How can we prevent the month of Ramadan from being wasted?
Specially take for worship:
وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَجْتَهِدُ فِي الْعَشْرِ الْأَوَاخِرِ مَا لَا يَجْتَهِدُ فِي غَيره. رَوَاهُ مُسلم
‘A’isha said that God’s messenger used to exert himself in devotion during the last ten nights to a greater extent than at any other time. (Mishkat al-Masabih)
This means that in the month of Ramadan and then especially in its last ten days, one should perform acts of worship more than in any other month.
Sincerity
In the month of Ramadan, sincerity is essential in every act. However, especially in standing (for prayer) and fasting, there should be no lack of sincerity under any circumstances.
وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ. وَمَنْ قَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ. وَمَنْ قَامَ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ»
Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “He who fasts during Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from God will have his past sins forgiven; he who prays during the night in Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from God will have his past sins forgiven; and he who passes Lailat al-qadr [Night of Decree] in prayer with faith and seeking his reward from God will have his past sins forgiven.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
Similarly, concerning the uprising, (ﷺ) said,
وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ. وَمَنْ قَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ. وَمَنْ قَامَ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ»
Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “He who fasts during Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from God will have his past sins forgiven; he who prays during the night in Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from God will have his past sins forgiven; and he who passes Lailat al-qadr [Night of Decree] in prayer with faith and seeking his reward from God will have his past sins forgiven.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
Attainment of Piety
In the month of Ramadan, while elucidating the real purpose of the obligatory fasts, Allah Almighty states:
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ ١٨٣
O you who believe, the fasts have been enjoined upon you as they were enjoined upon those before you, so that you may be God-fearing, (2:183)
In this blessed verse, being mindful entails fearing Allah, performing worship, adhering to His commandments, and abstaining from prohibitions in life. Just as you abstain from many permissible things and lawful deeds out of obedience to Allah’s command during fasting, similarly, beyond fasting, in life, act upon what Allah has permitted and avoid what He has forbidden. Therefore, it is the responsibility of every Muslim man and woman to attain true training from the month of Ramadan, cultivating piety in their hearts, lest we fail to live up to this guidance of yours.
حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ رَافِعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ، عَنْ أُسَامَةَ بْنِ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ الْمَقْبُرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ “ رُبَّ صَائِمٍ لَيْسَ لَهُ مِنْ صِيَامِهِ إِلاَّ الْجُوعُ. وَرُبَّ قَائِمٍ لَيْسَ لَهُ مِنْ قِيَامِهِ إِلاَّ السَّهَرُ ” .
It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “There are people who fast and get nothing from their fast except hunger, and there are those who pray and get nothing from their prayer but a sleepless night.” (Sunan Ibn Majah)
The meaning of this is that these people observe the fast, but they do not fulfill the requirements of fasting. By observing the fast, they engage in actions displeasing to Allah. Like before, they engage in backbiting, gossip, profanity, envy, malice, falsehood, bribery, usury, deceit, oppression, and other despicable habits. There is no benefit for such people in observing the fast unless they attain the essence of fasting, which is piety.
Complete salvation from evil deeds and bad habits
When a person commits sins, the human heart becomes blackened; the sinner becomes contemptible in the sight of Allah and people. This is why Allah Almighty invites Muslims to abstain from sins in general, and especially during the month of Ramadan, as narrated by Abu Huraira (رضي الله عنه) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘On the first night of Ramadan, a caller calls out:
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ عَيَّاشٍ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ “ إِنَّ لِلَّهِ عِنْدَ كُلِّ فِطْرٍ عُتَقَاءَ وَذَلِكَ فِي كُلِّ لَيْلَةٍ ” .
It was narrated from Jabir that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “At every breaking of the fast Allah has people whom He frees (from the Fire), and that happens every night.” (Sunan Ibn Majah)
This is why Allah (ﷻ) does not accept the fast of a sinner until.
وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ لَمْ يَدَعْ قَوْلَ الزُّورِ وَالْعَمَلَ بِهِ فَلَيْسَ لِلَّهِ حَاجَةٌ فِي أَنْ يَدَعَ طَعَامَهُ وَشَرَابه» . رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ
Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “If one does not abandon falsehood and action in accordance with it, God had no need that he should abandon his food and his drink.” (Mishkat al-Masabih)
Controlling desires of the self
The hunger and thirst of a fasting person are not merely desired by Allah (SWT), rather, through this hunger and thirst, an important objective is achieved, which is control over desires. If a person remains hungry and thirsty solely out of obedience to Allah’s command, refraining from eating and drinking despite having the desire to do so, then they attain unparalleled self-restraint and control. Self-restraint is not a trivial matter; it is often the lack of self-restraint that is the root cause of most conflicts, corruption, and mutual disagreements in the world. Every human being possesses inclinations towards selfishness and self-centeredness. When these inclinations are hurt, the ego becomes uncontrollable, leading individuals to engage in actions that often result in great harm and destruction. Fasting teaches humans to exercise patience and self-control despite the temptations around them, and it provides a practical manifestation of this lesson.
وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ لَمْ يَدَعْ قَوْلَ الزُّورِ وَالْعَمَلَ بِهِ فَلَيْسَ لِلَّهِ حَاجَةٌ فِي أَنْ يَدَعَ طَعَامَهُ وَشَرَابه» . رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ
Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “If one does not abandon falsehood and action in accordance with it, God had no need that he should abandon his food and his drink.” (Mishkat al-Masabih)
Fasting generates patience and endurance within a person, but the reality is that fasting is a curriculum for cultivating this patience and self-control. The fundamental need of a human being is to eat and drink. During fasting, one refrains from these necessities and despite the urges, cravings, and demands, one also abstains from permissible things. Similarly, a major issue a person faces is their ego. If anything contrary to their mood is said to them, they immediately flare up and engage in arguments with the opposing party. However, just as it is necessary to exercise patience over hunger and thirst during fasting, it is also essential to suppress selfishness. Whoever adheres to this curriculum as per guidance, can it not be assumed that it will help them in the remaining days to distance themselves from arrogance, be compassionate towards the poor, assist the weak, and become a good member of society.
The Urge to Forgive
The reason for not engaging in fights during fasting is that Ramadan desires people to live among Muslims with love and affection, without enmity, illegitimate fights, arguments, and corruption. Because behind big fights and disputes, it is the real role of language. The tongue speaks foul words, which provokes a person and results in fights and corruption. Therefore, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prohibited idle talk and gossip, especially during Ramadan, along with ordinary days.
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ الصِّيَامُ جُنَّةٌ، فَلاَ يَرْفُثْ وَلاَ يَجْهَلْ، وَإِنِ امْرُؤٌ قَاتَلَهُ أَوْ شَاتَمَهُ فَلْيَقُلْ إِنِّي صَائِمٌ. مَرَّتَيْنِ، وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَخُلُوفُ فَمِ الصَّائِمِ أَطْيَبُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى مِنْ رِيحِ الْمِسْكِ، يَتْرُكُ طَعَامَهُ وَشَرَابَهُ وَشَهْوَتَهُ مِنْ أَجْلِي، الصِّيَامُ لِي، وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ، وَالْحَسَنَةُ بِعَشْرِ أَمْثَالِهَا ”.
Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Fasting is a shield (or a screen or a shelter). So, the person observing fasting should avoid sexual relation with his wife and should not behave foolishly and impudently, and if somebody fights with him or abuses him, he should tell him twice, ‘I am fasting.” The Prophet (ﷺ) added, “By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, the smell coming out from the mouth of a fasting person is better in the sight of Allah than the smell of musk. (Allah says about the fasting person), ‘He has left his food, drink and desires for My sake. The fast is for Me. So I will reward (the fasting person) for it and the reward of good deeds is multiplied ten times.” (Sahih al-Bukhari)
In the same manner, it is mentioned in another tradition
لَيْسَ الصِّيَامُ مِنَ الْأَكْلِ وَالشَّرْبِ إِنَّمَا الصِّيَامُ مِنَ اللَّغْوِ وَالرَّفَثِ، فَإِنْ سَابَكَ أحَدٌ، وَجَهِلَ عَلَيْكَ فَقُلْ : إِنِّي صَائِمٌ
The essence of fasting is not merely abstaining from food and drink; rather, fasting entails refraining from idle talk and actions. And if someone insults you or engages you in ignorant behavior, you should respond by saying, ‘My fast is a shield.
The passion to spend in the way of Allah
The month of Ramadan is a time for fostering goodwill among people, sharing the sorrows and pains of others, understanding the issues of the weaker and deprived members of society, and including them in one’s own happiness and prosperity. The uniqueness of Ramadan lies in abstaining from consuming food, drinks, delectable dishes, and lawful desires from dawn till dusk. The blessings that a person enjoys throughout the year are temporarily restricted during this time. It is not to keep Allah hungry or thirsty, rather it serves the purpose of allowing those who have never tasted hunger, never felt the intensity of thirst, or never experienced deprivation of pleasures to empathize with their brothers who face hunger when food is available at one time and scarcity at another, where what is present is absent elsewhere. Thus, through its blessings, a person experiences the pains, suffering, and trials of others and develops a genuine desire to alleviate the sufferings of their brethren. Until one is not personally afflicted with pain, they do not truly perceive it, and until they do not have a proper perception of suffering, they cannot genuinely show compassion to those afflicted with it. Genuine compassion arises when one truly feels the suffering. In this month, both the prosperous and the needy become equal in essence, creating a temporary yet genuine equality between them, which manifests the goodwill of the prosperous towards the less fortunate. Therefore, we should spend on others.
