How can parents use Ramadan to reset digital habits in a lasting way? 

Parenting Perspective 

Treat Ramadan as a Training Ground 

Ramadan is the perfect month for discipline and renewal. In the same way that a family abstains from food and drink, parents can frame Ramadan as the ideal time to reset their screen habits. By explaining, ‘This month teaches us to control our desires, and that also includes how often we reach for our phones,’ children learn that digital discipline is a part of spiritual growth, not a separate, unrelated struggle. 

Set Clear and Achievable Goals 

Parents can introduce small but meaningful changes for the month, such as a ‘no devices’ rule during iftar and suhoor, or replacing late-night scrolling with listening to the Quran. Keeping the goals realistic is key to preventing resentment and helping the family to succeed. When these new habits are practised daily for a whole month, they are far more likely to continue long after Ramadan is over. 

Build Positive, Lasting Alternatives 

To ensure the changes have a lasting impact, the time previously spent on digital distractions must be filled with meaningful, positive activities. This could include attending taraweeh prayers as a family, preparing iftar together, or listening to Islamic lectures. When children associate Ramadan with these uplifting alternatives, they learn from experience that a balanced approach to technology brings both joy and barakah. 

Spiritual Insight 

A Month of Guidance and Discipline 

The Quran establishes Ramadan as a month of guidance, designed to help believers strengthen their discipline and draw closer to Allah. This makes it the perfect opportunity to reassess and reset any habits that may be causing distraction. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Baqarah (2), Verse 185: 

‘(It is) The month of Ramadan, in which was revealed the (noble) Quran; a source of absolute guidance for mankind, with an empirical exposition of its guidance and proof…’ 

Sincere Effort is Always Rewarded 

The spiritual rewards of Ramadan are immense, and they are not limited to the act of fasting itself. Any sincere effort made to improve oneself during this month, including digital self-control, is a path to earning the forgiveness and mercy of Allah. 

It is recorded in Sahih Bukhari, 38, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Whoever fasts during Ramadan out of sincere faith and hoping for reward, will have his past sins forgiven.’ 

Resetting Habits for the Sake of Allah 

By treating Ramadan as a training ground, setting achievable goals, and filling spare time with meaningful alternatives, a family can reset its digital habits in a way that truly endures. When these new practices are carried into daily life after the month is over, they become a beautiful form of ongoing worship, strengthening both family discipline and closeness to Allah Almighty.