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Spiritual Wellbeing

Making the Most of Dhikr Week

written by Hannah AlKadi
4th February 2025 | 6 min read

As the countdown to Ramaḍān starts, there’s lots to think about: the duʿās we want to make, the goals we want to accomplish, and making up for our missed fasts. (By the way, the best time is now — not only are the days still short, but it’s also the month of Shaʿbān, where good deeds are rewarded more!)

But another important to-do on our list is the development of a spiritual routine. One that takes account of our monthly cycle as well.

Reframing your period: From “break” to “dhikr week”

All too often, when our periods arrive, we instinctively go “on break.” Without Ṣalāh, our emotions can swing between two extremes – grief at feeling disconnected from Allah ﷻ or relief at getting extra rest.

On one hand, many of us feel a deep longing for our usual acts of worship. Ṣalāh structures our day and keeps us anchored to Allah ﷻ. Being able to ask Him and thank Him five times a day (or more) is a wonderful blessing. Not having those regular reminders can be hard on our hearts. And if you experience PMS or PMDD, the emotional ups and downs can feel even more intense.

On the other hand, we might feel guilty pleasure during this week. Sleeping through fajr and going to bed before ʿIshāʾ without guilt is an experience that only women can go through. (And let’s not forget being able to get the reward of fasting even if we’re not doing so!)

But the real question is: without Ṣalāh, are we still connecting ourselves to Allah ﷻ? Without the ability to fast, are we sustaining ourselves spiritually? Are we still holding on to the rope of Allah ﷻ, even if we’re not able to physically touch a musḥaf?

Instead of thinking of your cycle as a “week off,” reframe it as a “dhikr week.” Coined by Rabata, “dhikr week” is a new way to think of our periods. Dhikr means remembrance, and we want to make this a period of mindfulness, and not one of forgetfulness.

If you’re not sure where to start, here are some ways to stay spiritually engaged during your cycle…

Dhikr throughout the day

    There’s lots of adhkār available to us to say. You may be used to saying one of them after every salah. It’s called Tasbih Fatima.

    The Prophet ﷺ told his daughter, “When you go to your bed, you should recite takbir (Allāhu Akbar) thirty-four times, and tasbih (Subḥānallāh) thirty-three times, and tahmid (Al-Ḥamdu lillāh) thirty-three times…” (Sahih Muslim 2727a). 

    So, instead of praying your Ṣalāh, find a quiet place to make dhikr. Be sure you’re still saying tasbih Fatima if that’s part of your routine — and if it’s not, there’s no better time to start incorporating it.

    It’s also important to keep up with your Qurʾān during this time. If you choose to pause memorizing new ayat, some scholars are of the opinion that you can revise everything you’ve already memorized up until this point. During any regular reading time that you have, be sure you can still recall what you’ve already kept close to your heart. You can do this by continually listening to the Qurʾān throughout the day. After all, one of the names of the Qurʾān is “Al-Dhikr – the remembrance!

    Ṣalawāt as you stretch

      Between cramps and the temptation to rot in bed all day, our muscles get tight. Simple stretches, yoga, or tai chi can help your body get a little bit of light exercise to aid with feeling better.

      One of my favorite things to do while I’m stretching isn’t just to listen to a good lecture or an audiobook, but to recite Ṣalawāt. You’ll receive good deeds, have your sins forgiven, and have your worries disappear.

      There’s so many different ways to say it:

      ٱللَّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ

      ʾallāhumma ṣalli ʿalā muḥammadin wa-ʾāli muḥammadin

      O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and the Progeny of Muhammad.

      ٱللَّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ وَسَلِّمْ وَبَارِكْ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ

      ʾallāhumma ṣalli wa-sallim wa-bārik ʿalā muḥammadin wa-ʾalā ʾāli muḥammadin

      O Allah, send blessings and peace upon Muhammad and upon the Progeny of Muhammad.

      And of course, there’s Ṣalawāt Ibrahim: 

      اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ ❁ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ❁ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ ❁ اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ ❁ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ❁ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ

       Allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā Muḥammadin wa ʿalā āli Muḥammadin, kamā ṣallayta ʿalā Ibrāhīma wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīma, innaka Ḥamīdun Majīd. Allāhumma bārik ʿalā Muḥammadin wa ʿalā āli Muḥammadin, kamā bārakta ʿalā Ibrāhīma wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīma, innaka Ḥamīdun Majīd

      O Allah, send prayers upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad just as You have sent prayers upon Ibrahim and upon the family of Ibrahim, verily You are the Praiseworthy, the Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad just as You have blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim, verily You are the Praiseworthy, the Glorious.

      Du’a instead of Ṣalāh

        It’s likely that you still allow your Ṣalāh alarm or app to still give you notifications, even throughout your dhikr week. Take advantage of that! Set aside five or ten minutes to pause your work or school to retreat to your prayer area and continue to make du’a.

        Did you know that there are du’as for…

        If du’a after Ṣalāh wasn’t a habit before, it can be one during this time. Keep a running note on your phone or a book if people ask you to make du’a for them, or as circumstances come up in your life. 

        Don’t know where to start? Some things you can make du’a for are:

        • your Ākhirah 
        • your Islam
        • your family members
        • your friends
        • oppressed peoples throughout the world
        • your health
        • your education
        • your career

        … and the list goes on! 

        These are just a few ways to make the most of your dhikr week. Be sure to take care of yourself during this time. May this week be one of spiritual nourishment, reflection, and renewal. We pray that it brings you ease, recovery, and rejuvenation, allowing you to return to Ṣalāh and fasting with a heart that feels even closer to Allah ﷻ.

        Big picture

        Taking care of your body during menstruation is a form of self-care.

        You’re balancing physical health with spiritual and emotional well-being, as well as honouring the body Allah has blessed you with!

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