In the name of ALLAH, the
Most-Merciful, the All-Compassionate
"May the Peace and Blessings of ALLAH be upon you?"
Praise be to ALLAH, we seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with
ALLAH from the evil of our own souls and from our bad deeds. Whomsoever ALLAH
guides will never be led astray, and whomsoever ALLAH leaves astray, no one can
guide. I bear witness that there is no god but ALLAH, and I bear witness that
Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah
As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu
Some Common Mistakes in Ramadan
Let’s Strive Not to Repeat the Same.
By Asma bint Shameem
Taking Ramadan as a ritual
For many of us Ramadan has lost its spirituality and has become more of a ritual
than a form of Ibaadah. We fast from morning to night like a zombie just because
everyone around us is fasting too. We forget that its a time to purify our
hearts and our souls from all evil....we forget to make dua, forget to beseech
ALLAH to forgive us and ask Him to save us from the Fire. Sure we stay away from
food and drink but that's about all.
Although the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said:
"Jibreel said to me, May ALLAH rub his nose in the dust, that person to who
Ramadan comes and his sins are not forgiven, and I said, Amen.
Then he said, May ALLAH rub his nose in the dust, that person who lives to see
his parents grow old, one or both of them, but he does not enter Paradise (by
not serving them) and I said, Amen.
Then he said, May ALLAH rub his nose in the dust, that person in whose presence
you are mentioned and he does not send blessings upon you, and I said, Amen.'"
(Tirmidhi, Ahmad, others Saheeh by al-Albaani)
Too much stress on food and drink
For some people, the entire month of Ramadan revolves around food. They spend
the ENTIRE day planning, cooking, shopping and thinking about only food, instead
of concentrating on Salaah, Quraan and other acts of worship. All they can think
of is FOOD. So much so that they turn the month of fasting into the month of
feasting Come Iftaar time, their table is a sight to see, with the multitudes
and varieties of food, sweets and drinks. They are missing the very purpose of
fasting, and thus, increase in their greed and desires instead of learning to
control them. It is also a kind of waste & extravagance.
".....and eat and drink but waste not by extravagance, certainly He (ALLAH)
likes not Al-Musrifoon (those who waste by extravagance)" [al-Araaf: 31]
Eating too much
Some people stuff themselves at Suhoor until they are ready to burst, because
they think this is the way to not feel hungry during the day and some people eat
at Iftaar, like there is no tomorrow, trying to make up for the food missed.
However, this is completely against the Sunnah. Moderation is the key to
everything.
The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: "The son of Adam does not fill
any vessel worse than his stomach; for the son of Adam a few mouthfuls are
sufficient to keep his back straight. If you must fill it, then one-third for
food, one-third for drink and one-third for air." (Tirmidhi, Ibn Maajah. saheeh
by al-Albaani)
Too much food distracts a person from many deeds of obedience and worship, makes
him lazy and also makes the heart heedless.
It was said to Imam Ahmad: Does a man find any softness and humility in his
heart when he is full? He said, I do not think so.
Sleeping all day
Some people spend their entire day (or a major part of it) sleeping away their
fast. Is this what is really required of us during this noble month? These
people also are missing the purpose of fasting and are slaves to their desires
of comfort and ease. They cannot bear to be awake and face a little hunger or
exert a little self-control. For a fasting person to spend most of the day
asleep is nothing but, negligence on his part.
Wasting time
The month of Ramadan is a precious, precious time, so much so that ALLAH calls
this month "Ayyamum Madoodaat" (A fixed number of days). Before we know it, this
month of mercy and forgiveness will be over. We should try and spend every
moment possible in the worship of ALLAH so that we can make the most of this
blessing. However, there are some of us who waste away their day playing video
games, or worse still, watching TV, movies or even listening to music. Subhaan
Allaah! Trying to obey Allaah by DISOBEYING him!
Fasting but not giving up evil
Some of us fast but do not give up lying, cursing, fighting, backbiting, etc.
and some of us fast but do not give up cheating, stealing, dealing in haraam,
buying lotto tickets, selling alcohol, fornication, etc. and all kinds of
impermissible things without realizing that the purpose of fasting is to not
stay away from food and drink; rather the aim behind it is to fear ALLAH.
"O you who believe Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those
before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqoon (the pious)" [Al-Baqarah 2:183]
The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: "Whoever does not give up
false speech and acting upon it, and ignorance, ALLAH has no need of him giving
up his food and drink." (Bukhaari)
Smoking
Smoking is forbidden in Islam whether during Ramadan or outside of it, as it is
one of al-Khabaaith (evil things). And this includes ALL kinds of smoking
material e.g. Cigars, cigarettes, pipes, sheesha, hookah etc.
"He allows them as lawful At Tayyibaat (all good and lawful things), and
prohibits them as unlawful Al Khabaa'ith (all evil and unlawful things) [Al-Araaf:
157]
It is harmful, not only to the one smoking, but also to the ones around him. It
is also a means of wasting ones wealth.
The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: "There should be no harming or
reciprocating harm."
This is especially true during fasting and it invalidates the fast. (Fatwa -Ibn
Uthaymeen)
Skipping Suhoor
The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: "Eat suhoor for in suhoor
there is blessing."(Bukhaari, Muslim).
And he (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: "The thing that differentiates
between our fasting and the fasting of the People of the Book is eating suhoor."
(Muslim)
Stopping Suhoor at Imsaak
Some people stop eating Suhoor 10-15 minutes earlier than the time of Fajr to
observe Imsaak.
Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen said: This is a kind of bidah (innovation) which has no
basis in the Sunnah. Rather the Sunnah is to do the opposite. ALLAH allows us to
eat until dawn: "and eat and drink until the white thread (light) of dawn
appears to you distinct from the black thread (darkness of night)" [Al-Baqarah
2:187]
And the Prophet peace be upon him said: ".Eat and drink until you hear the
Adhaan of Ibn Umm Maktoom, for he does not give the adhaan until dawn comes."
This imsaak which some of the people do is an addition to what ALLAH has
prescribed, so it is false. It is a kind of extremism in religion, and the
Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: "Those who go to extremes are
doomed, those who go to extremes are doomed those who go to extremes are
doomed." (Muslim)
Not fasting if they missed Suhoor
Some people are too scared to fast if they miss Suhoor. However, this is a kind
of cowardice and love of ease. What is the big deal if you missed a few morsels
of food? It’s not like you will die. Remember, obedience to ALLAH overcomes
everything.
Delaying breaking fast
Some people wait until the Adhaan finishes or even several minutes after that,
just to be on the safe side. However, the Sunnah is to hasten to break the fast,
which means breaking fast whenever the Adhaan starts, right after the sun has
set. Aaishah (Razi ALLAH Anha) said: This is what the Messenger of ALLAH (Sal
Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) used to do. (Muslim)
The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: "The people will continue to
do well so long as they hasten to break the fast." (Bukhaari, Muslim)
Determine to the best of your ability, the accuracy of your clock, calendar,
etc. and then have tawakkul on ALLAH and break your fast exactly on time.
Eating continuously until the time for Maghrib is up
Some people put so much food in their plates when breaking their fast and
continue eating, enjoying dessert, drinking tea, etc., until they miss Maghrib.
That is obviously not right. The Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him) was
that once he broke his fast with some dates, them he would hasten to the prayer.
Once you are done with the prayer, you can always go back and eat some more if
you wish.
Missing the golden chance of having your Dua accepted
The prayer of the fasting person is guaranteed to be accepted at the time of
breaking fast.
The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: "Three prayers are not
rejected: the prayer of a father, the prayer of a fasting person, and the prayer
of a traveler." (Al-Bayhaqi, saheeh by Al-Albaani).
Instead of sitting down and making Dua at this precious time, some people forego
this beautiful chance, and are too busy talking, setting the food, filling their
plates and glasses, etc. Think about it....Is food more important than the
chance to have your sins forgiven or the fulfillment of your Duas.
Fasting but not praying
The fasting of one who does not pray WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. This is because not
praying constitutes kufr as the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said:
"Between a man and shirk and kufr there stands his giving up prayer." (Muslim)
In fact, NONE of his good deeds will be accepted; rather, they are all annulled.
"Whoever does not pray Asr, his good deeds will be annulled." (Bukhaari)
Fasting and not wearing Hijaab
Not wearing the Hijaab is a major sin as it is obligatory for Muslim women. (See
Surah Nur, Surah Ahzaab). So fasting and not wearing hijaab certainly takes away
enormously from the rewards of fasting, even if does not invalidate it.
Not fasting because of exams or work
Exams or work is NOT one of the excuses allowed by the Shariah to not fast. You
can do your studying and revision at night if it is too hard to do that during
the day. Also remember that pleasing and obeying ALLAH is much more important
than good grades. Besides, if you will fulfill your obligation to fast, even if
you have to study, ALLAH will make it easy for you and help you in everything
you do.
"Whosoever fears ALLAH, He will appoint for him a way out and provide for him
from where he does not expect, ALLAH is Sufficient for whosoever puts his trust
in Him." (Surah at-Talaaq 2-3)
Mixing fasting and dieting
DO NOT make the mistake of fasting with the intention to diet. That is one of
the biggest mistakes some of us make. Fasting is an act of worship and can only
be for the sake of ALLAH alone.
Otherwise, mixing it with the intention of dieting may become a form of (minor)
Shirk.
Fighting over the number of Rakaah of Taraweeh
There is no specific number of rakahs for Taraweeh prayer; rather it is
permissible to do a little or a lot. Both 8 and 20 are okay. Shaykh Ibn
Uthaymeen said: "No one should be denounced for praying eleven or twenty-three (rakaah),
because the matter is broader in scope than that, praise be to Allaah."
Praying ONLY on the night of the 27th
Some people pray ONLY on the 27th to seek Lailat ul-Qadr, neglecting all other
odd nights, although the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: "Seek
Lailat ul-Qadr among the odd numbered nights of the last ten nights of Ramadaan."
(Bukhaari, Muslim).
Wasting the last part of Ramadan preparing for Eid
Some people waste the entire last 10 days of Ramadan preparing for Eid, shopping
and frequenting malls, etc. neglecting Ibadah and Lailatul Qadr. although, the
Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) used to strive the hardest during the
last ten days of Ramadan in worship (Ahmad, Muslim) and not in shopping. Buy
whatever you need for Eid before Ramadan so that you can utilize the time in
Ramadan to the max.
Aaishah (Razi ALLAH Anha) said: "When the (last) ten nights began, the Messenger
of Allaah (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam)) would tighten his waist-wrapper
(i.e., strive hard in worship or refrain from intimacy with his wives), stay
awake at night and wake his family." (Bukhaari and Muslim)
Iftaar parties
Although inviting each other for breaking fast is something good and encouraged,
some people go to extremes with lavish Iftaar parties with all sorts of
disobedience to ALLAH, from flirting, mixing of the sexes and hijaab-less women,
to show-off and extravagance, to heedlessness to Salaah, and Taraweeh to even
music and dancing.