Balancing Worship and Academia: Making Every Moment Count in Ramadan

Assalamu Alaikum!

It’s the month we all look forward to as Muslims, a month of worship and working on our relationships with God. We spiritually gear up for this auspicious month only to remember the assignments due, the lectures to catch up on, the early 9am starts and late evening finishes of university. The question of where we find time for ibadah in our already busy schedules as students is one that many of us struggle to answer.  

In this blurring moment of anxiety, the beautiful concept of intention in Islam is something that can help us anchor ourselves up from falling into a black hole of feeling unmotivated and unproductive. Reminding ourselves that as long as you wake up every morning and make the firm intention of doing everything in your day solely for the sake of Allah SWT is also rewarded just the same. A medical student on placement with the intention of learning to become a doctor in the future to assist people in the same way that the consultants they shadow do. For in Islam, the process is rewarded just as much as the result. Similiarly, a preclinical student spending hours in the library learning is also an act of ibadah if the intention is to be a source of help in the future. 

Navigating life as a student can become draining very fast and fasting during the day can also make you feel tired and lethargic. The students of knowledge generations before us also provide a source of motivation as during the Islamic Golden Age of medicine , the likes of Ibn-Razi,  Ibn al-Nafis and Ibn Sina pioneered in surgery, pharmacology and medicine, and the month of Ramadan was obligatory upon them too!

As students, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed during Ramadan, juggling academics, deadlines, and spiritual commitments. However, by shifting our perspective and anchoring ourselves in the power of intention, we can transform even our studies into acts of worship. Every lecture attended, every page read, and every late-night revision session can be a means of seeking Allah’s pleasure when done with sincerity. Looking back at the perseverance of scholars from the Islamic Golden Age, we find motivation to push forward, knowing that our struggles are not in vain. Ramadan is not about perfection but about progress, and even the smallest efforts hold immense value in the eyes of Allah. So, as we navigate this blessed month, let’s embrace our journey with patience, gratitude, and a heart full of purpose.

~ Zainab Khan