Common Errors Made During Ramadan

Excessive spending: Ramadan should be a time to avoid being wasteful, and learning to be prepared in facing harder times by distinguishing one's needs from one's luxuries. Unfortunately, many people go beyond their limits to spend during Ramadan, whether in the varieties of food that they savour each night, or by the other types of materialistic spending.

Staying awake during the night and sleeping during the day: Some people sleep during most of the day when they are fasting. Ramadan is not a time of being lazy. Sleeping the entire day away does not allow an individual to experience the full benefits of fasting. It is as if they have only inverted their nights into days and vice versa. In addition, some may spend a great portion of the night indulging in eating, drinking and socializing.

Spending more time in socializing:  Because people invite each other more often during Ramadan they tend to spend more time socializing with friends, and relatives. While it is a good deed to feed the fasting person, this should not result in precious time lost in vain talk. Use the occasion for remembering Allah and offering additional prayers, and for the Da'wah to Allah.

Insisting on performing a certain number of Rakaas during the Tarawih (night) prayer to the point of not praying behind the Imam and thus forfeiting the benefit of congregational prayer. This might also bring abhorrence and disagreement between the Muslims of one community.

Reading Qur'an too fast: Some insist on finishing the whole Qur'an once or more during the month of Ramadan, even if they have to read very fast. Although reading the Qur'an many times is desirable, this should not be done hastily, especially during the Tarawih prayer without pondering upon its meaning. Allah ta'ala said: "This is a Book which We have sent down to you, full of blessings that they may ponder over its verses," (Saad 38:29), and the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam said: "Those who read the Qur'an in less than three days do not grasp [its meaning]"

Socializing in l'tikaf: Many people are eager to do I'tikaf but some confine themselves in the Masjid not to pray and worship Allah but to talk and socialize.

The ways of doing good are numerous in Ramadan:  However, many people try to perform excessive good deeds more than they are able to. By going beyond their capabilities, they end up not performing any deed in the desired way.

Scholars and Dai'ahs should assume a more prominent role in educating the people - both by talking to them and by giving the best example in their behaviour which should comply to the Shariah and following the Sunnah.
The Muslim should realize that his priorities dictate what he does and what benefits him in the Hereafter and should not put worldly interests first.

The Muslim should apply himself to deepen his sense of following the Sunnah of the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, in every aspect of his life, at all times and especially during the month of Ramadan. This necessitates seeking more knowledge about the Fiqh of fasting and its etiquette, assimilating the wisdom and goals of fasting, and facilitating the means that allow all the Muslims to benefit from their fasting.

We ask Allah to accept our fast and our good deeds .

Revised by: Imam Khaled Alazhari, Imam of Ottawa Mosque - From: Al-Jumuah Magazine