The Benefits of a Mid-Ramadan Slump

17th Ramadan 1446H

Assalamu’alaikum,

Yup, we're feeling it. 

That mid-Ramadan slump where energy wanes, taraweeh prayers shorten, and Quran recitation slows. 

The initial spiritual high has settled, and the reality of the daily Ramadan routine set in (suhoor->fajr->work/school->Iftar->Isha/Taraweeh).

In the world of endurance sports, athletes call this phase "the wall" - that critical point in a marathon where you're too far from the starting line to turn back, yet the finish line still feels impossibly distant. Your muscles ache, your legs feel like jelly, and your brain whispers: "please stop."

But here's the beautiful secret about this challenging phase of Ramadan: this is precisely where taqwa (God-consciousness) is born.

Think of the first ten days of Ramadan as the warm-up. The excitement and motivation is high, and worship feels effortless. But true spiritual growth doesn't happen in those early 'easy' days - it emerges when you continue fasting despite the fatigue, when you stand for prayer despite the heaviness in your legs, when you recite Quran despite your sleepy eyes.

If Ramadan were merely a spiritual "diet fad", most would abandon it at this point - just like how new year's resolutions crumble within the first two weeks of January.

But you're still fasting, praying, and doing your best. Why?

Because you're driven by something far greater than temporary motivation or self-satisfaction. You're driven by your commitment to Allah SWT, by the understanding that this temporary discomfort purifies your soul.

When you push through this slump, you're essentially telling your nafs: "Your comfort is not my priority - my relationship with my Creator is."

This mid-Ramadan struggle is the practical training ground for jihad al-nafs (striving against one's self) to achieve Taqwa. It's where intention meets action, where faith meets resilience.

So the next time you feel your energy dropping or your enthusiasm waning with the waning moon, don't beat yourself up. Instead, recognize this moment as the most valuable part of your Ramadan journey. Take each day and each prayer as it comes, and know that you're building spiritual muscles that will carry you through not just the blessed last ten nights but beyond Ramadan as well.

Stay strong, stay steadfast, and remember Allah SWT’s words in this middle of Ramadan:

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱصْبِرُوا۟ وَصَابِرُوا۟ وَرَابِطُوا۟ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُون 

O believers! Patiently endure, persevere, stand on guard,1 and be mindful of Allah, so you may be successful. (Quran 3:200)

Sincerely,

P.S. Registration is open for the next cohort of our Barakah Effect program. Learn more here.

P.P.S. Please remember me and the entire Productive Muslim team in your prayers during these blessed days. Your duas mean the world to us. JazakumAllahu khairan!