"Ramadan Nights and Sleepless Studies"

"Ramadan Nights and Sleepless Studies"

Layla sat at her desk, staring at the open textbook in front of her. The words blurred together, her mind too exhausted to make sense of them. Her final exams were just a few weeks away, but this year, studying felt harder than ever.

Ramadan had arrived.

She loved Ramadan—its peace, its blessings, the late-night prayers—but balancing fasting and studying? That was another challenge altogether. The long fasting hours made her tired, and by the time she sat down to study at night, she was already drained from the day.

"Maybe I should just sleep and wake up early," she thought. But she knew that waking up at dawn for suhoor and then trying to focus on books was almost impossible.

One night, after Taraweeh prayer, Layla sat with her mother, frustration clear on her face.

"Mama, I don’t know what to do. I want to do well in my exams, but I also want to take advantage of Ramadan. I feel like I’m failing at both."

Her mother smiled gently. "Did you ever think that maybe, if you make your intention sincere, Allah will make it easier for you?"

"But I still have to put in the effort… and I just don’t have the energy."

"True," her mother nodded. "But let me tell you something. In Ramadan, everything you do for the sake of Allah has more blessings. If you dedicate your studies to Him, He will open doors for you that you never imagined."

Layla listened carefully.

"Try this: Before you study, make wudu. Start with Bismillah and a small dua: 'Ya Allah, grant me knowledge that benefits me.' Study after suhoor when your mind is fresh. And when you get tired, take a break to pray—it will recharge you in ways coffee never can."

Layla wasn’t sure if it would work, but she decided to try.

The next morning, after suhoor, instead of going back to sleep, she opened her books. To her surprise, she felt more focused than ever. She followed her mother’s advice—starting with dua, taking short breaks for prayer, and trusting that Allah would help her.

Slowly, her struggles started to fade. She still felt tired sometimes, but she didn’t feel hopeless anymore. She realized that Ramadan wasn’t a distraction from her studies—it was a source of strength.

The night before her biggest exam, Layla stood in qiyam (night prayer), asking Allah for ease and success. And when she finally sat in the exam hall the next morning, she smiled, knowing that she had done her part—and left the rest in Allah’s hands.

The Final Test

Layla took a deep breath as she flipped through the exam paper. Her heart pounded—this was the moment she had worked so hard for.

As she read the questions, a wave of relief washed over her. She knew the answers! The effort she had put in, the late-night prayers, the early morning study sessions—it had all been worth it.

For the first time, she truly understood what her mother meant. Studying with the right intention, relying on Allah, and trusting in His wisdom had made all the difference.

When she walked out of the exam hall, the sun was shining brightly, the air crisp with the scent of a new day. Layla smiled, feeling lighter than she had in weeks.

That night, after iftar and Taraweeh, she raised her hands in dua.

"Ya Allah, thank You for giving me the strength. I struggled, but You made it easy. I worried, but You gave me peace. Whatever happens now, I know I did my best—and I trust in Your plan."

And with that, Layla felt something she hadn't felt in a long time—true contentment.

A few weeks later, the results were announced. She held her breath as she opened the paper… She had passed with flying colors!

Tears welled in her eyes as she whispered, "Alhamdulillah."

She had learned something far greater than just what was in her textbooks—she had learned that when you put your trust in Allah, He will always guide you through.

And that was the real success.