning and evening.” (Surah Al-Ahzab 33:41-42)

Starting and ending our day with the remembrance of Allah (SWT) can play a crucial role in bringing us closer to Him and strengthening our reliance upon Him alone. Let your tongue be moist with istighfar and other forms of adhkar (remembrance of Allah). 

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Two words which are light on the tongue and heavy in the Balance, and beloved to the Most Merciful: Subhan-Allah wa bi hamdihi, Subhan-Allahil-‘Azim (Glory and praise is to Allah, glory is to Allah the Almighty).” (Ibn Majah)

3. Continuity is Key

We know that life and all of its worldly distractions come at us as soon as Eid is over. All those pesky administrative tasks that we put off for after Eid? It’s time to tackle them, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Allah (SWT) acknowledges in the Quran that we will have worldly duties to tend to. He (SWT) says,

 فَإِذَا فَرَغْتَ فَٱنصَبْ

“So when you have finished [your duties], then stand up [for worship].” (Surah Ash-Sharh 97:4)

Ramadan gave us an opportunity to recentre Allah (SWT), so despite all of the busyness after it, why not bring that recentering back into our lives post Ramadan too? Consider keeping up with one habit or routine that you established during Ramadan. If your goal was to pray all five salah no matter what, stick to that habit and track it in your journal every night. Scheduling our calendar around prayer times instead of the other way around can make it easier.

This is also a good opportunity to put some structured classes and accountability in your life while you’re coming off the back of Ramadan, such as joining an islamic class, getting a Quran teacher, or enrolling in an online course. Use it to plan your next year between the two Ramadans. This can inshallah help set you up for the coming year spiritually. It is crucial to remember that if we can find the time to study or work full-time jobs during Ramadan, we can still find time to stick to one habit after Ramadan. 

Allah (SWT) says, “O believers! Seek comfort in patience and prayer. Allah is truly with those who are patient.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:153)

Allah (SWT) himself reminds us that every time we are in need of comfort, we only need to turn to Him in prayer. So if you are in need of comfort due to post-Ramadan blues, turn towards Allah during the obligatory five prayers and inshaAllah you will find the spiritual sweetness that you are looking for.

4. Reflect on the Quran Daily

One of the most powerful ways to sustain the spiritual momentum gained during Ramadan and build a relationship with Allah (SWT) is through the regular recitation and contemplation of His message to us. While the motivation to recite the Quran might have been more intense in Ramadan, keeping up with this in our daily lives post-Ramadan is equally important.

Whether you recite the Arabic, memorise a surah or just read the translation, the choice is yours on how you want to build this relationship. 

Try to join a Quran Khatam group for motivation and encouragement or consider using apps like Quranly or Quran.com to set up a daily goal. If you can’t find a group, start one on WhatsApp with just one other person, whether it’s a friend, sister, or even your mum. Check in once a week and cheer each other on at every milestone met. Start with 5 verses a day, which you can easily read on your commute or perhaps 15 minutes before you start work. Reflect on their meaning, ponder over their relevance to your life, and seek guidance from Allah through His divine words.

Why not attempt to recite it in the order of revelation? This will provide a whole new depth to your engagement with the Quran as you understand the history and context of these verses.

5. Build Your Community

The sense of community we feel during Ramadan is a cherished aspect of the month. The frequency of these gatherings diminishes as everyone is swept up in the demands of the daily grind. One of the reasons we feel low post-Ramadan is because we are feeling the loss of these communal and spiritual connections. 

If you feel uplifted being surrounded by community, try and find ways to maintain and strengthen these connections. Whether it’s through regular visits to the mosque, joining a halaqah, volunteering at community events, or simply reaching out to check on one another, you can be the person to build a village that someone else might be seeking fervently in their duas. Actively surround yourself with friends who inspire you on your spiritual journey. Accountability groups or spiritual mentorships with trusted friends can be extremely beneficial in providing guidance and support in times of spiritual struggle. Try to share your experiences and challenges openly, as it can help ease mental burdens and encourage others.

Moreover, infuse your daily interactions with acts of kindness, empathy, and love. Make every warm smile or a thoughtful gesture meaningful by setting an intention of doing it for the sake of Allah (SWT) alone.

Abu Dharr narrated that the Messenger of Allah said:

“Your smiling in the face of your brother is charity, commanding good and forbidding evil is charity, your giving directions to a man lost in the land is charity for you. Your seeing for a man with bad sight is a charity for you, your removal of a rock, a thorn or a bone from the road is charity for you. Your pouring what remains from your bucket into the bucket of your brother is charity for you.” (Tirmidhi)

6. Keep Fasting!

Abu Ayub narrated that:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Whoever fasts Ramadan, then follows it with six from Shawwal, then that is (equal in reward) to fasting everyday.” (Tirmidhi)

If you are missing the special vibes of Ramadan, the waking up for suhoor and basking in the stillness and peacefulness of it, or the incredibly precious time of making dua just before iftar, consider observing the six fasts of Shawwal, as recommended by the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), as a means of extending the blessings of Ramadan and drawing closer to Allah. Combine them with the sunnah of fasting Mondays and Thursdays as well as the White Days (13th, 14th and 15th of every month) to double your rewards. Staying in a state of fasting also heightens our awareness of Allah (SWT) which in turn can help us be extra mindful of Him during these times.

Narrated Qatadah Ibn Malhan al-Qaysi:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to command us to fast the days of the white (nights): thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth of the month. He said: “This is like keeping perpetual fast.” (Sunan Abi Dawud)

You can also read The Islamic Calendar and the Month of Shawwal Explained.

7. Reflect on Your Ramadan Takeaways

Did you learn something new and profound this Ramadan? No matter how small, if something touched your heart deeply and made an impression on you, hold on to this blessing firmly. Focus on how you can take these learnings forward in your life post Ramadan and Eid? Taking slow and steady baby steps towards Allah (SWT) will inshaAllah fill your path towards Him with ease and barakah. Ameen

You can also have a look at the Amaliah community’s Ramadan takeaways.

In the chaos of life post-Ramadan, maintaining the spiritual highs attained during the blessed month always seems challenging. However, we should also understand that the journey of spiritual growth is not confined to a single month or occasion. Just as the moon wanes and waxes, our spiritual state may fluctuate, but the potential for reconnection and growth remains ever-present. Ramadan shows us our true potential and what we can achieve if we apply ourselves wholeheartedly. The seeds have been planted. We now know what nourishes our souls and ways to nurture it and keep it oriented towards our Creator throughout the year.

When we live each day as if it were Ramadan, inshaAllah, our Akhirah will be as joyous as Eid. May Allah grant us the strength and resilience to overcome spiritual lows and experience the joy of spiritual highs. Ameen.