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Mistakes During Ramadan

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 Salah, Qur’an 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-A’raaf :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, Tahajjud or read Quran, etc.

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 (pbuh) 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. Classed as 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.

Why Is Ramadan The Month Of Qur’an?

MAY you have a happy and blessed Ramadan! It is the month of the Qur’an as well as the month of all good deeds. A Muslim is recommended to read the Qur’an and do good deeds in this blessed month as much as he can. In this context, we recall the Prophetic Hadith addressed by the Prophet (peace be upon him) to his Companions on the last day of Sha’ban: “O people! A great month has come; a blessed month in which is a night better than a thousand months; a month in which Allah has made it compulsory upon you to fast by day, and voluntary to pray by night. Whoever draws nearer (to Allah) by performing any of the (optional) good deeds in (this month), shall receive the same reward as performing an obligatory deed at any other time; and whoever performs an obligatory deed in (this month), shall receive the reward of performing 70 obligatory deeds at any other time. It is the month of patience, and the reward of patience is Paradise. It is the month of charity and a month in which a believer’s sustenance is increased. Whoever gives food to a fasting person to break his fast, shall have his sins forgiven, and he will be saved from the Hell-Fire, and he shall have the same reward as the fasting person, without his reward being diminished at all.” (Reported by Ibn Khuzaymah)

Ramadan is the month in which the Qur’an was revealed. Allah says: The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance, and the Criterion (between right and wrong). So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month of Ramadan, he must observe Saum that month . . .” (Al-Baqarah 2:185)

This verse establishes the link between Ramadan and the Qur’an. We know that the Prophet (peace be upon him) was in the habit of retreating to Mount Hira during Ramadan and it was during one of these periods of contemplation that the Archangel Gabriel appeared to him with the first revelation. So Ramadan marks the beginning of the call to Islam and the prophetic mission of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Secondly, when Ramadan Fasting became obligatory, the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to recite the Qur’an with Gabriel. Gabriel used to descend from the heavens every night to read everything that had so far been revealed to the Prophet (peace be upon him).

Thirdly, when we offer our Taraweeh prayers, it is recommended that over the course of the month recitation of the whole Qur’an be completed. This presents a great opportunity for those who haven’t read the whole Qur’an to hear it.

Lessons And Moralities Of Fasting

RAMADAN is a month of discipline, self-control, patience, and good behavior. In Ramadan, Muslims are expected to gain the fruits of fasting, namely, piety and consciousness of Allah. In this context, Allah, Most High, says in the Glorious Qur’an : “O you who believe! Observing As-Saum (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious).” (Al-Baqarah 2:183)

Also, He says: “And He it is Who has put the night and the day in succession, for such who desires to remember or desires to show his gratitude.” (Al-Furqan 25:62)

Life and death and the succession of nights and days have a purpose and that is to test us and to give us an opportunity to express our thanks and gratitude to our Creator and Sustainer. The month of Ramadan comes and goes. We must examine ourselves now and see what we have learned and achieved during this month. The test of success of this month lies in the effects it has left upon us as follows:

Discipline
We learn in this month how to discipline ourselves for the sake of Allah. We follow a strict schedule of eating and drinking. We are constantly aware that even in our such mundane activities as eating and drinking, we must follow divine injunctions. We change our habits in our daily routines because we learn that we are not the servants and slaves to our habits, but always the servants of Allah. Then after Ramadan, we have to keep this spirit of discipline in other modes of our life and must continue with our submission to the commands of Allah.

Renewal of devotional life
Ramadan renews our enthusiasm for worship and devotion to Allah. In this month we are more careful of our daily prayers and have special prayers at night. There is no religion without prayer and Muslims learn in this month how to strengthen and deepen their religious life.

Renewal of contact with the Qur’an
Ramadan and the Qur’an are linked together from the beginning. It was in this month that this divine message was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). We are told that the Prophet (peace be upon him) was fasting when he received the first revelation. Fasting prepares the believers’ hearts to learn the Word of Allah. It is the most suitable condition for our spiritual and mental communication with the Qur’an. The Muslim Ummah pays more attention to the Qur’an in this month. This renewed contact with the Qur’an must help us in following its message.

Renewal of identity with the Ummah
Ramadan is not an individual experience only, but it is an experience in community. The whole Muslim Ummah fasts together in one and the same month. We identify with one another in our obedience to Allah. This gives us a new sense of togetherness and association. Ramadan teaches us that the Muslim Ummah is the community of piety and devotion to Allah and its members derive their strength from each other in deeds of piety and virtue. The bonds that are based on piety and virtue are the strongest and these bonds prove good for mankind. The strength of the Muslim community lies in its commitment to the values of goodness, morality and piety. Ramadan leaves an imprint of all these values upon the Muslim Ummah.

