Every year, we enter Ramadan full of energy and intention. We’re motivated, determined, and ready to pursue a long list of goals: to complete multiple khatams, never miss tahajjud, give more, pray more, and grow closer to Allah.

But midway through the month, burnout sets in. The excitement fades into exhaustion. And when Ramadan ends, a familiar regret lingers, “If only I did more...” 

But what if the exhaustion is actually not physical? Maybe it comes from carrying Ramadan as a personal performance; a private scoreboard of khatams completed, rakʿahs prayed, and goals achieved. When worship becomes a solitary race, it becomes heavy.

But Ramadan was never designed to be a solo pursuit. It is the only pillar of Islam that entire communities experience at the same time. We fast together, we break fast together, we stand in prayer shoulder to shoulder. The hunger is shared, and the long nights are borne collectively. If we feel burnt out, perhaps it is because we reduced a collective act of worship into an individual checklist.

If your Ramadan feels like it’s not “Ramadan-ing” because you were unable to do more individually, take a pause. Maybe the barometer is not your private checklist but your contribution to the collective. 

Here are some ways to practice solidarity and turn them into acts of worship this Ramadan.

1. Preparing Iftaar for Others

Ramadan is often associated with food. The Prophet SAW said, “Whoever gives food for a fasting person to break their fast will have a reward like theirs, without that detracting from their reward in the slightest.” To feed someone fasting is not a small gesture. It is a multiplied reward. 

One of the most tangible ways to embody Ramadan solidarity is through preparing and serving food for others. Volunteering with a local masjid or NGO. Joining community kitchens, packing dates into boxes, standing side by side chopping vegetables and stirring pots, all while knowing that someone else’s fast will end because of your effort. In that moment, your worship will become collective. 

2. Hosting a Halaqah 

Ramadan is a month of reflection and learning, and gathering people around the Qur’an transforms personal devotion into collective growth. 

Abu Hurairah and Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with them) reported that the Messenger of Allah SAW said: “When a group of people assemble for the remembrance of Allah, the angels surround them with their wings, mercy envelops them, tranquility descends upon them, and Allah mentions them before those near Him.”

Hosting a halaqah with friends or family whether physically or virtually allows you to pause, reflect, and connect. Even a short session of reading, discussion, or sharing insights from the Qur’an fosters a shared sense of purpose. In Ramadan, knowledge becomes more than information; it becomes a bridge that binds hearts in remembrance. 

3. Check-ins & Ramadan Companionship

Not everyone experiences Ramadan surrounded by community. Converts, students far from home, or those living alone may struggle silently. Ramadan solidarity begins with noticing. A simple message, a phone call, or inviting someone to break fast together can turn isolation into belonging. 

Sharing encouragement, praying for one another, or simply listening is itself an act of ʿibādah. When we check in with others, we extend the mercy and compassion of Ramadan beyond ourselves. Our fast is no longer just personal discipline,  it becomes part of a collective journey.

4. Supporting Others Through Sadaqah

Ramadan multiplies our generosity, but true solidarity requires intention. Giving isn’t just about charity, it’s showing up for others and supporting the ummah in ways that are meaningful and lasting.

Since its founding, VELA has created spaces of inclusivity, belonging, and representation for Muslims across cultures, races, and backgrounds. This Ramadan, they are highlighting the crisis in Sudan: all proceeds from The Al-Sudan Hoodie go directly to Sudan relief via the Sudanese American Physicians Association’s hunger-relief program, helping communities facing extreme food insecurity.

Charity done with sincere intention becomes ʿibādah. Ramadan is an opportunity to turn your resources, energy, and care into collective support, showing that generosity and solidarity are inseparable.