Not everyone experiences Ramadan the same way. While social media is filled with aesthetic decorations, color-coordinated iftar tables, and ambitious goal lists, some people enter the month carrying much heavier things; family tensions, demanding workloads, financial pressure, and sometimes a dip in iman that feels hard to admit out loud.

Low iman isn’t a small thing, especially if you’ve known what it feels like to be spiritually “on fire.” To go from feeling connected to God to feeling distant or empty can be deeply discouraging. It can even make you feel disconnected from those around you. But the beauty of Ramadan isn’t reserved for people who arrive perfectly prepared, it’s also for those who come in tired, distracted, struggling, or unsure.

Here are 10 verses from the Quran to return to (and reflect on) when Ramadan feels difficult.

1. Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 155

وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَىْءٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْخَوْفِ وَٱلْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْأَمْوَٰلِ وَٱلْأَنفُسِ وَٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ 

“We will certainly test you with a touch of fear and famine and loss of property, life, and crops. Give good news to those who patiently endure."

2. Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 214

أَمۡ حَسِبۡتُمۡ أَن تَدۡخُلُواْ ٱلۡجَنَّةَ وَلَمَّا يَأۡتِكُم مَّثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ خَلَوۡاْ مِن قَبۡلِكُمۖ مَّسَّتۡهُمُ ٱلۡبَأۡسَآءُ وَٱلضَّرَّآءُ وَزُلۡزِلُواْ حَتَّىٰ يَقُولَٱلرَّسُولُ وَٱلَّذِينَ  ءَامَنُواْ مَعَهُۥ مَتَىٰ نَصۡرُ  ٱللَّهِۗ أَلَآ إِنَّ نَصۡرَ ٱللَّهِ قَرِيبٞ

“Do you think that you will enter Paradise while such [trial] has not yet come to you as came to those who passed on before you? They were touched by poverty and hardship and were shaken until [even their] messenger and those who believed with him said, ‘When is the help of Allah?’ Unquestionably, the help of Allah is near.”

3. Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 286

لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا

“Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear.”

4. Surah Ali ‘Imran, verse 139

وَلَا تَهِنُوا۟ وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا۟ وَأَنتُمُ ٱلْأَعْلَوْنَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ 

"Do not falter or grieve, for you will have the upper hand, if you are ˹true˺ believers!”

5. Surah An-Nur, verse 38

لِيَجْزِيَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ أَحْسَنَ مَا عَمِلُوا۟ وَيَزِيدَهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِۦ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَرْزُقُ مَن يَشَآءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍۢ

“Allah may reward them according to the best of their deeds, and increase them out of His grace. And Allah provides for whoever He wills without limit.”

6. Surah Al-Jathiya 45, verse 30 

فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ فَيُدْخِلُهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ فِى رَحْمَتِهِۦ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْمُبِينُ 

"And those who believe and do righteous good deeds, their Lord will admit them to His Mercy. That will be an evident success."

7. Surah An-Nahl, verse 97

مَنْ عَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًۭا مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌۭ فَلَنُحْيِيَنَّهُۥ حَيَوٰةًۭ طَيِّبَةًۭ ۖ وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْرَهُم بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ

"Whoever does good, whether male or female, and is a believer, We will surely bless them with a good life, and We will certainly reward them according to the best of their deeds.” 

8. Surah Al-’Ankabut, verse 69

وَٱلَّذِينَ جَـٰهَدُوا۟ فِينَا لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنَا ۚ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَمَعَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ

"As for those who struggle in Our cause, We will surely guide them along Our Way. And Allah is certainly with the good-doers.”

9. Surah Kahf, verse 31

8. أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ جَنَّـٰتُ عَدْنٍۢ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهِمُ ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ يُحَلَّوْنَ فِيهَا مِنْ أَسَاوِرَ مِن ذَهَبٍۢ وَيَلْبَسُونَ ثِيَابًا خُضْرًۭا مِّن سُندُسٍۢ وَإِسْتَبْرَقٍۢ مُّتَّكِـِٔينَ فِيهَا عَلَى ٱلْأَرَآئِكِ ۚ نِعْمَ ٱلثَّوَابُ وَحَسُنَتْ مُرْتَفَقًۭا

“It is they who will have the Gardens of Eternity, with rivers flowing under their feet. There they will be adorned with bracelets of gold, and wear green garments of fine silk and rich brocade, reclining there on ˹canopied˺ couches. What a marvelous reward! And what a fabulous place to rest!”

10. Surah Al-Furqan, verse 75

أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ يُجۡزَوۡنَ ٱلۡغُرۡفَةَ بِمَا صَبَرُواْ وَيُلَقَّوۡنَ فِيهَا تَحِيَّةً وَسَلَٰمًا

"It is they who will be rewarded with (elevated) mansions (in Paradise) for their patience, and will be received with salutations and (greetings of) peace."