Fasting Mistakes

During the holy month of Ramadan, some fasting people commit some behaviors and acts, intentionally or unintentionally, that make their fasting strenuous and difficult, some behaviors may fully corrupt their fasting and deprive them from its reward; and all they are left with is hunger and thirst as it is mentioned in the Hadith.

In this regard, Assabile.com shows you 10 common mistakes made by fasting people and how to avoid them.

1- Buying too much food and drinks

Some fasting people receive the holy month of Ramadan by buying excessive amount of food and beverage and rush upon them in an exaggerated manner, instead of seeking acts of worship and oblations, and avoiding perishable earthly lusts.

2- Hastening Suhoor

One of the most common mistakes is rushing Suhoor and taking it early in the night, long before Fajr. This is contrary to the Sunnah and teachings of the Prophet (pbuh) who, for our sakes, ordered us to delay Suhoor.

3- Delaying Iftaar

As opposed to hastening Suhoor, some Muslims delay Iftaar for a few minutes after Maghreb Athan to prove the validity of their fasting. This behavior is contrary to Sunnah, our beloved Prophet (pbuh) said: “The people will remain on the right path as long as they hasten the breaking of the fast”.

4- Not holding the intention to fast

Not holding the intention to fast from the night before is a mistake that leads to the nullification of Fasting as it was mentioned in this Hadith, the Prophet (pbuh) said: “Whoever does not have the intention of fasting from the night before, then there is no fast for him”. It does not require to be said out loud, it needs to be emerging from the Muslim’s heart.

5- Embarrassment caused by eating unintentionally

Fasting people feel embarrassed when they eat unintentionally during fasting, to the point that they doubt about the validity of their Sawm. Islam is a religion of ease not hardship, Allah does not blame people for their forgetfulness and oblivion. The Prophet (pbuh) said: “If any one of you forgetfully eats or drinks (while observing fasting) he should complete his Sawm (fasting), for Allah has fed him and given him to drink”.

6- Insistence of patients to fast

One of the mistakes of Fasting people who are sick is to feel embarrassed to eat in Ramadan despite the existence of a legitimate and medical permission to eat, they insist to fast in spite of the hardships and risks that may worsen their health conditions. Allah the almighty gave the permission to whoever is sick not to fast: “And whosoever of you is sick or on a journey, (let him fast the same) number of other days” (Al-Baqara-185).

7- Irritability and Obscene Speech

Irritability, obscene speech, vulgarity and insulting people are amongst the most common mistakes made by fasting people which is contrary to the teachings of Prophet Mohamed (pbuh): “If any one of you is fasting, let him no utter obscene talk or raise his voice in anger, and if anyone insults him or wants to fight, let him say: I am fasting”. The validity of fasting does not mean to abstain "completely" from foods, drinks, and intimate intercourse, but also from bad manners and obscenity.

8- Embarrassment of shaving the hair and cutting nails

To abstain from shaving the hair, the armpit and pubic hair or cutting nails during the day in Ramadan in fear of corrupting Siyam is a common mistake. According to scholars this is hygiene, and cleanliness is next to godliness.

9- Exaggerated gargling

Some people exaggerate while gargling and sniffing water up during ablution while fasting. Allah’s Messenger said: “Perform a perfect Wudu run through the fingers of the hands and the toes, and if not fasting, sniff water up well inside the nose”. Because exaggeration in sniffing water up may spoil the fasting.

10- Spoiling and nullifying the fasting

Many fasting people ignore acts that spoil or nullify their fasting. It’s the Muslim’s duty to learn how to avoid these acts before Ramadan. Allah said in Surat An-Nahl: “Ask the followers of the Remembrance if ye know not” (16-43).

Written by: Amine Hilal

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