A Quick Ramadan guide for Single Muslims

Waking up in a lonely apartment and eating food you've sometimes burnt in an effort to catch Suhur in time are some of the realities of being alone or single at Ramadan. But there are ways to make Ramadan special when you're on your own. Here are few ideas. Please feel free to post yours at the bottom of this article.

1. Establish a Suhur telephone tree

Get a couple of friends together and establish a "telephone tree" to wake each other up for Suhur. Establish a time to call and a schedule of who will call whom. Make it a little quirky by creating funny phrases every week that will really wake everyone up (e.g. "ASSALAMU ALIAKUM" This is the Suhur Sister/Bellowing Brother callin'. Rise and shine y'all for some morning grub, OVER).

2. Invite people over for Iftar

Even if even you couldn't eat the food the last time you cooked, invite people over for Iftar. Make it a potluck, order pizza or if you can afford it, get it catered. The food isn't the thing. The blessing is in the company, and you'll be rewarded for feeding everyone. Make sure to especially invite those who are away from their families.

Iftar events you can join in the UK:

MPACUK Muslim Teachers' Iftar Aug 20th

The Tayyibun Iftar Gathering Aug 28th

West London School Iftar gatherings, Mondays in August,

And in the US:

Love Thy Neighbor - Iftar in the Synagogue Aug 19th

CAMP NY Iftar 13th Aug

Issa USA's Ramadan Fundraising Iftar Aug 14th

3. Attend prayers at the local masjid/MSA/ISOC

Even if the Imam's recitation isn't the best and the behavior of other Muslims can be more than annoying, try to attend Tarawih prayers organized by your local masjid or your Muslim Students' Association (MSA) or ISOC (Islamic Society). While praying alone in peace and quiet is great, praying shoulder-to-shoulder with other Muslims with whom you have nothing in common except your faith is a unique and uplifting experience.

Find (and add) your local masjid wherever you are on Earth: Masjids in UK, USA & Australia, Masjids.org (USA), Local Masjids.com (UK), Islamic Finder.org - global.

4. Get involved in community programs

It may seem hard to squeeze in time for anything else in Ramadan, but try, at least once, to do some volunteer work. Cook a meal for those who attend the MSA Iftar; volunteer for a day at a soup kitchen; help make or distribute flyers for a Ramadan program; make Ramadan Mubarak loot bags of candy for the kids at your local masjid (or Ramadan cookies like Zaufishan does). The possibilities are numerous. The point is to give to others so you can get back what's priceless.

5. Keep the Qur'an playing when you are alone at home

It's often tempting to keep the TV or radio on when we're alone at home to avoid the silence. This Ramadan, find a CD or cassette of a Qur'an reciter you like and play it during those moments when you want to fill your place with some sound. Choose selections you'd like to memorise, like the 30th part of the Qur'an.

An extensive online Qur'an list is here.

6. Eat properly - don't resort to burnt toast and egg

Not eating Suhur and Iftar properly will make you crabby, irritated and sick (as opposed to healthy, wealthy and wise). Establish a personal Ramadan meal plan. Choose healthy, easy-to-make recipes so you're not scrambling at the last minute for something to eat.

More: Mission Islam.com Ramadan Recipes, All Recipes.com - Ramadan Recipes, Khana Pakana - recipes in Urdu/English, About: Ramadan, Moroccan Recipes, My Halal Kitchen.com at Ifar.

7. Keep in touch with family and friends back home

Send Ramadan e-cards or make them yourself for to family and friends. Keep in contact at least once a week and share three Ramadan-related things you've done in the last ten days of Ramadan. Start an Ramadan journal, make a Ramadan Blog!

8. Take care of others

Know a new person at the school/office? Is a friend who lives nearby having problems with their spouse? Or is someone you know having money problems? This Ramadan, reach out with an attentive ear, a generous hand, and most importantly, an open heart to others. Don't let these small opportunities for gaining blessings slip you by.

9. Decorate your "crib"

Add some festivity to your spare surroundings by dressing the place up with a Ramadan banner, balloons and streamers. Even after a rough day, coming home to a decorated home is a boost to the spirits. Trust us, we know what we're talking about.

10. Pick and pursue Ramadan goals

Choose at least three goals to pursue this Ramadan. Whether it's curbing a bad habit or starting a good one, doing this will help you focus and work harder this month to change for the better. It takes 21 days to establish a good habit. With Ramadan, we've got 30. Why not make the best of it by picking up the good?

More: Productive Ramadan.com