A fresh sense of care and sympathy
Fasting in the month of Ramadan helps us to understand the suffering and the pains of the poor and needy. By our voluntary hunger and thirst we realize what it means to be deprived of basic necessities of life. Ramadan is called the month of charity and sympathy. We learn how to be more kind and generous in this month. Many Muslims also pay their Zakah in the month of Ramadan.

Jihad or struggle
Fasting in Ramadan and Jihad both of them were prescribed in the same year, that is, the second year of Hijra in Madina. Fasting prepares for hardships and sacrifices. These are two important things without which Jihad is not possible. Muslims learn in Ramadan how to struggle against the forces of evil in their own selves, in the society around them, and in the world at large.

Taqwa
To summarize all the moral and spiritual gifts of Ramadan, we can say that Ramadan gives us the great gift of Taqwa (piety). Taqwa is the sum total of Islamic life. It is the highest of all virtues in the Islamic scheme of things. It means, God-consciousness, piety, fear and awe of Allah and it signifies submission to Allah and total commitment to all that is good and rejection of all that is evil and bad.

Ten Things About Ramadan

1 – Fasting this month is a pillar of Islam
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Islam is built on five (pillars): The testimony that there is no god worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. Establishing prayer. Paying Zakah. Fasting in Ramadan. Haj to the House (the Ka’bah).” – Bukhari and Muslim

2 – Revelation of Qur’an
“The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong)…” (Qur’an, 2:185)

“Verily, We have sent it (this Qur’an) down in the Night of Al-Qadr (Decree).” (Qur’an, 97:1)

3 – Laylat-al-Qadr (Night of Decree) is in this month
The Night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is better than a thousand months (i.e. worshiping Allah in that night is better than worshiping Him a thousand months, i.e. 83 years and 4 months).

“Therein descend the angels and the Rooh [Jibreel (Gabriel)] by Allah’s Permission with all Decrees, (all that night), there is peace (and goodness from Allah to His believing slaves) until the appearance of dawn” (Qur’an, 97:1-5)

4 – Forgiveness of sins
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.” – Bukhari and Muslim

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever spends the nights of Ramadan in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.” – Bukhari and Muslim

5 – Paradise opens and Hell closes
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “When Ramadan comes, the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained up.” – Bukhari and Muslim

6 – Every night people are saved from Hell
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “At every breaking of the fast, Allah has people whom He redeems.” – Musnad Ahmad – classed as saheeh by Al-Albani

7 – Equivalent to fasting 10 months
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever fasts Ramadan then follows it with six days of Shawwaal, it will be like fasting for a lifetime.” – Saheeh Muslim

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever fasts Ramadan, a month is like ten months, and fasting six days after al-Fitr will complete the year.” – Musnad Ahmad

8 – Taraweeh equivalent to praying all night
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever prays qiyaam with the imam until he finishes, it will be recorded for him that he spent the whole night in prayer.” – Abu Dawood – Classed as saheeh by Al-Albaani in Salaat Al-Taraaweeh, p. 15

9 – Umrah equivalent to Hajj
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “When Ramadan comes, go for ‘Umrah, for ‘Umrah in Ramadan is equivalent to Haj.” (Bukhari) According to a report narrated by Muslim, “… is equivalent to doing Haj with me.”

10 – Offering Iftar
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever gives iftaar to one who is fasting will have a reward like the fasting person, without detracting from the fasting person’s reward in the slightest.” – Tirmidhi and Ibn Maajah – classed as saheeh by Al-Albani

Ramadan Tips For First-Timers

1. Don’t expect it to be easy. Thirty consecutive days is tough. But with Allah’s help, it will become the best 30 days of your life.

2. Remember: Ramadan is not about abstaining from food and drink till sunset only and being compassionate toward the poor, it is also about cyour heart from sinful thoughts and actions and zooming out of this world and seeing the real meaning behind it. Don’t let your fasting be restricted to thirst and hunger.

3. Enjoy the moments of fasting by getting to know your self, your weaknesses and strengths. Ramadan is a real eye opener as the devils are all locked up and you get to know just exactly how sinful your soul is. Can’t blame it on the devil this time. If you find yourself still thinking of doing something wrong, then try to meditate on that and how to cure your heart from this.

4. Do good to everyone. Begin that holy month by forgiving all those who have wronged you. Call, email or visit those who have hurt you. Wish them a happy and blessed Ramadan.

5. Try to get as many loved ones as you can gather for “iftar” every day. It is a chance to reconnect with family and friends.

6. Don’t forget to include the poor and less fortunate in your daily meal plans.

7. Take your friends and family to Taraweeh prayers every day. Together you will pray for each other and for all. It will be a memorable experience in sha Allah.

8. Make it a plan to touch somebody’s life everyday. Start planning from now, whom you can help and how.

9. Finally, compete with yourself to bring out the very best in you. Allah is watching. Make Him happy.