This article was originally posted in 2020 and updated for Ramadan 2022
Ramadan is here and this translates to a time of dedication to spiritual growth for all Muslims. The Ramadan Blackout Challenge offers you an opportunity to withdraw from all distractions and unplug from all social media platforms. The goal is a total focus on Ibadah in the last ten days of Ramadan which are the most blessed days of the whole month. If you want to make Ramadan 2022 your most successful Ramadan thus far when it comes to spiritual growth stick around and read more.
One of the most satisfying feelings of fasting during Ramadan is letting go of our love for materialistic things. Not just materialistic, but what we deem necessary: food, water, intimate relations with our spouses. Why do we do this? We want to grow our ‘Taqwa’ – righteousness and accountability to the Creator. For if we, for an entire month, can hold back on these essentials that are ‘Halal’ (permissible) to us, we sure can try to avoid the impermissible for the entire year.
O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous
Source: Quran, Surat Al-Baqarah 2:183
Am I getting you into the spirit of the sacred month of Ramadan yet? Well, let’s talk about ‘I’tikaaf’ then. Itikaaf means to go into isolation in a Masjid or at home with the intention of solely dedicating your time to the worship of Allah the Most Merciful.
It is Sunnat-al-Muaqidah (Sunnah that is urged to be performed) to sit in Itikaf in the last 10 days of Ramadan. A person may commence Itikaf after sunset of 20th of Ramadan, and end it when the moon for Eid is sighted. The Sunnah stays the same if the month of Ramadan is of 29 or 30 days.
Source: Islamic Finder
The best part is getting close to your creator spiritually. However, the biggest bonus you can attain, especially today, is detoxing your body and soul from the technology that surrounds us. And when we say technology, we specifically mean -you guessed it – your phone and social media. There is nothing more liberating than realizing that you do not have to depend on your phone and social media all the time.
You might be thinking: “Hold on a minute, I thought these Muslim Ad Network guys were online advertising people, why are they doing this spiritual thing now? What’s going on?”.
Well, we have a challenge for you that we call Ramadan Blackout. What is Ramadan Blackout you ask? It is a challenge for you to take your phone and block all social media during the last ten days of Ramadan and concentrate on the Quran. Let your Creator speak to you; read and ponder His words. We know you are up for it.
At Muslim Ad Network we are about maximizing opportunities. The last ten days are the most blessed of the entire month, yet this is the time when Muslims start getting lax with their worship. We want you to get the maximum benefit of this sacred month.
We emphasize reading the Quran because Ramadan is the month of the Quran. However, you may also do other things to change it up during the Ramadan Blackout::
Read About Islam
Read and increase your knowledge about Islam (especially important during times of mass misconceptions about Islam).
Make Use of Supplication
Make Dua and ask Allah to help you through the crisis we are facing with the pandemic. Ask Him whatever else you desire that is permissible. This is the time don’t be shy, even if you feel it is trivial:
Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said,
Let one of you ask his Lord for his needs, all of them, even for a shoestring when his breaks.
Sunan al-Tirmidhī 3973
Do Tawbah (Repentance)
Use Ramadan as a springboard to give you the momentum for the rest of the year. Take the opportunity of the last ten days of Ramadan to offer repentance to your Creator and get ready for a new you after Ramadan.
In these hard times when there is so much to worry about such as the war between Russia and Ukraine and COVID-19, who else is better to turn to than the One who offers all the solutions?
Are you worried about your health, business, job, your loved ones, or just need peace of mind?
The Ramadan Blackout -a virtual itikaaf – becomes an uplifting necessity for many of us. Disconnect the noise for ten days and connect to peace and serenity.
That’s not all though; when you participate you may tell us about your favorite charities. Muslim Ad Network will be contributing a total of $5000 worth of ads for the charities mentioned in the petition, insha’Allah. So you not only gain rewards by distancing yourself from social media and focusing on Ibada. You also indirectly contribute to Sadaqa.
The beautiful thing about it is that you will be doing it with millions of other Muslims from around the world. You can also bring people onboard through word of mouth and by sharing this action through social media channels using the hashtag #RamadanBlackout. No, not during the blackout itself as you will have blocked your social media by then, but today, right now.
Tell us how you will be spending the Ramadan Blackout in the comments below and encourage others to do the same. Remember that he who leads others to good has a portion of the reward.
How to Participate
- Make a pledge to participate at Change.org and accept the challenge.
- Temporarily uninstall all of your social media apps (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Youtube, TikTok etc)
- Leave a comment in the pledge form, letting us know one of your favorite charities. Once we get at least 500 pledges, Muslim Ad Network will be contributing $5,000 worth of ads collectively to the top 10 charities mentioned in the comments, insha’Allah.
- (Optional) Post on your own social media channels a link to https://muslimadnetwork.com/ramadan-blackout-challenge/ with the hashtag #RamadanBlackout and the image provided below. Or you can use the image as your temporary display profile picture. It lets others know you’ve committed to the challenge (in case they are wondering where you are 🙂 ), and helps spread the word so others can benefit, insha’Allah.
Ramadan Kareem
Bonus: What the Ramadan Consumer Survey 2022 Says About Advertising to Muslims During the Holy Month
