By Mukhtar Oyetunji
All praise belongs to Allah(SWT) who has made Ramadan such an exemplary month so much that all and sundry acknowledge its sacredness, thereby acting the best way possible throughout the month.
Indeed, most Muslims exhibit their best attitudes and behaviours in the month of Ramadan. This infact is a Sunnah of the Prophet(SAW) given the enormous narrations pointing to the fact that he exhibits the good traits known about him beforehand in an even more unparalleled way.
In one of such narrations regarding the Prophet’s generosity in Ramadan by Ibn Abbas(RA,) he said the Prophet was the most generous of people but that he became even more generous during the month of Ramadan.
Since the start of Ramadan this year, most Muslims around the world have as expected shown to the world the best of Islam. While a Muslim is naturally expected to be a person of impeccable behaviour moreso in the month of Ramadan.
Conversely, though, a number, while observing Ramadan still engage in some reprehensible acts some of which could greatly reduce the reward of fasting or totally vitiate it.
Below are some of the acts a fasting Muslim should avoid in this month of Ramadan.
1. Vain Talk/Lies: This arguably is the biggest pitfall for many Muslims in the month of Ramadan. Lots of fasting Muslims engage in unnecessary talks and worse, lies even while fasting and it is of the most abhorrent act the Prophet (SAW) warns against.
In an authentic Hadith from the collection of Imam Bukhari. Abu Hurayrah relates that the Prophet (SAW) said:
The person who doesn’t give up forged speech(lies) and evil actions, Allah is not in need of his leaving food and drink(i.e. Allah will not accept his fasting).
It is therefore not out of place to say that lies, vain talk and other related actions could render one’s fast useless. May Allah save us from such.
2. Miserliness: In the earlier referenced Hadith, the Prophet (SAW) is the most generous and even become more generous in the month of Ramadan. This is because the reward for generosity especially in lieu of feeding people and spending wealth in the month of Ramadan is almost inestimable. If there was any chance of earning multiple rewards for free in Ramadan, it is through feeding, as the Prophet (SAW) informs in sound narrations that anyone who feeds a fasting Muslim will have the exact reward of fasting garnered by the person without that person having his own reward reduced. No wonder we see people giving as little as half a date to one another in order to get this reward.
As Allah says, in Surat Muhammad, Q 47 vs 38: Whomsoever is niggardly is also niggardly against his own soul. Therefore, a Muslim must strive to be like the prophet in generosity during Ramadan.
3. Anger/Fighting: The Prophet vehemently cautioned against getting angry/furious in the Ramadan. As we know, fighting often results out of extreme anger so the two go hand in hand. The recommendation of the Prophet according to the Hadith related by Abu Hurayrah in Sahih Bukhari is that whenever a person tries to annoy a fasting Muslim, such person should say; I am fasting, I am fasting!
Indeed, the Hadith corroborates the words of Allah in Surah Al-Furqan, Q25 Verse 63:
And the servants of the Beneficent Allah are they who walk on the earth in humbleness, and when the ignorant address them, they say Peace.
4. Backbiting/Slandering: For many, it is only normal to speak behind people’s back whether good or bad. This indeed is one of the most abhorrent acts that Allah and his Prophet (SAW) warn us against as Muslims.
The Prophet (SAW) when warning against backbiting said it eats away from one’s good deeds just like fire consumes wood. The analogy is clear and understandable to all and sundry; once the fire is lit on wood, it continues to burn and decimate wood until nothing remains of it.
Likewise, when a person becomes engrossed in backbiting, no matter the good deed accrued or engaged in by such person, the act drastically reduces the reward even if the act is fasting in Ramadan. Many Aayat also counselled against this. So, as good Muslims, we must desist from such.
5. Uncontrolled use of the eyes: Allah(SWT) says in Surah Al Israa Q 17 vs 36;
… verily! The hearing, and the sight, and the heart, of each of those you will be questioned (by Allah).
Indeed, the blessing of sight is one that cannot be overemphasised and Allah in the above verse will call us to account for everything the eyes are used for. Unfortunately, generally, humans do not appreciate and make use of the eyes in seeking Allah’s pleasure but rather do the opposite.
The sad reality though is that even in Ramadan, we find many Muslims watching pornography, looking at women not permissible to them, amongst a host of other things. Those who literally do not engage in looking at illegal things in their own judgement busy themselves with TV shows, movies, music videos phone usage and many more.
In this auspicious month, a Muslim must train him or herself to drastically reduce what he watches with his eyes, even those within the permissible limits of Islam not to talk of those impermissible.
The Prophet of Allah talks about three categories of people whose eyes will not see the fire of hell not to talk of them entering it. A category of such persons includes those who turn their eyes away from what Allah has made unlawful.
Therefore, we must strive to make effective use of eyes in Ramadan to engage in acts such as reciting Qur’an, watching lectures, and even in the very least, sleeping for the sleep of a fasting Muslims comes with its own reward.
As Salaamun alaykum warahmatullah wabarakatuhu.
Mukhtar Oyetunji
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