Ramadan is one of those times of the year that I really look forward to.

There’s the excitement, the blessings and that feeling of having a spiritual reset — but if you’re a mum or you’re responsible for running a household, there’s also quite a lot to think about!

Food.

Children.

Cleaning.

Shopping.

Meal planning.

And somewhere amongst all of that, we’re actually supposed to be concentrating on our worship.

So over the years, I’ve found that doing some preparation before Ramadan begins can make a huge difference.

The aim isn’t to have a Pinterest-perfect Ramadan or spend three weeks exhausting yourself in preparation for it. It’s simply to get some of the everyday jobs out of the way so that, once Ramadan arrives, you have more time and energy for the things that actually matter.

Here are some of the things I like to do to prepare my home, family, food and myself for Ramadan.

Preparing Your Home for Ramadan

Let’s start with the house.

I’m definitely not suggesting you need to deep-clean every inch of your home before Ramadan begins. But there are a few jobs that are particularly useful to get done beforehand.

1. Wash Your Prayer Mats

Prayer mats obviously get plenty of use in a Muslim household anyway, but during Ramadan we’re usually praying and worshipping even more.

Before Ramadan begins, I like to make sure our prayer mats are clean and fresh.

Depending on the care instructions, I can pop some of ours into the washing machine on a gentle wash, allow them to dry properly and then fold them ready for everyone to use.

It’s a small job, but there’s something lovely about beginning Ramadan with freshly cleaned prayer mats.

2. Wash Your Prayer Clothes and Scarves

While you’re sorting out the prayer mats, wash any prayer scarves, abayas or other clothing that you regularly use for salah too.

Again, it’s simply about having everything clean, fresh and readily available.

The last thing you want is to be rummaging through a mountain of laundry five minutes before salah looking for your prayer scarf.

3. Make Your Prayer Space Feel Peaceful

If you have a particular area where you like to pray or read Qur’an, give it a little tidy before Ramadan.

You don’t need an elaborate dedicated prayer room.

It might simply be a quiet corner of your bedroom or living room where you keep your prayer mat and Qur’an.

Make it somewhere you actually want to sit.

I also love having the house smelling nice. A pleasant home fragrance can make everything feel calmer and more welcoming. Just use anything like candles or diffusers safely, particularly around children.

4. Add Some Simple Ramadan Decorations

I think it’s especially important when you have children to make Ramadan feel like a special time in the home.

Other occasions throughout the year get enormous amounts of attention and excitement, so why shouldn’t our children feel excited when Ramadan arrives?

And you really don’t have to spend loads of money.

I’ve used inexpensive decorations, letters and lights to make the house feel a little more festive.

I’ve had lights in my kitchen that have practically become permanent residents at this point, so during Ramadan I can switch them on in the evenings and instantly make the room feel a bit more special.

The purpose isn’t excessive decorating or spending.

It’s creating an atmosphere that says:

Ramadan is here. 🌙

Preparing Children for Ramadan

When children are tiny, Ramadan crafts and colouring activities are wonderful.

Then they become teenagers.

Suddenly your Ramadan preparation goal changes from “Let’s make a crescent moon craft!” to:

“Please get off Fortnite.”

5. Plan Some Screen-Free Time

One thing I wanted to introduce was some intentional time away from screens, particularly during the evenings.

That could mean an hour or two where televisions and games are switched off and everyone does something more beneficial.

For older children, that might be reading an Islamic book or learning something about Ramadan.

For younger children, you could set up some Ramadan activities.

It doesn’t have to feel like a punishment.

The idea is simply to create some space during Ramadan for things that normally get pushed aside by screens and entertainment.

6. Stock Up on Simple Ramadan Activities

You don’t need elaborate activity packs every single day.

I picked up inexpensive colouring supplies, pencils, colouring pads, blank cards, envelopes, gems and decorative tape.

One easy activity is letting children make their own Eid cards for friends and relatives.

It keeps them occupied, gives them something creative to do and helps build their excitement towards Eid.

You could keep all your Ramadan craft supplies together in one box and bring it out when they need something to do.

7. Make a Ramadan Countdown

I also like the idea of having something showing which day of Ramadan we’re on.

I used a little chalkboard where we could write the number each day.

Ramadan Day 1…

Ramadan Day 10…

Ramadan Day 27…

And eventually…

EID!

It’s such a simple thing, but particularly for younger children it gives them a visual way to understand where they are in the month and builds anticipation.

8. Get Some Islamic Books Ready

Before Ramadan, have a look through the Islamic books you already own.

You may be surprised by how many you’ve accumulated.

Put some appropriate ones somewhere visible and encourage the children to read them during Ramadan.

You could also visit your local Islamic bookshop or library and find something new.

For teenagers, let them choose books on Islamic subjects they’re genuinely interested in rather than turning the whole thing into compulsory homework.

Prepare Yourself Spiritually for Ramadan

This is arguably the most important preparation of all.

We can have a spotless house, a freezer containing 200 samosas and beautiful Ramadan lights everywhere…

But that isn’t really the point of Ramadan.

9. Write Down Your Ramadan Goals

Before the month begins, sit down and think about what you actually want to achieve.

Write your goals somewhere you’ll regularly see them — on the fridge, in your planner or inside your Ramadan journal.

Your goals might include:

• Finishing the Qur’an
• Reading a certain amount of Qur’an each day
• Improving your salah
• Making more dhikr
• Giving more charity
• Making more dua
• Giving up a bad habit
• Reducing gossip or backbiting
• Spending less time on entertainment or social media
• Learning more about Islam

They don’t have to be somebody else’s goals.

Think about where you are spiritually and what you would genuinely like to improve.

Having your goals written down gives you something to return to throughout the month.

Because Ramadan can go remarkably quickly.

