Alhamdulillah, first week of Ramadhan has passed and we are still given life to meet the second week of Ramadhan.

If we do not feel boosted on the first week, well, take it as a "warm up". But this 2nd week, let's step up. Remind ourselves; what if this is our last week alive in this Ramadhan.

Here are some suggestions on things we can increase on, this second week:

1) For those doing 8 for Tarawih, increase to 20.

2) Witr 3 increase to 5 and gradually 11.

3) Quran khatam once to twice. Apart from our nightly tadarus, read 2 pages before the five fardhu solahs and 2 pages after. 4 pages x 5 solahs = 20 page / 1 juz.

4) Sadaqah. If 1st week zero sadaqah, this 2nd week at least make some. And best sadaqah is to family. And of course, the needy.

5) Love. Increase love with parents, in-laws, spouse, children, relatives, friends by telling them you love them and that you appreciate them. The Prophet ﷺ told us to tell those whom we love, that we love them.

6) Increase time with Allah during Subuh time, till Dhuha. Pray 2 rakaat and gradually increase to 8.

7) Increase in our qabliyyah and ba'diyyah (before and after) prayers. If whole day we only manage a total of 2 or 4, increase to 10 or more per day.

8) Increase in good leadership. As we "evolve" from a bro to husband to father and as we age from 17 to 25 to 30, some things need to change. Some old bad habits and bad unhealthy routine gotta stop: delaying the fardhu prayers, not praying in jemaah with family, not making the azan at home, not leading the family in a lively sitting with Allah. This week, step up and step forward. Be the man of the family! Fooooorwaaaard!!!

9) Increase in memorisation of new surahs. How many songs have you memorised? And how many surahs? If you only know 3 surahs since the past 10 years, this Ramadhan, memorise more! At least 10 different surahs for all the first 2 rakaats of the five daily fardhu prayers!

10) Increase health; quit addiction to cigarette and coke, do not over eat and over sleep. Eat max 2 meals not 5! (Someone shared he gained weight in Ramadhan. Asked how. He said he eats during iftar. After that he performs Maghrib then he eats again, after Tarawih he eats again. And again before he sleeps and during sahur! Innalillah.. )

11) Increase our fasting level from the fast of the ordinary people to the fast of the elite. Fast of the Ordinary people is fast from food and drink only but the fast of the elite is making the eyes and mouth and ears "fast" from contamination, meaning we make sure our eyes will not look at the sinful, meaning see, hear and say no evil! Our minds also fasting from "dirty thinking" and full of thinking of Allah. Heart fasting from anger, su-uz zhon, hasad, etc, and full of love and gratitude and yearning for Allah.

12) That we strive to increase the above for Allah to increase our ranks in His list! May Allah in return increase us in our feelings (taqwa) to and for Allah! Amin Allahumma amin.

Btw, this is a little something we can use to boost the second week and weeks to come.. to see if there is an increase in our Ramadhan score: Ramadhan Scoresheet.