These 5 handy essentials will help you make the most of Ramadan

By Hyacinth Mascarenhas

Ramadan has officially begun for more than 1.5 billion Muslims around the world, each with their own traditions, customs and lifestyles during the Islamic Calendar’s holiest month.

At its simplest, it is a month of abstinence from food, drink, smoking and sexual relations from dawn till sunset. It is also a beautifully complex spiritual month of self-purification, self-control, piety and generosity towards the poor, filled with a sense of community, memories and traditions we hold dear.

Every year, we also have the usual Ramadan-inspired fashion lines, delicious Iftar specials, gorgeous jewelry and accessories exhibitions and host of Ramadan TV shows and dramas. Giving Ramadan a nice little update, there is also a wide range of inspiring products and apps this year that aim to make the holy month more personalized, meaningful and tech-savvy.

Here are some of our favorite trends for Muslims and non-Muslims alike to make the most of the holy month of Ramadan:

1. Ramadan Legacy App

Launched just in time for Ramadan 2015, Ramadan Legacy is this year’s must-have app that allows users to keep a mobile Ramadan journal which helps you plan your fasts, set personal goals for the holy month and helps you achieve them through regular inspirational reminders.

It also allows users to share your Ramadan photos, reflections and stories with other users around the world.

2. Google’s My Ramadan Companion

Google has also joined in with their own personal assistant to help Muslims observe Ramadan through their own clean, easy web portal – My Ramadan Companion. This personal assistant web portal provides users with relevant Ramadan information ranging from sunrise and sunset times to Iftar recipes, links to relevant YouTube videos and tips for a healthy Ramadan.

“Technology helps more than 200 million Muslims living away from their families connect and share moments with loved ones,” said Zain Kamal Masri, Google’s associate product marketing manager for the Middle East and North Africa. “People look to Maps to navigate traffic and make it home from work for Iftar, download Google Play apps to plan their day around the sunset and sunrise, and look up Ramadan opening hours of their favorite local shops and restaurants.”

3. Ramadan Journals

If you prefer jotting things down over digital to-do lists and reminders, Toronto-based stationary line ‘The Pampered Muslimah’ has a beautiful Ramadan journal that’s perfect to write down personal goals, prayer times and keep track of Iftar gatherings. Available in a variety of colors, the journals also includes tips to make the most of the holy month.

The Islam-inspired line is sold through Etsy.com and also features some adorable stationary items including notebooks, Post-it notepads and mugs with sayings like “Alhamdullilah for Everything” and “Dream Dua Do.”

4. Spotify for religious chants

Islamic Anachid is a handy little app that allows users to browse through a wide variety of reciters, select your favorite albums of religious music and even download them on your phone and listen to them later.

5. #ShareRamadan

In an inspiring effort to teach non-Muslims about Islam and the beautiful spiritual experience of fasting during Ramadan, Muslims are encouraged to challenge a friend, colleague or neighbor of a different faith to fast for a day and raise money for a charity.

They then invite the friend to their house to break fast with their family, share a photo or video on social media and nominate five friends to #ShareRamadan. To learn more about the cool new initiative, check out their official website.