MUST READ: Common Mistakes Made During Ramadan

ShahnazZ

Striving2BeAStranger
:salam2:

Please take few minutes to read this article as it highlights where we as muslim are not taking this beautiful opportunity to make the most out of Ramadan.
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O God! I awaken, go to sleep, live and die by You and to You is the final gathering. I have awakened and the morning has come with the Dominion belonging to God. All praise is due to God, there is no partner with Him, there is none worthy of worship besides Him, and to Him is the final gathering.

- Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)


Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.

Common Mistakes Made During Ramadan

Most Muslims who fast Ramadan focus on the benefits and rewards of it. But
in doing so, we often make mistakes that instead of adding to our experience
actually detract from it. Mistakes that can make us commercialize Ramadan as
so many other religions have commercialized their sacred days. Insh'Allah
the following serves as a reminder to myself first and to all Muslims. May
Allah help us to spend our time wisely this Ramadan and help us to avoid
these mistakes. ameen

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. Saheeh by al-Albaani)

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
waste & 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. 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 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 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
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)

Smoking

Smoking is forbidden in Islam whether during Ramadaan or outside of it, as
it is one of al-Khabaa'ith (evil things). And this includes ALL kinds of
'smoking material' eg.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-A'raaf :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. Allaah
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 (pbuh) 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 Allaah 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 Allaah
overcomes everything.

Saying the intention to fast 'out loud' or saying a specific dua to start
fasting


The intention is an action of the heart. We should resolve in our heart that
we are going to fast tomorrow. That is all we need. It is not prescribed by
the Shari'ah for us to say out loud, 'I intend to fast', 'I will fast tomorrow' or
other phrases that have been innovated by some people. Also, there is no
specific dua to be recited at the time of starting the fast in the correct Sunnah.
Whatever 'dua' you may see on some papers or Ramadaan calendars, etc. is
a Bid'ah.

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. 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 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 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 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 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.

It's not too late to rectify ones mistake and do good for the sake of Allah.
[15:49] Inform My servants that I am the Forgiver, Most Merciful.
 

hidaya

Junior Member
assalamualikum

may ALLAH reward u sis....:ma:
thanks 4 this beneficial article....may ALLAH make among those whose sins are forgiven n are saved from the hellfire..ameen
include in prayers sis

wassalam
 
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