One minute you’re preparing for Day 1 and the next you’re wondering how on earth you’re already in the final ten nights.

Ramadan Food Preparation

And now…

The section I’m most passionate about.

Food.

Save the best until last!

Although Ramadan is absolutely not supposed to be all about food, feeding a family doesn’t magically stop because we’re fasting.

So anything I can do beforehand to reduce the amount of work required during Ramadan is a win.

10. Bulk Prepare Ramadan Snacks

One of my biggest Ramadan preparation jobs is making some of our favourite freezer snacks in advance.

For us, that usually includes things like:

Samosas. Spring rolls. Kebabs.

You know.

Healthy food.

😂

After a long fast, we enjoy having some of these alongside iftar, so I’d rather prepare them before Ramadan than spend ages making them from scratch while fasting.

I’ve previously done entire Ramadan bulk-prep days, although I’ve learned that trying to make everything in one day is quite a task.

A more manageable approach might be:

Day 1: Make the samosas
Day 2: Make the spring rolls
Day 3: Make the kebabs

Once they’re prepared and frozen, you can take out however many you need for iftar.

Bob’s your uncle.

And if fried snacks aren’t your thing, the same principle applies to healthier make-ahead foods. Prepare whatever your family actually eats.

11. Make Freezer Packs for Your Everyday Cooking

This was one of those ideas that made me wonder:

Why haven’t I been doing this for years?

A lot of the meals I cook begin with very similar ingredients.

For example, I might regularly need:

• 2 onions
• 1–2 chillies
• Ginger
• 5–6 cloves of garlic

Instead of chopping those ingredients from scratch every single day during Ramadan, I can prepare multiple batches beforehand.

Chop everything.

Divide it into portions.

Put the portions into freezer bags or containers.

Freeze.

Then, if I’m making a chicken curry during Ramadan, I can simply take one prepared portion from the freezer and get started.

There is a lot of onion chopping involved initially.

Slightly painful.

But I’d much rather cry over 20 onions on one preparation day than cry over two onions every evening while fasting.

12. Do a Ramadan Bulk Shop

Before Ramadan begins, stock up on the non-perishable foods you know your household will use.

For our family, that might include things such as:

• A large bag of rice
• Chapati flour
• Cooking oil
• Long-life drinks
• Mango pulp
• Tinned foods
• Dry ingredients
• Herbs and spices

We have quite a bit of mango milkshake during Ramadan, so mango pulp is something I know we’ll use.

Your bulk shop will obviously look different depending on what your family eats.

The important thing is not to buy enormous quantities simply because it’s Ramadan.

Check your cupboards first.

Then stock up on the things you genuinely know you’ll use.

The aim is convenience, not creating your own supermarket in the garage.

13. Stock Up on Food Storage Supplies

This one is easily forgotten.

Make sure you have enough:

• Freezer bags
• Food-storage containers
• Foil
• Cling film or reusable food covers

During Ramadan, you can end up with quite a lot of leftovers.

You may also receive food from neighbours, friends and relatives.

Rather than allowing perfectly good food to go to waste, portion it up, refrigerate it safely or freeze suitable leftovers for another day.

Having enough containers ready makes this much easier.

14. Make a Simple Iftar Meal Plan

You don’t necessarily need to plan all 30 days of Ramadan.

Even planning the first week can make life considerably easier.

Write down a few main meals you know your family enjoys and make sure you have the basic ingredients.

This also helps prevent that daily late-afternoon Ramadan conversation:

“What are we having for iftar?”

“I don’t know.”

“What have we got?”

“I don’t know.”

“What do you fancy?”

“I DON’T KNOW. I’M FASTING.”

😂

A little planning can save everybody.

15. Plan Easy Meals for Children Who Aren’t Fasting

This is particularly important for parents.

If you have younger children who aren’t fasting, they’re still going to require breakfast.

And lunch.

And snacks.

And dinner.

Apparently children continue expecting to be fed even when their mother is fasting.

So before Ramadan begins, think of some quick meals you can prepare for them without spending ages cooking during the day.

Things such as wraps, sandwiches, pasta and other simple meals can work well.

You don’t necessarily have to prepare everything beforehand, but having the ingredients available — and knowing what you’re going to give them — makes life much easier.

Don’t Exhaust Yourself Preparing for Ramadan

There’s a slight irony in spending so much time preparing for Ramadan that you’re completely exhausted by the time Ramadan actually arrives.

So please don’t look at this list and think:

RIGHT. I NEED TO DO ALL 15 THINGS TOMORROW.

You don’t.

Choose the things that will make the biggest difference to your household.

Maybe that’s filling the freezer.

Maybe it’s planning meals.

Maybe your house and food are completely sorted, but what you really need is to sit down and think about your spiritual goals.

Preparation is supposed to make Ramadan easier, not become another enormous source of pressure.

My Ramadan Preparation Checklist 🌙

Before Ramadan, I like to concentrate on four main areas:

HOME: Fresh prayer mats and prayer clothes, a tidy prayer space and a little Ramadan atmosphere.

CHILDREN: Islamic books, simple activities, less screen time and ways to make Ramadan feel special.

SPIRITUAL: Setting intentions and writing down what I hope to achieve during the month.

FOOD: Bulk freezer prep, basic cooking ingredients, pantry staples, food storage and a simple meal plan.

None of it needs to be perfect.

The goal is simply to remove some of the everyday distractions before Ramadan begins so we can hopefully spend less time worrying about what needs doing and more time benefiting from this beautiful month.

I hope some of these Ramadan preparation tips and hacks help you prepare your own home and family.

May Allah allow us to reach Ramadan, make fasting easy for us, help us benefit from the month and accept all of our duas, fasting and worship.

Ameen. 🌙❤️