When Dina Aziz put together a Ramadan planner to guide an overwhelmed friend through her first holy month after returning to Islam, she did not expect it to go viral.
Compelled to share her knowledge, Aziz had set about creating a tool that would help with organisation and focus, to ultimately make the experience more meaningful.
After she messaged across the final copy, the friend shared the document with some of her friends, who in turn shared it with theirs ... and the popularity of the guide snowballed.
Prompted by family members, the British-Bangladeshi overcame her initial nerves and posted the planner online for the wider Muslim community. Her X, formerly Twitter, account soon gained more and more followers from around the world wanting to gain access.
Demand was such that the link crashed – but even so, she says, the PDF was downloaded more than a million times in 24 hours.
“I posted it on social media and it began getting a lot of traction," Aziz, 25, tells The National. "Schools were downloading and printing it out, and I think that's when I really realised the benefit of the resource.”
Now, Ramadan Planner: A guide to Reflection and Growth During the Holy Month, which encourages users to contemplate past experiences, set intentions and develop a strategy for a successful 30 days, has been published by an imprint of Penguin.
I used to pop into the shop for diaries for Ramadan back in the day and now my diary is on the shelf
Dina Aziz
At the time of completing the first edition in 2019, Aziz, now a data analyst by day, was studying computer science at Goldsmiths, the University of London, and went on to add more content to each new version of the guide in the ensuing years.
“Before I knew it, Penguin had reached out to me to publish the book. It was all really fast," she says.
“I just walked into the supermarket, literally saw it on the shelves and I thought 'this is so weird'. It’s crazy I did that. It’s like a full-circle moment – I used to pop into the shop for diaries for Ramadan back in the day and now my diary is on the shelf.”
Since childhood, when the young Dina would write a regular record and rip pages from magazines to make a niche planner for herself during Ramadan, she has found that keeping a diary deepens her religious connection throughout the holiest month in the Islamic calendar.
The insight into how each person's journey is unique made her want to offer something that could be tailored to suit individual spiritual progress and different styles of worship regardless of background or previous experience of Ramadan.
"I think that's what has made it work," Aziz says. “We have a lot of resources that are black and white, and very traditional, but everyone I have met has told me they make their own notes. People interpret Ramadan in their own way.
"So I took this on board. I have tried to keep the planner as simple and digestible as possible so it touches on all parts of our religion from the beginning. It means anyone can pick up the book and understand it, whether Muslim or not, and be able to use it.
"It 100 per cent helps me during Ramadan."
Ramadan planner helps keep track of goals
The planner enables people to set and monitor progress made on goals, fast mindfully and plan suhoor and iftar meals, keep track of prayers for each day, make lists of du'as, record good deeds and check in on their mood and mental health.
“Yes, we are abstaining from food and drink but then that’s what makes the time more special. The planner helps you focus what you are dedicating your energy towards.
"When you have given up the basics, then everything else becomes really enormous. So planning your time and not losing energy on things that do not matter is important. It helps you prioritise."
Prayers at the heart
Perhaps the most special feature is the inclusion of carefully selected Quranic verses to reflect the themes and events within each section of the book, especially as Aziz has shared those that resonate strongly with her.
“The prayers are my favourite part,” she says.
“I put in my own ones and then left space on the next page so people can put in theirs. It breaks the tradition of having a uniform list of prayers that you need to read and changes it up.
“I wanted to make sure that whatever I implemented would be reflected in a general way so it would give creative freedom to whoever is using the journal.
“The latest planner I did was dedicated to what is happening in Palestine, so there are prayers for everyone who is suffering during the war and there are other day-to-day prayers concerning issues like grief."
People with ADHD have embraced planner
From the moment that the planner was first posted online until the recently published printed version became available, Aziz has received a wave of grateful messages from users. Many wanted to pass on that they had come to understand Islam better through the guidance she has collated.
“One of the biggest things to touch my heart was that a lot of people with ADHD made contact.
“They said they would struggle to manage their time and that they loved the planner as it had helped them with organisation. It really got me."
Even though hundreds of thousands of people have downloaded copies, Aziz says that many have also bought the new hardback, partly to limit potential distractions from venturing online and engaging with social media during Ramadan.
