7 Mistakes To Avoid This Ramadan
The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey — then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you, and perhaps you will be grateful. — Quran 2[Al-Baqarah]:185
It’s amazing how the days fly. About two years ago, I wrote this article on how to make this your best Ramadan ever. The days of Ramadan are counting and we are fortunate to be among those who have witnessed the 8th night. The first ten days are almost gone, so I guess this write up might be late. The goal is not to be among the losers and I firmly believe it’s better late than never. So hopefully we’re still on course. Today, we’re examining some actions which we might indulge in unconsciously and may lead to a diminishing reward. Besides the intention that could cause invalidation of the fasting, others are just precautions that we need to take note of.
- An-Niyyah (The Intention): We must have realized from the famous Hadith of Umar: “All actions will be judged by intention and each of you will be rewarded for what he intends”. Besides the fact that it’s mandatory to make the intention before commencing with fasting, this reality may also blow your mind. For Ramadan, it is highly recommended that you make the niyyah to fast the next day before going to bed at night. Bear in mind, that the intention here is not a verbose proclamation, you only pronounce it in your heart. This is evidence from the sunnah of Allah’s Apostle: Ibn ‘Umar narrated from Hafsah (may Allaah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever does not have the intention of fasting before Fajr, there is no fast for him.” — (Ahmad). One of the lessons is perchance you oversleep and fajr time is past due, you’re still good to go with your fasting. Although, with a stomach not filled with food.
- Suhoor: Many of us don’t find it so comfortable to eat the ‘pre-dawn meal’. For me, the only thing that I love to obstruct my sleep is salat. Besides that, I don’t care — not even for food. But you know what, I’d always love to wake up and eat Sahoor because there’s a blessing in it. Even if it’s a sip of water, rise, and drink. It was narrated that Anas ibn Maalik (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Eat suhoor, for in suhoor there is a blessing.” — (Bukhari and Muslim)
- Mindset: While we were growing up, I used to think fasting was about all you can eat in the morning and when you break. It’s far from that, it’s a mindset thing. It’s like a program that you have to remove your thoughts and senses from all desires (eating, drinking, and sexual) for the prescribed period. Did you ever observe eating suhoor and emptying your bowel early in the day? Was there any significant difference from the day you forgot to wake up and eat? So long as you can create a mental shift of abstinence, you’re good to endure for the rest of the day. One of the lessons we also derive from fasting is the pain that the poor go through while feeling hungry.
- Eating too much: This boils up to the previous point as a counter. Once you have a mindset shift, you’d realize that it’s not about the food. Eating too much is a health risk that could lead to complicated situations. It brings fatigue, makes you sleepy, and less agile. That’s why a lot of people tend to sleep during salatu tarawih. Avoid excessive eating for you to accomplish acts of worship in the glorious month. Allah’s Messenger (Peace be Upon Him) said: Nothing is worse than a person who fills his stomach. It should be enough for the son of Adam to have a few bites to satisfy his hunger. If he wishes more, it should be One-third for his food, one-third for his liquids, and one-third for his breath.” — (Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah)
- Waste of time: The period of Ramadan isn’t one which we while away time with. It’s astonishing to find people playing games during the day and watching movies at night. It’s a fixed 29 days or the most we have is 30, make the period count. Since it’s the month of the Qur’an, build activities around the Qur’an. Recitation, memorization, competition, listening, understanding it’s meaning, and so on. We never can tell if this is our last Ramadan, hence let’s not while away the time. The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) said: “There are two blessings which most people take for granted: Good health and Free time.” — (Bukhari)
- Iftaar: You might think I want to talk about food again, but no, not this time. The mistake here is ascribed with the supplication at the time one breaks the fast. Many are so eager to break that they forget to make dua’. The eagerness isn’t the issue, it’s even recommended in the sunnah to hurry and break the fast. However, make sure you seize the opportunity to supplicate and ask Allah for what you want. Pray aggressively for this is a time you wouldn’t want to miss out on accepted prayers. The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) said, “There are three whose dua is not rejected — a just ruler, the fasting person when he breaks his fast, and the prayer of the oppressed person. It rises above the clouds and the gates of heaven are opened for it, and the Lord, may He be glorified, says, ‘By My Glory, I will answer you even if it is after a while.’”
- Excessive sleep: And finally on the list, we examine the act of sleeping too much. Some of us use this as a solution to hunger. It’s understandable for young ones but not the grown-ups. However, being in a state of sleep is better than indulging in vices. Excessive sleep during the day also kills your productivity and ibadah. What’s more desirable is to sleep a part of the night and be awake for the rest to pray. Ibn Asakir reported: Al-Fudayl ibn Iyad, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “Two characteristics harden the heart: too much sleeping and too much eating.”
These are just a few observable mistakes that affect common Muslims like me and you. The quicker we realize them, the easier it is for us to avoid, and the better we utilize our time productively. We ask Allah to count us among those who will earn His forgiveness, mercy, and emancipation in this blissful month of Ramadan. Ameen!
Ramadan Gifts For Our Beloved Readers!!!
Feel free to download a copy of the book that inspired the birth of Jumah Nuggets. 30 Days of Transformation helped me to unconsciously build a ‘Muslim-centric’ writing habit. Also, here is a link to Dhikr Posters. Beautifully designed daily reminders throughout the blessed month. You’re equally free to distribute these gifts with others and earn your share of the reward.
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Yaumul Jum’ah 8th Ramadan 1441 AH // Friday 1st May 2020.
