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Another Ramzan is here. Many of us have personally witnessed more than 10 Ramzans during our lives, but have these 10 holy months, which bring blessings, forgiveness and nijaat from Hell, made us “righteous” as the Qur’an suggests we should have become?

“O believers, fasting is enjoined on you as it was on those before you, so that you may haply become righteous.” (Al-Qur’an 2:183)

Then let us analyse ourselves and see where we have been lacking. Here is a list of common mistakes that Muslims should avoid during the holy month of Ramzan.

1. Taking Ramzan as a ritual

Let’s analyse ourselves and think what Ramzan means to us. Is it a ritual, a tradition that you’re following? Does Ramzan mean the same to us as combing our hair and washing our faces everyday? Are we only bothering to fast because the society we live in “practises this ritual” or do we truly understand the wonderfulness of this holy month? We forget that this is the month of exercise for all Muslims, to purify their hearts, search for Allah’s guidance and humbly ask for His forgiveness.

The Prophet (S. A. W.) said:

Jibra’eel said to me, ‘May Allaah rub his nose in the dust, that person to whom Ramadan comes and his sins are not forgiven,’ and I said, ‘Ameen’. Then he [Jibra’eel] 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 [Jibra’eel] 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 and others. It is classified as Saheeh by al-Albaani]

2. Too much stress on food and drink

Some of us have turned the month of “fasting” to the month of “feasting”. Are we spending so much time thinking about Iftar and Sehri, that we neglect the holiness of this month? Our thoughts should not revolve only around “food” in this month. There is so much more that we have to think about: the hour of death;

“…when life withdraws into the clavicula, And it is asked: ‘Is there any reciter of charms and amulets?’ He will then realise it is the parting, And anguish will be heaped upon anguish: To your Lord then will be the driving.” (Al-Qur’an Surah Al-Qiyamah: 26-30)

The reward with Allah for the pious believers, whose beautiful and richly detailed account in the Qur’an is enough to motivate us to strive endlessly in the way of Allah:

“…Paradise and silken robes, Where they will recline on couches feeling neither heat of the sun nor intense cold. The shadows will bend over them, and low will hang the clusters of grapes. Passed round will be silver flagons and goblets made of glass, And crystal clear bottles of silver, of which they will determine the measure themselves. There will they drink a cup flavoured with ginger From a spring by the name of Salsabil. And boys of everlasting youth will go about attending them. Looking at them you would think that they were pearls dispersed. When you look around, you will see delights and great dominion. On their bodies will be garments of the finest green silk and brocade, and they will be adorned with bracelets of silver; and their Lord will give them a purest draught to drink.” (Al-Qur’an 76:12-21)

The tormenting punishment awaiting the disbelievers;

“What do you think Hell-fire is? It leaves nothing; neither does it spare; It glows red hot on the person. Over it are nineteen guards.” (Al Qur’an Surah Al-Muddaththir: 27-30)

3. Spending all day in the kitchen

Some of us spend our entire day of fasting in the kitchen wondering what to cook, deciding what to cook and then getting down to cook it. Although Iftar and Sehri is the right of every believer who fasts, lavish and extravagant Iftars and Sehris only make us de-sensitised toward the plight of the poor who spend days on hunger – which kills the true essence of fasting. So let us refrain from spending too much time in the kitchen so that we can devote that time to worship of Allah.

4. Eating too much

We believe that Iftar is the time when the believers who were fasting need to make up for the entire energy needs of the day. While Iftar is a blessing, again Islam preaches us to be moderate in our practices and not overdo eating habits. Eating a lot at Sehri can make you lazy and dull and repeating the same at Iftar can have adverse effects on your health as well.

The Prophet (S. A. W.) 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. Classified as saheeh by al-Albaani]

5. Sleeping all day

We sometimes cannot bear the hunger and head for sleep to while away the time between Sehri and Iftar. By sleeping all day, we miss out hundreds of opportunities of praying and being granted forgiveness. Remember that you may not experience another Ramzan in your life. Spend every hour and every minute of the Ramzan to the fullest possible. Fasting should not be an excuse for us to give up our chores, sleep all day or else whine lazily about weakness.

6. Wasting time

We should choose righteous activities to “pass” the time like reading and reciting the Qur’an, standing in prayer in front of Allah, talking of good deeds among our friends, spreading the word of Allah and thinking of ways how we can follow Allah’s guidance. Prophet Mohammad (P. B. U. H.) instructed that Muslims should endeavour tirelessly to attain a place in Heaven, even though by giving half a date as alms! And here we are, blessed with such a holy month wasting our time watching movies!

“Indeed during the day, you have a long schedule of occupations. But recite the name of your Lord withdrawing yourself from everything, devoting yourself exclusively to Him.” (Al-Qur’an 73:7-8)

7. Fasting, but not giving up evil

Do you lie habitually to others in tight situations while fasting? Or indulge in back biting about friends? Or give in to vain desires? It is time that we should mend our ways and ask for Allah’s forgiveness.

The Prophet (S. A. W.) said: ‘Whoever does not give up false speech and acting upon it, and ignorance, Allah has no need of him giving up his food and drink.’ [Bukhaari]

We do not fast because Allah has need of our giving up food and drink. We fast to purify our souls and strengthen our Eman. If we are not focused on this purpose alone, our fasts are in vain.

“Do not heed a contemptible swearer, or backbiter, calumniator, slanderer, who hinders men from (doing) good, the transgressor, the iniquitous, crude, and above all, mean and infamous, simply because he possesses wealth and children.” (Al Qur’an Surah Al-Qalam: 10-14)

8. Skipping Sehri

Some people skip Sehri, whereas this is a wrong practice. Sehri is important for you to be able to spend the rest of your day with energy enough to worship Allah and strive in His path.

