Yes Ramadan is at our doorstep. Only 10 days or so to go before we are in what is known in the Islamic calendar as the best of months, in which there is even a night better than a thousand months.
Indeed it was in this month that God, in His infinite mercy decided to send the His eternal Speech, His guidance to humanity: the Qur’an. So what will we get out of it this time?
We are told through various narrations how the companions of the Prophet and the pious predecessors used to start planning for Ramadan up to six months in advance. So surely, those of us who haven’t planned yet – we must start planning now.
Like me, do you always start planning and think you will start everything from the first day? And then the first day comes – bang, it’s gone. And each year it goes quicker and quicker.
One reason for starting to plan now is that it makes us mentally become prepared for it and hopefully we start learning more about it.
I myself have started reading about Ramadan and this weekend I will be attending a course with Shaykh Akram Nadwi and Ustad Shafiur Rahman. I hope to be able to complete the recitation of the Qur’an. One suggestion would be to be realistic (I always plan to change the world, and then don’t even manage to change myself!) and be specific – no point saying: ‘I’ll try to be good’, but say how.
That’s my Ramadan plan for this year. Any more ideas and tips will be appreciated (others can also benefit).
Some Common Mistakes in Ramadaan
Taking Ramadaan as a ritual
For many of us Ramadaan 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 Allaah 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 Allaah rub his nose in the dust, that person to
who Ramadaan comes and his sins are not forgiven,’ and I said, ‘Ameen’. Then
he said, ‘May Allaah 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, ‘Ameen’. Then he said, ‘May Allaah 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, ‘Ameen.’” (Tirmidhi, Ahmad,
others.)
Too much stress on food and drink
For some people, the entire month of Ramadaan 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
wa ste & extravagance.
‘…..and eat and drink but waste not by extravagance, certainly He (Allaah)
likes not Al-Musrifoon (those who waste by extravagance) ‘ [al-Araaf :31]
Spending all day cooking
Some of the sisters (either by their own choice or forced by their husbands)
are cooking ALL day and ALL night, so that by the end of the day, they are
too tired to even pray Ishaa, let alone pray Taraweeh or Tahajjud or even
read Quraan. This is the month of mercy and forgiveness. So turn off that
stove and turn on your Imaan!
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. ).
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 Ramadaan is a precious, precious time, so much so that Allaah
calls this month ‘Ayyamum Ma’doodaat’ (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 Allaah 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 ticket s, 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
Allaah.
“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, Allaah has no need of him
giving up his food and drink.’ (Bukhaari)
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)
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 Allaah
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 fa st, which means breaking fast whenever the adhaan starts, right
after the sun has set. Aa’ishah (RA) said: This is what the Messenger of
Allaah (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 Allaah 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 (pbuh) 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 alw ays 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 frying samosas, 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 Ala iyhi 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 Allaah is much more
important than ‘good grades’.. Besides, if you will fulfil your obligation to
fast, even if you have to study, Allaah 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 (esp. sisters). 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.
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 Ramadaan preparing for Eid
Some people waste the entire last 10 days of Ramadaan 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 Ramadaan in worship (Ahmad, Muslim) and
not in shopping. Buy whatever you need for Eid before Ramadaan so that you
can utilize the time in Ramadaan to the max.
Aa’ishah (RA) 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 Allaah, 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.