Let’s get one thing clear before we go any further.
If last Ramadan didn’t change you,
it’s not because you lacked knowledge.
You already knew:
Ramadan is blessed
The rewards are immense
The gates of Jannah are opened
Shayṭan is restrained
None of that was new.
And yet…
if you’re honest, last Ramadan probably looked like this.
The Illusion of a Good Start
The first few days felt different.
You slept early.
You prayed more.
You told yourself “this Ramadan will be different.”
You might’ve:
Made a rough plan
Saved lectures and reminders
Followed a few Ramadan threads
Promised yourself consistency
For a moment, it felt real.
But then something happened.
The Quiet Collapse
It didn’t fall apart dramatically.
One delayed salah turned into a habit
One late night ruined the next day
One “I’ll catch up tomorrow” became a pattern
Hunger turned into a short temper
Tiredness turned into shortcuts
The days blurred by.
You were still fasting.
Still Muslim.
Still “in Ramadan.”
But the edge was gone.
And deep down, you knew it.
Why “I’ll Fix It in the Last 10 Nights” Rarely Works
This is the lie that ends most Ramadans.
“It’s fine. I’ll Lock In in the last 10 nights.”
But the last 10 nights don’t save weak foundations.
By then:
Your sleep is broken
Your discipline is inconsistent
Your confidence is low
Your nafs has momentum
So instead of intensity, you get panic.
Instead of focus, you get guilt.
You’re chasing Laylat-ul-Qadr,
from a place of regret.
The Real Reasons Ramadan Fails
Wallahi it’s not because you’re lazy or unmotivated. It’s because you relied on the wrong things.
You relied on:
Motivation
Emotion
Good intentions
Knowledge
But you had:
No daily win condition
No visible proof
No feedback loop
No system that survives hunger, boredom, and fatigue
So every day became a negotiation.
And negotiations are where discipline dies.
Why Knowledge Didn’t Save You
You could list a dozen hadith about Ramadan right now.
So what went wrong?
Knowledge doesn’t create consistency.
Structure does.
Without structure:
You don’t know if today was “good enough”
You can’t see momentum building
You can’t tell if you’re improving or slipping
You rely on feelings instead of facts
And feelings lie when you’re tired and hungry.
The Cost of Repeating This Again
If nothing changes, here’s what happens.
Eid comes.
People celebrate.
You smile.
You thank Allah for reaching it.
And then, quietly, you think:
“I could’ve done better.”
You make the same duʿā’ you made last year:
“Ya Allah, let the next Ramadan be better.”
But hoping without changing the approach
is just postponing regret.
And every time this repeats,
something important erodes:
self-trust.
Before You Fix Anything — Diagnose It
Before we talk about solutions,
you need to see the pattern clearly.
That’s why this comes first.
AI Self-Diagnosis Prompt
Use this exactly as written:
Prompt:
“Act as a brutally honest self-reflection coach.
Ask me incisive questions to uncover why I failed last Ramadan.
Focus on:
– My daily routine
– My sleep and phone habits
– Where I consistently slipped
– Excuses I told myself
– Patterns across the month
Do not comfort me.
Do not give solutions yet.
Help me see the real causes clearly.”
Don’t rush this.
The clearer the diagnosis, the harder it is to lie to yourself.
How to Fix it
Here’s a very simple method of making sure you reach ‘Eid with no regrets:
Set a win condition for each day.
Define exactly what you need to do and avoid so you can end the day with no regrets.
Make intention with Allah to have a great day and be a good Muslim.
Pick 3 good deeds you want to do everyday.
Pick 3 bad habits you will avoid everyday.
Track them. The Angels on your shoulder do, so should you.
End every night with reflection.
Next Steps
You now have a custom diagnosis of why you waste Ramadan.
And how to make sure you never do it again, Insha Allah.
Take action.
May Allah accept it from me and you!
P.S:
Last Ramadan, I challenged myself to write a letter every day on each Juz.
30 days, 30 letters, 30 Juz.
Regrettably, I only managed until the 19th Juz.
This year, I intend to win.
Expect guidance on the many problems we face: enjoying Taraweeh, khushu’ in Salah, how to make the most of the Last 10 Nights. All wrapped up in a fun challenge for you.
Allah grant us the greatest Ramadan of our lives so far.
Until the next one,
Hamza.
