Ramadan Do's and Don'ts

Asalam waliykum Sisters,

Another post related to Ramadan on the "Do's and Don'ts" Inshallah you will find it beneficial and a source of encouragement. Firstly I would like to say that we are all at different stages with our deen, some very practicing  some not so much. Inshallah we are all on the path to Allah but each of our paths are different due to the tests Allah bestows upon us. Some people have a straight path to Allah others find their paths to be a series of winding roads that branch off, filled with obstacles and that does not make them any less of a Muslim or a bad Muslim.

One objective of fasting is to help us progress on this path to Allah. all year round we have been busy, and striving for the sake of Allah, Ramadan comes as month of mercy to show Allah how much we love him. Making the effort to control our conduct and behavior for the sake of Allah, in hope that we will practice this restraint throughout the year after Ramadan.

Allah rewards fasting how he likes it is an act for him, to attain his love and mercy. Allah mentions that the best among his creation are those who have taqwa (Love and fear):

"Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may attain taqwa" (Qu'ran 2:183)

and

"The most honoured by Allah amongst you are those best in taqwaa" (Quran 49:13)

Some believe fasting is refraining from eating, and gain little else from the month, and because of this they see Ramadan as a nuisance, an inconvenience to their life and actually hate the month. I have in fact heard many Muslimahs say they hate fasting, purely as they see it as a month of starvation and nothing else. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) also spoke of this:

"Many people who Fast get nothing from their Fast except hunger and thirst and many people who pray at night get nothing from it except wakefulness" (Darimi).

We should learn from this, and be of those who fast for the sake of Allah and pray with the best of intentions. Not merely due to culture, or for show. In my culture (Moroccan) there are many who fast and do not pray because everyone else is fasting. if you ask them why they fast they never say its because of Allah or they want to change, they will say it is because the whole of Morocco is fasting if they do not then its gossip and shame on the family etc. It is very sad to hear, but there are those who do things for show and nothing more. The Prophet (PBUH) did speak the truth/haqq.

I listed in a previous post the benefits of fasting and proofs from Quran and Sunnah click here to be taken back to that post. If we see the blessings in this month we would cherish it, love it and cry when it leaves us. This is why many say when it is time for them to depart this earth they want it to happen during this month, subhanallah.

One thing that many reverts have told me is that the first year is about learning and so they do not benefit as much from the month as they would of hoped. So they concentrate on restraining from eating which does take a while to get used to, then the next year the concentrate on given up certain things or picking up new good habits. For example given up smoking and performing night prayers, or given up music and reading more Quran etc, a little at a time but its progress.

Again everyone goes at their own speed, but they have the intention to do it for Allah; so no matter how big or small the deed they have done, if  done with the correct intention then that is what matters the most.

make dua for all the Muslims that we benefit from this Month and we do our best to continue what good we have obtained in this month for the rest of the year, inshallah, Yaa'rab!!

Jazakallah khier, please comment below and share, inshallah you will find this beneficial and will be of help.

Wasalam-x-