"One of the biggest compliments was when a teacher from Malaysia messaged to show me her school had 30 copies of the book, for all the students," she says. "I thought it was so cute. I didn’t really expect that at all.”
Hajj journal is next challenge
The Ramadan planner is merely the start for Aziz, who wants to continue working on projects that inspire and support people intent on deepening their faith.
She has set herself the goal of creating a journal for Hajj to prepare those performing the pilgrimage for the emotional, spiritual, physical and logistical challenges that lie ahead.
"Every time someone goes to Hajj, they always say the same thing, which is make sure you prepare as much as you can.
I’ll be using my planner through Ramadan and I'm hoping it will help guide others, too
“I plan on making a modern version, a timeless copy, with illustrations on how to do it, and see where that goes. Since Covid, everything has changed on the pilgrimage.
"I have a couple of other ideas for the future as well. I love projects and my brain is just sparking off ever since my first planner.”
In her spare time, as well as sharing thoughts on Ramadan, Aziz posts modest fashion and lifestyle tips to her almost 80,000 social media followers.
She hopes the growing number of those connecting with her online will provide a platform to reach and inspire even more people this Ramadan, which begins early next week, and in the years that follow.
“I’ll be using my planner through Ramadan and I'm hoping it will help others, too,” Aziz says.
“I would just encourage people to give it a go and create their own unique guide using it.”
'Ramadan Planner: A Guide to Reflection and Growth during the Holy Month', by Dina Aziz (Century, £12.99), is available in hardback now.
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What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
The specs
Engine: 2.5-litre, turbocharged 5-cylinder
Transmission: seven-speed auto
Power: 400hp
Torque: 500Nm
Price: Dh300,000 (estimate)
On sale: 2022
Globalization and its Discontents Revisited
Joseph E. Stiglitz
W. W. Norton & Company
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
Reading List
Practitioners of mindful eating recommend the following books to get you started:
Savor: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life by Thich Nhat Hanh and Dr Lilian Cheung
How to Eat by Thich Nhat Hanh
The Mindful Diet by Dr Ruth Wolever
Mindful Eating by Dr Jan Bays
How to Raise a Mindful Eaterby Maryann Jacobsen
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
The specs: 2018 Jeep Compass
Price, base: Dh100,000 (estimate)
Engine: 2.4L four-cylinder
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 184bhp at 6,400rpm
Torque: 237Nm at 3,900rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.4L / 100km
Notable salonnières of the Middle East through history
Al Khasan (Okaz, Saudi Arabia)
Tamadir bint Amr Al Harith, known simply as Al Khasan, was a poet from Najd famed for elegies, earning great renown for the eulogy of her brothers Mu’awiyah and Sakhr, both killed in tribal wars. Although not a salonnière, this prestigious 7th century poet fostered a culture of literary criticism and could be found standing in the souq of Okaz and reciting her poetry, publicly pronouncing her views and inviting others to join in the debate on scholarship. She later converted to Islam.
Maryana Marrash (Aleppo)
A poet and writer, Marrash helped revive the tradition of the salon and was an active part of the Nadha movement, or Arab Renaissance. Born to an established family in Aleppo in Ottoman Syria in 1848, Marrash was educated at missionary schools in Aleppo and Beirut at a time when many women did not receive an education. After touring Europe, she began to host salons where writers played chess and cards, competed in the art of poetry, and discussed literature and politics. An accomplished singer and canon player, music and dancing were a part of these evenings.
Princess Nazil Fadil (Cairo)
Princess Nazil Fadil gathered religious, literary and political elite together at her Cairo palace, although she stopped short of inviting women. The princess, a niece of Khedive Ismail, believed that Egypt’s situation could only be solved through education and she donated her own property to help fund the first modern Egyptian University in Cairo.
Mayy Ziyadah (Cairo)
Ziyadah was the first to entertain both men and women at her Cairo salon, founded in 1913. The writer, poet, public speaker and critic, her writing explored language, religious identity, language, nationalism and hierarchy. Born in Nazareth, Palestine, to a Lebanese father and Palestinian mother, her salon was open to different social classes and earned comparisons with souq of where Al Khansa herself once recited.
