Our Shaykh Abu Bilaal Al-Hadhramy- may Allah preserve him- was asked the following question on 30th Sha'baan 1441 ( 23rd April 2020):
Question: How did The Salaf prepare for the month of Ramadan?
Answer: First of all, they would be overjoyed by its arrival and rejoice at it.
(1. Supplication)
They would spend six months asking Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالى) to allow them to reach Ramadan and if they fasted Ramadan; they would spend (the next) six months asking Allah to accept it from them.It has indeed been reported that Yahya ibn Abee Kathir (may Allah have mercy upon him) used to say:
"اللهم سلِّمنا لرمضان وسلِّم رمضان لنا"
"Oh Allah; deliver us to Ramadan and deliver Ramadan to us."
It is a month of sweet scented blessings, a month of forgiveness of sins and a month of goodness - all of it.
(2. Recitation of The Qur’ān)
So there is no doubt that it is a bringer of joy and the Salaf were certainly overjoyed with it. From their over enjoyment, they would recite the book of Allaah more in it than outside of it.In fact; it was mentioned regarding Sufyān At-Thawree (may Allah have mercy upon him - that when Ramadan entered he would leave all actions and devote his (complete) attention to The Qur’ān.
Similarly, it was also reported that Imam Malik - may Allah have mercy upon him) despite his deep love for narrating hadith and hadith in general; once Ramadan had entered he devoted his (complete) attention to The Qur’ān and stopped narrating hadith, this was his preparation.
(3. Sitting in the Masjid)