"O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you
Some Common Mistakes in Ramadaan
1 : 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 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.
2 : 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,
".....and eat and drink but waste not by extravagance, certainly
He (Allah) likes not Al-Musrifoon (those who waste by extravagance) "
[al-Araaf :31]
3 : 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,
4 : 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).
5 : 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.
6 : Wasting time:
The month of Ramadaan is a precious, precious time, so much so that
Allaah 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 Allaah
so that we can make the most of this blessing.
7 : 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,
"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)
8 : Smoking:
Smoking is forbidden in Islam whether during Ramadaan or outside of it,
as it is one of al-Khabaaith (evil things). And this includes
ALL kinds of smoking material eg.cigars, cigarettes, pipes, sheesha, hookah etc.
9 : 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)
10 : Stopping Suhoor at Imsaak :
Some people stop eating Suhoor 10-15 minutes earlier than the time of Fajr
to observe Imsaak.
11 : 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? Its not like you will die. Remember,
obedience to Allah overcomes everything.
12: 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.
13:
: 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)
14: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.
15: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)
16: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.
17: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 Ramadan."
(Bukhaari, Muslim).
PLEASE LET LEARN FROM OUR OWN MISTAKES,
