A third of Ramadan has passed. Ten days are over… only twenty more are left. Were you able to make the most of Ramadan, or did the first third pass you by? How was your worship during the first ten days? Did you stand at night to pray? Did you leap for your salah? Did you manage to give charity, daily, even if it was small? Were you good to your parents, did you give time to your children? Did you consistently pray for the Ummah? Did you find your heart – that feeling of sincerity and devotion – while making du’aa to your Lord? How close did you grow to the Book of Allah?

The Messenger, salla Allahu alayhi wasallam said, “Whoever calls others to guidance will have a reward like the rewards of those who follow him, without that detracting from their reward in any way…” [Muslim]

If you’re like many of us, then you’re struggling to find balance in your life during Ramadan, and especially with regards to sleep. How do you get enough rest so you can function throughout the day? How do you avoid sleeping too much so can put in worship at night? We found the following tips helpful with regards to guarding sleep, and hope that you will, too:

My father abandoned me. It was earlier this year, and it was the worst feeling ever. One day, he just decided to move on with his life without us, and he left us stranded there by ourselves, all alone. I was hurt by his abandonment. I was sad, I was depressed, I felt miserable.

There is a girl somewhere, standing at the door of her home, leaning against it, her eyes searching for something far, far away, for someone who is returning. She does this every day. She stands outside her house, searching for her father as far as her eyes can see; maybe this time she’ll catch a glimpse of him and run forward to his arms the way she used to… before all these terrible things started happening. Then, before it all began, she would also wait for her father by the door and run to him as soon as her eyes laid sight on him.