﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ﴾
Qur’an 2:183
"O you who have believed, fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become mindful of Allah." Ramadan is not a switch you flip on the first night. Many of us arrive with big plans — a juz’ a day, long night prayers — and run out of strength in the first week, because the body and the routine were not ready. A few weeks of gentle practice change that. The Prophet ﷺ himself fasted more in Sha‘ban than in any month other than Ramadan. ʿĀ’isha said:«وَمَا رَأَيْتُهُ أَكْثَرَ صِيَامًا مِنْهُ فِي شَعْبَانَ»
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1969; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1156
"And I never saw him fast more in any month than in Sha‘ban." ## What can I start in Rajab and Sha‘ban? Rajab is one of the four sacred months, and Sha‘ban leads straight into Ramadan. You don't need special acts tied to these months — simply use the weeks to build the habits Ramadan will ask of you: - **Qur’an:** two pages a day after a prayer you already keep. You will add more later. - **Fasting:** one voluntary fast on a Monday or a Thursday, or the white days of the month. Our guide to the [white days and Monday–Thursday fasts](/blog/white-days-monday-thursday-fasting) explains both. - **Night prayer:** two short rak‘ahs before Witr. Ramadan's nights will feel familiar. - **Sleep:** move your bedtime a little earlier each week, so suhoor doesn't come as a shock. - **Make-up fasts:** if you have missed Ramadan fasts to make up, Sha‘ban is a natural time to complete them. For your own situation, ask a trusted local scholar. One caution: the Prophet ﷺ told us not to fast a day or two just before Ramadan, unless it is a fast someone already keeps, such as their regular Monday (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1914; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1082). Preparation is about building a rhythm, not about starting early. ## A 30-day plan before Ramadan Start this plan about a month before Ramadan — in 1448, that is around the second week of January 2027. Each week adds one small thing and keeps everything from the week before. | Week | Add this | Keep it small | | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | Two pages of Qur’an after one daily prayer; bedtime 20 minutes earlier | Two pages, not a juz’ | | 2 | One voluntary fast on a Monday or Thursday; two rak‘ahs before Witr | One fast is enough | | 3 | Five pages of Qur’an a day; write a short list of du‘as for Ramadan | Five pages take about 15 minutes | | 4 | Plan Ramadan itself: your khatma share, suhoor and iftar times, quiet hours | Nothing new to perform — just plan | The guiding principle comes from the Prophet ﷺ:«أَحَبُّ الأَعْمَالِ إِلَى اللَّهِ أَدْوَمُهَا وَإِنْ قَلَّ»
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6464; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 783
"The most beloved of deeds to Allah are the most consistent, even if they are few." If you miss a day, go back to your smallest step the next day. Our guide to [building a daily wird that lasts](/blog/daily-wird-that-lasts) explains how to anchor each habit to a prayer. ## How do we share a khatma during Ramadan? Ramadan is the month of the Qur’an. Allah says:﴿شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَىٰ وَالْفُرْقَانِ﴾
Qur’an 2:185
"The month of Ramadan in which the Qur’an was revealed, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion." And every night of Ramadan, Jibrīl would come to the Prophet ﷺ to study the Qur’an with him:«وَكَانَ يَلْقَاهُ فِي كُلِّ لَيْلَةٍ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ فَيُدَارِسُهُ القُرْآنَ»
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2308
"And he would meet him every night of Ramadan and study the Qur’an with him." On your own, one khatma in Ramadan means about 21 pages a day. Shared with family or friends, it becomes far lighter. Plan on 29 days, so you finish even if the month is short: | People | Juz’ each | Pages a day each (29 days) | | --- | --- | --- | | 2 | 15 | about 10 | | 3 | 10 | about 7 | | 5 | 6 | about 4 | | 10 | 3 | about 2 | | 30 | 1 | less than 1 | A few ideas that work well: - **A family khatma.** Parents, grown children and grandparents each take a share. A younger reader can take a smaller portion and be just as much part of it. - **Finish before the last ten nights.** If your group aims to complete by the 20th, the last ten nights stay free for night prayer and du‘a — see our [gentle plan for the last ten nights](/blog/last-ten-nights-laylat-al-qadr). - **A second khatma for those who want it.** Those with more time can start another, without making anyone else feel behind. For the details of dividing the juz’ and helping someone who falls behind, read [how to complete a Qur’an khatma with friends](/blog/quran-khatma-with-friends). ## How can a circle keep each other going in Ramadan? Ramadan is easier together. Allah says:﴿وَتَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَىٰ﴾
Qur’an 5:2
"And cooperate in righteousness and piety." - **Agree on one shared intention**, such as the khatma, and let everything else stay personal. - **Check in kindly, not constantly.** One message a week about the khatma is enough. - **Make du‘a for one another**, by name, at iftar. - **Carry each other.** Someone will fall ill, travel or have an exhausting week. Offer to take their pages, privately. We explore this more in [why good companionship keeps your faith steady](/blog/good-companionship-in-islam). ## What about days I can't fast or read? Illness, travel, pregnancy, breastfeeding and menstruation all come with allowances. Allah says in the same passage about fasting: "Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship" (Qur’an 2:185). On such days, dhikr, du‘a, kindness and listening to the Qur’an remain open. Questions about which acts are permitted in each situation have detailed answers that differ between schools, so ask a trusted local scholar. ## Key takeaways - Ramadan 1448 is expected around 8 February 2027 (Umm al-Qura; follow your local sighting). - Use Rajab and Sha‘ban to build small habits: a few pages, an occasional voluntary fast, two rak‘ahs at night. - Don't fast the day or two just before Ramadan unless it is part of your regular fasting. - Share a khatma: with five people, about four pages a day each over 29 days. - Keep one shared intention with your circle and check in kindly. ## How can Suhba help? Suhba's free **Ramadan Readiness** program gives you thirty days to ease into fasting, night prayer and daily Qur’an, with reminders tied to your local prayer times — and you can adjust each activity to your pace. In a circle, you can start a shared Qur’an khatma, with the pages divided among members and everyone able to see it fill in, and send each other kind encouragements. Joining a circle is always free, and a free account can lead one small circle of up to five members. Suhba is a companion for your intentions; your worship stays between you and Allah. [Get Suhba for free](/).