Salaam Friends,
We’re just a little more than halfway through Ramadān already.
Somehow!
Āmīn
Now it’s going either one of two ways: the adrenaline has kicked in and you’re smashing every spiritual goal you set, or you’re running on empty.
And Tarāwīh can start to feel long.
Your feet ache.
Your back is stiff.
Your mind wanders in the third rakʿah.
You calculate how many pages are left in the juz.
You’re reading at home and suddenly you’ve forgotten which rakʿah you’re in… (guilty!)
And then the guilt creeps in.
Is this it?
Why am I not feeling more?
Why does everyone else look so spiritually alive?
But here’s something reassuring for you:
“Your body has a right over you, your eyes have a right over you and your wife has a right over you."
To put this in context, the Prophet ﷺ once counselled his companion ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAmr when he learned that he was fasting every single day and spending his nights entirely in prayer, pushing himself beyond what was sustainable.
How reassuring for the ones who have shown up to Ramadān with sincere intentions and now find themselves running on fumes.
👩🍼 That includes the mother swaying a baby at the back of the prayer hall.
🧔🏻♂️ The convert translating verses in their head.
👩🏾⚕️ The professional who came straight from emails to iqamah.
🌙 The one who hasn’t felt the “Ramadān high” at all.
It’s hard not to equate the length of our standing to the depth of our sincerity.
Of course this is the month of Ramadān. The more we can do, the better; the harder we try, the better. We are meant to exert ourselves a bit more - a day in Ramadān should look different to a day outside of Ramadān.
But have a look at this hadīth:
When the Prophet ﷺ saw someone praying while physically strained, he said:
“Pray standing; if you cannot, then sitting; and if you cannot, then on your side.”
🟣 Prayer remains non-negotiable, but the posture is flexible.
The obligation doesn’t disappear yes, but the form adapts. Islam preserves the connection while adjusting the strain.
🟣 Your body has rights in worship.
Fatigue and limitations are recognised within Islamic jurisprudence.
🟣 Showing up within your capacity is still full obedience.
You are not “lesser” for praying sitting when that is what you can do. You are exerting as much effort as you can, within your reality.
Moral of the story: we want to stay connected. But we don’t need to be harsh on ourselves!
See how the opposite of intimidating all of this is? Alhamdulillāh 💜
There is gentleness built into Islamic law.
Tarāwīh itself is a voluntary, though highly emphasised prayer. If we’re really trying to reframe our perspective, see it is a gift or a Divine intervention for the month of Ramadān.
How you ask?
Well, it rescues us from spiritual paralysis. If we had been left alone with 'worship more', most of us would freeze. Where do I start? How long? What do I read? Tarāwīh as a structured prayer removes the ambiguity.
Stand. Follow. Listen. Repeat.
Structure to dissolve overwhelm.
Second, Tarāwīh exists regardless of your mood. Whether you are inspired or not. It keeps you moving through the month when your own willpower dips.
Permission to be Human
If Tarāwīh feels exhausting, well - congratulations. You are, in fact, a human being.
Adjustments for the Remainder of Ramadān
Ultimately, worship performed within your limits is more beloved than worship performed while resenting your body.
And remember, halfway through Ramadān does not mean the door is closing. It means you’re invitation into this month still stands.
Laylatul Qadr is ahead.
Another sujood is ahead.
Another du‘ā is ahead.
So here is the gentle recalibration for the second half of Ramadān:
🍉Eat lighter at iftār.
Heavy food makes long standing harder. Try dates, water, soup and something light before Tarāwīh, then eat more afterwards.
🥤Hydrate intentionally.
Dehydration shows up as fatigue and headaches in prayer. Keep sipping water between iftār and ‘Eshā.
🤸🏽♀️ Stretch your body before prayer (though maybe not the handstand!)
A few minutes loosening your back, calves and ankles can make a surprising difference during long rakʿah.
📖 Follow the meaning of what’s being recited.
If you’re praying at home, keep a translation nearby. If you’re at the mosque, read the juz’ translation earlier in the day. Understanding the Qur’ān keeps the mind’s curiosity piqued!
🪑Sit when you need to.
There is no virtue in unnecessary strain. Sitting for part of Tarāwīh can help you stay present for the rest especially when you know you have a valid excuse.
1️⃣ Make one moment your point of return.
Maybe it’s the first takbir. Maybe it’s sujood. Choose one moment each night where you consciously return your attention.
🫧Reduce distractions before you start.
Close the laptop and put the phone away. Five quiet minutes before prayer can shift your focus. Take some time to rest!
🌙 Let the Qur’ān accompany your day.
Even reading a few verses earlier makes Tarāwīh feel familiar. The words you heard in the morning often echo differently at night.
And finally, keep going friends!
The One you are standing before sees the exertion of your body and the sincerity in your effort.
Allāh ﷻ knows you’re tired.
And He is not disappointed in you. There’s a reason why a greater reward is promised to the one who struggles in their worship but does it anyway.
Until next week then in shā Allāh! May Allāh ﷻ place gentleness in your worship and ease in your standing.
Love and du’ās,
The Minara Team