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
Fanney Khan
Producer: T-Series, Anil Kapoor Productions, ROMP, Prerna Arora
Director: Atul Manjrekar
Cast: Anil Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai, Rajkummar Rao, Pihu Sand
Rating: 2/5
TO ALL THE BOYS: ALWAYS AND FOREVER
Directed by: Michael Fimognari
Starring: Lana Condor and Noah Centineo
Two stars
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The Beach Bum
Director: Harmony Korine
Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Isla Fisher, Snoop Dogg
Two stars
Smart words at Make Smart Cool
Make Smart Cool is not your usual festival. Dubbed “edutainment” by organisers Najahi Events, Make Smart Cool aims to inspire its youthful target audience through a mix of interactive presentation by social media influencers and a concert finale featuring Example with DJ Wire. Here are some of the speakers sharing their inspiration and experiences on the night.
Prince Ea
With his social media videos accumulating more half a billion views, the American motivational speaker is hot on the college circuit in the US, with talks that focus on the many ways to generate passion and motivation when it comes to learning.
Khalid Al Ameri
The Emirati columnist and presenter is much loved by local youth, with writings and presentations about education, entrepreneurship and family balance. His lectures on career and personal development are sought after by the education and business sector.
Ben Ouattara
Born to an Ivorian father and German mother, the Dubai-based fitness instructor and motivational speaker is all about conquering fears and insecurities. His talk focuses on the need to gain emotional and physical fitness when facing life’s challenges. As well managing his film production company, Ouattara is one of the official ambassadors of Dubai Expo2020.
AUSTRALIA SQUAD
Aaron Finch, Matt Renshaw, Brendan Doggett, Michael Neser, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (captain), Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Jon Holland, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Canada
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How has net migration to UK changed?
The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 216,000 in the year to June 2018 and 224,000 in the year to June 2019.
It then dropped to an estimated 111,000 in the year to June 2020 when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.
The total rose to 254,000 in the year to June 2021, followed by steep jumps to 634,000 in the year to June 2022 and 906,000 in the year to June 2023.
The latest available figure of 728,000 for the 12 months to June 2024 suggests levels are starting to decrease.
The five pillars of Islam
TCL INFO
Teams:
Punjabi Legends Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq
Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi
Maratha Arabians Owners: Sohail Khan, Ali Tumbi, Parvez Khan; Key player: Virender Sehwag
Bangla Tigers Owners: Shirajuddin Alam, Yasin Choudhary, Neelesh Bhatnager, Anis and Rizwan Sajan; Key player: TBC
Colombo Lions Owners: Sri Lanka Cricket; Key player: TBC
Kerala Kings Owners: Hussain Adam Ali and Shafi Ul Mulk; Key player: Eoin Morgan
Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes
Timeline October 25: Around 120 players to be entered into a draft, to be held in Dubai; December 21: Matches start; December 24: Finals
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4.4-litre%2C%20twin-turbo%20V8%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eeight-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E617hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E750Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Efrom%20Dh630%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
Nepotism is the name of the game
Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.
Super 30
Produced: Sajid Nadiadwala and Phantom Productions
Directed: Vikas Bahl
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Pankaj Tripathi, Aditya Srivastav, Mrinal Thakur
Rating: 3.5 /5
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
FINAL LEADERBOARD
1. Jordan Spieth (USA) 65 69 65 69 - 12-under-par
2. Matt Kuchar (USA) 65 71 66 69 - 9-under
3. Li Haotong (CHN) 69 73 69 63 - 6-under
T4. Rory McIlroy (NIR) 71 68 69 67 - 5-under
T4. Rafael Cabrera-Bello (ESP) 67 73 67 68 - 5-under
T6. Marc Leishman (AUS) 69 76 66 65 - 4-under
T6. Matthew Southgate (ENG) 72 72 67 65 - 4-under
T6. Brooks Koepka (USA) 65 72 68 71 - 4-under
T6. Branden Grace (RSA) 70 74 62 70 - 4-under
T6. Alexander Noren (SWE) 68 72 69 67 - 4-under
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