Prophet Mohammad (S. A. W.) emphasised the importance of Sehri by saying: “The thing that differentiates between our fasting and the fasting of the People of the Book is eating suhoor.” [Muslim]

9. Stopping Sehri at ‘Imsaak’

Some people stop eating Sehri 10-15 minutes earlier than the time of Fajr to observe ‘Imsaak’. This is a kind of biddat (innovation) which has no basis in Islam. Allah 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)” [Qur’an, al-Baqarah :187]

10. Delaying breaking your fast (Iftar)

We should hasten to break our fasts as soon as we hear the call for Maghrib prayers. Determine to the best of your ability, the accuracy of your clock, calendar etc. and then trust Allaah SWT and break your fast exactly on time. Do not wait till the call to prayer is over or a few minutes after it is over just to be on “the safe side”.

The Prophet (S. A. W.) said: ‘The people will continue to do well so long as they hasten to open the fast.’ [Bukhaari, Muslim]

11. Eating continuously until the time for Maghrib is up

We should make sure that we do not indulge so much in the feasts of Iftar that we neglect timely offering of Maghrib prayers. You must never neglect your prayers! Thus, when breaking your fast, eat some of the food and head for prayer. You can always resume later if you wish. The Sunnah of the Prophet (S. A. W.) was that once he broke his fast with some dates, he would hasten to offer prayers.

12. Missing the golden opportunity before Iftar

The time before Iftar is one of acceptance. You should carefully plan preparations for Iftar so that you have time 10-15 minutes before the Azaan to sit down and make dua. Like sales, discounts and warranties, it is such a tempting bargain that we must never forego this chance of getting our dua’s granted.

The Prophet (S. A. W.) said: “Three prayers are not rejected: the prayer of a father, the prayer of a fasting person, and the prayer of a traveller.” [al-Bayhaqi, classified as saheeh by al-Albaani]

13. Fasting but not praying

Not praying constitutes kufr. Be heedful of your prayers so as not to nullify your good deeds and fasting.

The Prophet (S. A. W.) said: “Between a man and shirk and kufr there stands his giving up prayer.” [Muslim]. Prophet Mohammad (S. A. W.) also said, “‘Whoever does not pray ‘Asr, his good deeds will be annulled.” [Bukhaari]

14. Not fasting because of exams or work

No matter whether you’re a student or an employee, exams or work is not an applicable excuse for not fasting according to Shariah. Don’t take fasts as a burden, rather, as an opportunity to nullify your sins. If your studies are too tedious and you do not feel energetic enough during the fast, you can always resume studies after Iftar. However, we must always remember that Allah’s help is always at hand since He is closer to us than our jugular vein!

“Allah will furnish a way out for him who fears Him, and provide him from where he does not reckon.” [Al-Qur’an Surah At-Talaaq:2-3]

15. Considering fasting as dieting

Please do not fast with the intention of dieting. Of all the five pillars of Islam, fasting is the only one which is between you and Allah, that is, no one else knows whether you’ve eaten or drunk in secret. Therefore, it is the only pillar whose reward is not fixed but is in the hands of Allah – He may double and triple its reward by His will! It is very important to have a clear intention of fasting only for the sake of Allah.

16. Praying only on the 27th of Ramzan

It is a wrong belief that Shab-e-Qadr falls on the 27th of Ramzan. Shab-e-Qadr has to be sought in all the odd numbered night in the last ten nights of Ramzan.

Prophet Mohammad (S. A. W.) said: “Seek Lailat-ul-Qadr among the odd numbered nights of the last ten nights of Ramadaan.” [Bukhaari, Muslim]

17. Preparing for Eid in the last days of Ramzan, Chand Raat

We should all take care that our preparations for Eid-ul-Fitr are complete before the month of Ramzan begins so that we can spend this holy month devotedly in the way of Allah. Consider Ramzan like a school drill – you have to be alert, aware and vigilant to get the essence of the drill, because it is an important lesson for the rest of the year. We must concentrate on mending our ways in this Ramzan, not on eid sales and shopping sprees.

Hazrat Aa’ishah (R. A.) said: “When the (last) ten nights began, the Messenger of Allah (S. A. W.) 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]

It is also a common practice amongst us that we go out on “Chaand Raat” enjoying the early festivities of Eid, shopping and applying henna when actually, the night before Eid-ul-Fitr is a special blessed night when prayers of those who seek Allah are answered. So, this Ramzan, make sure that you’re one of the believers staying back at home praying for Allah’s forgiveness even when others around you frolic in the bazaars.

18. Extravagant Iftar Parties

It is a great deed to help a fasting believer break his fast at Iftar. But, please keep in mind the core essence of fasting and refrain from arranging Iftar parties that divert your attention from this purpose. Iftar parties should be moderate, and you should not neglect prayers and taraweeh.

“No three persons confer secretly but He is the fourth among them, and no five but He is the sixth… O you who believe, when you converse privately, … talk of goodness and piety, and fear God.” (Al-Qur’an Surah Al-Mujadalah: 7-9)

If you have been making these mistakes in the past, let this Ramzan be a wake up call – a month of exercise, devoted Iba’dat and dua’s that you will remember for the rest of the year. Surely, Allah is the master of forgiveness and kindness.

“As for those who avoid greater sins and shameful acts, except minor trespasses, your Lord’s forgiveness surely has great amplitude.” (Al-Qur’an Surah An-Najm:32)