1. Start preparing for the month of Ramadhaan well in advance. Some of the pious elders would prepare six months in advance.

2. Make a timetable for how one will utilise the valuable moments of Ramadhaan.

عن أبي سعيد الخدري رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم قال من صام رمضان وعرف حدوده وتحفظ مما ينبغي له أن يتحفظ كفر ما قبله رواه ابن حبان في صحيحه والبيهقي (الترغيب و الترهيب رقم 1474)

Hadhrat Abu Saeed Khudri (Radhiallahu Anhu) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “Whoever fasts the month of Ramadhaan and acknowledges its boundaries and limits and ensures that he fulfils the rights of ramadhann as he ought to fulfil it, all his previous sins will be forgiven.

3. If a person has any outstanding rights in relation to the Creator (e.g. qadha salaah, qadha fasts unpaid zakaat etc) or the creation (e.g. one has oppressed someone or hurt anyone in any way) or any unsettled debts, then before the month of Ramadhaan enters, he should sort out his affairs and fulfil all outstanding obligations in order for him to be able to derive the full blessings of the month of Ramadhaan.

1. Make miswaak at the time of wudhu.

قال أبو هريرة عن النبي صلّى اللّه عليه وسلّم لولا أن أشق على أمّتِي لأَمرتهم بالسواك عند كل وضوء. (بخاري تعليقا 1/259)

Hadhrat Abu Hurayrah (Radhiallahu Anhu) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: Had it not been for the fear of my ummah falling into difficulty (due to not being able to uphold the obligation of miswaak), I would have certainly commanded them to make miswaak at the time of every wudhu.

2. The method of holding the miswaak is that one will place his thumb and small finger under the miswaak, and the remainder fingers will be on the upper-side.

3. One should make miswaak of the teeth horizontally and of the tongue vertically.

عن أبي موسى رضي الله عنه قال دخلت على رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وهو يستاك وهو واضع طرف السواك على لسانه يستن إلى فوق فوصف حماد كأنه يرفع سواكه قال حماد ووصفه لنا غيلان قال كان يستن طولا. (مسند أحمد رقم 19737 )

Hadhrat Abu Musa (Radhiallahu Anhu) reports that I once came to Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) at the time he was making miswaak, and I found him making miswaak of his tongue vertically.

عن عطاء بن أبى رباح رضي الله عنه قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا شربتم فاشربوا مصا وإذا استكتم فاستاكوا عرضا (تلخيص الحبير 1/96)

Hadhrat Ataa ibn Abi Rabaah (Radhiallahu Anhu) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, “When you drink, then drink in sips (i.e. avoid gulping it down), and when you make miswaak, then make miswaak (of the teeth) horizontally.

1. Sit on a raised place facing the qiblah. ^[1]

عن عبد خير عن علي رضي الله عنه أنه أتي بكرسي فقعد عليه ثم دعا بتور فيه ماء فكفأ على يديه ثلاثا. (نسائي 1/27)

Hadhrat Abd Khair reports that a chair was brought toHadhrat Ali (Radhiallahu Anhu). He thereafter sat on the chair (in order to demonstrate the wudhu of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). Thereafter he requested for a utensil of water. He then commenced by pouring water on his hands thrice.

2. Make the intention for wudhu. ^[2]

3. Recite the masnoon duaa:

بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ وَ الْحَمْدُ للّٰهِ

I commence in the name of Allah Ta’ala and all praise belongs to Allah Ta’ala.

عن ابى هريرة رضى الله عنه قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم يا ابا هريرة اذا توضأت فقل بسم الله والحمد لله فان حفظتك لا تبرح تكتب لك الحسنات حتى تحدث من ذلك الوضوء. (مجمع الزوائد 1/220)

Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (Radiallahu anhu) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “O Abu Hurairah. When you commence your wudhu then recite the Du’aa
بسم الله والحمد لله Through reciting this du’aa, the angels (are commanded to) continuously record good deeds for you till your wudhu breaks.