The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: "He is not a believer who eats his fill while his neighbor remains hungry by his side." (Baihaqi)

"By Allah, he has no faith (the Prophet [SAW] repeated it three times) whose neighbors are not safe from his wickedness." (Bukhari)

Ramadan is a great opportunity to share Islam and more specifically, its values of spirituality, generosity and kindness with others, especially your neighbors. It's a great time to do Dawa. And Dawa is very much needed in the current atmosphere of anger, tension and sadness.

Here are some ideas on how you can share the joy with your neighbors this Ramadan.

01. Begin with Dua

Make Dua that Allah give you and your family the sincerity, strength, motivation and wisdom to do this. Dawa is hard work, and it needs preparation, commitment and organization.

02. Put up a Ramadan banner on your door

This can be something handmade or something more formal.

But don't stop there. Print out a fact sheet on Ramadan and stick that on the door to educate readers passing by about the blessed month and what it means to Muslims.

03. Send neighbors Iftar snacks

Include a note with the food that the month of Ramadan is here and you are sharing your joy with them.

You can offer snacks that are not just "Muslims" but also "non-Muslims" (i.e. American, African, Middle Eastern, Indo-Pakistani, etc.). You can include index cards with the snacks listing all of the ingredients. This will help neighbors avoid food that causes allergies.

04. Give kids Ramadan Mubarak balloons and candy

Let your neighbors' kids also feel the happiness of Ramadan by including chocolate and candy among your snacks. Balloons also add a nice touch, and if you can get some printed which have "Ramadan Mubarak" written on them, they may remember the blessed month even after it has passed.

05. Publish Ramadan information in your neighborhood newsletter

If you are part of a tenants' association, a group within your housing complex or your neighborhood block parents' association and they publish a newsletter, inform them about Ramadan and prepare a short write-up about the month. This is a great way of informing many more neighbors about Ramadan.

06. Have a neighborhood Iftar gathering

You don't have to invite everyone. Perhaps just the closest neighbors can attend this event. Send handmade invitations for an "Iftar gathering" at most a week in advance (avoid the word "party" as it may be misunderstood to mean a gathering including alcohol, loud music, etc.).

Ask about allergies or other food issues before establishing the menu. Include vegetarian, American and "ethnic" food.

Be sure to invite Muslim family and friends who are comfortable interacting with non-Muslims to this event, and brief them about how they should properly share Ramadan with the neighbors. Also, have some written material on Ramadan available for your guests.

At the gathering:

Be cordial, generous and friendly, but maintain Islamic rules of behavior and modesty. This should not be a "party" in the common understanding, but more of a religious celebration that is spiritual and respectful to all.

Don't impose information. Just let non-Muslim guests ask questions, if they want to. As well, be ready for questions about Islam and violence/terrorism, the oppression of women, etc. Give neighbors the benefit of the doubt and clarify their misunderstanding in a calm, gentle manner.

07. Get your kids on it

Tell your kids to inform other neighbors' kids what Ramadan is all about and have the children invite their classmates to your Iftar gatherings.

08. Talk about what Ramadan means to you

What's it like to fast? How do you work/go to school and still fast? These are some questions you may be asked. Don't just point your guests to the pamphlets. Tell them and use some personal examples they can relate to.

Hmmm, let me find a way to pass this good thread to my neighbor, he must read this. The old man is a free giver tho', but with this he might do more. This ramadan must groove for me. Imust share this ramadan food with my muslim bro's. But not the fasting sha.

^LOL. OP, nice one.

let us stick to these

Cud I at least get a C4

ksusi: let us stick to these

may God bless al my muslim friends and may we continue to please God

omonori1:
Don't impose information. Just let non-Muslim guests ask questions, if they want to. As well, be ready for questions about Islam and violence/terrorism, the oppression of women, etc. Give neighbors the benefit of the doubt and clarify their misunderstanding in a calm, gentle manner.

Love this clause ... only if this directive would be imbibed by our Northern Moslems, Nigeria would have been a very peaceful nation .
Nice one @ OP.
Ramadan Kareem!

This and more are what is expected of a typical muslim.may Allah swt bless us and enrich our purse coz it takes nothing but finance to implement all this dawah strategies.

jazakallahu khayran. ds is a gud write up, may Allah reward d op.

Happy ramadan our muslim bros and sis

omonori1:


Don't impose information. Just let non-Muslim guests ask questions, if they want to. As well, be ready for questions about Islam and violence/terrorism, the oppression of women, etc. Give neighbors the benefit of the doubt and clarify their misunderstanding in a calm, gentle manner.

Hmmmm! Make i ask?

iLike

Nice write up,but I believe all these shld not stop when Ramadan has gone,Ramadan has come to teach us mny things and it should continue after Ramadan. May Allah subhana huwa tahala make it easy for us and accept all our effort during and after Ramadan as an act of ibadah. Ramadan Mubaraq

no share am with me! cos i cant see the difference in the middle east and northern Nigeria

Good one

Chanchit: Hmmm, let me find a way to pass this good thread to my neighbor, he must read this. The old man is a free giver tho', but with this he might do more. This ramadan must groove for me. Imust share this ramadan food with my muslim bro's. But not the fasting sha.

I pity you.
Don't go and eat what will destroy you.

Nice try though,
But it can never be like xmas.

ASALAM ALAYKUM, i am very happy for the information.this will show the world what islam really means.but these good deeds begins with me and you. i believe together we can make the world a better place.ramadan mubarak! peace!

@OP nice write up .... also can you please include/quote your source?? ..... Here's an excerpt from your write up that may not really apply in 9ja: "You can include index cards with the snacks listing all of the ingredients". possible source?
We should strive/encourage journalist excellence in NL - even though most of us are amateur writers/journalists, it is still worth it to do things properly.

Ashabie: Nice write up,but I believe all these shld not stop when Ramadan has gone,Ramadan has come to teach us mny things and it should continue after Ramadan. May Allah subhana huwa tahala make it easy for us and accept all our effort during and after Ramadan as an act of ibadah. Ramadan Mubaraq

continue after Ramadan? It is my prayer for you guys to continue like this, may be peace may reign.

Nice write-up. Keep it coming.

Nyc 1. Ramadan Kareem

Nice write up bro.
Ramadan Kareem!

Happy Ramadan to OP and other Muslims!

Assalam Aleykum my brother in Islam, my name is Nurudeen, am from epe local government, lagos. But right now in ijebu ode due to lack of money. Since i lost my job last year, things has not been going well to the extend dat i cannot avoid a house rent in lagos. Pls am marry with 2 kids. Pls this fasting has not been easy for me as i cannot even provide five hundred naira to cook for fasting. Pls me and my wife wish to fast for dis 30 days ramadam. Please am writing to beg my muslim brother and sister, i don't really need money but food items, like gari, rice, etc dat we can eat for fasting as i have been making contact for job soonest. Pls i can come to any place. Allah will keep rewarding u and providing as u put smiles onto a hunger man's face especially this Ramadam. Pls here is my gsm. 07058044622. Am at ijebu ode.

Share without bias

Happy ramadan to all good muslims and especially a ramadan shout-out to my great neighbors:Ismaila,Umoru,Rabiu,Sani and Yawo!

Ramadan mubarak