Mistakes Made By Those Who Fast
Many of those who fast make mistakes because they do not understand Allah's religion, including matters relating to fasting. They, accordingly, do not know what are the things that invalidate, impair or harm the fast. Neither have they any knowledge of the things they ought to do while fasting, what is allowed, what is obligatory and what is forbidden. The Prophet (pbuh) said: 'Whoever Allah wishes good, He grants understanding in religion.' Thus, it appears that the one who does not understand or ask about his religion is such a person whom Allah does not wish well.
Additionally, Allah Almighty says:
And [even] before thy time, [O Muhammad], We never sent [as Our apostles] any but [mortal] men, whom We inspired: and if you have not [yet] realised this, ask those who possess the message.
Quran [16:43]
Those who possess the message here are the scholars. Thus it is only fitting that the Muslim who really wants to worship Allah faithfully should ask about the matters he does not know about his religion. He should, furthermore, seek knowledge and try to understand his faith.
Some people who fast commit great sins that nullify their fast. Foremost among these is backbiting. Some of these, which were mentioned in the article 'How Does the Tongue Fast?' include slander, indecent conversation, derision, swearing and others.
Among the other mistakes is the wasting of money on meals both at the beginning and the breaking of the fast in Ramadan. They prepare food enough for a crowd of people consisting of numerous dishes, cheap and expensive with drinks that are sweet, sour, and even salted. Then, at the end of all this, they eat only a little and throw the remainder into the refuse. This, no doubt, is contrary to the great teachings of Islam. Allah Almighty says:
And eat and drink [freely], but do not waste: verily, He does not love the wasteful!
Quran [7:31]
Everything that exceeds man's needs is considered an abominable waste. Allah the Lord of those who fast does not like extravagance. This is illustrated in His words:
Do no squander [thy substance] senselessly. Behold, the squanderers are, indeed, of the ilk of the satans - in as much as Satan has indeed proved most ungrateful to his Sustainer
Quran [17:26-7]
Likewise He commends:
Those who, whenever they spend on others, are neither wasteful nor niggardly but [remember that], there is always a just mean between those [two extremes]
Quran [25:67]
During Ramadan our market places are filled with buyers, all of them carrying enough food and drink to feed tens of families. Yet, there are families dying from hunger and thirst because they cannot find a piece of bread. They sleep under the open skies making their beds upon the dirt while families here are afflicted with indigestion caused by their extravagance and showing off. One of the purposes of fasting is to empty the stomach of all contaminated material by reducing the intake of food. But, how can those who indulge in excessive eating and drinking, and waste much more, realise this?
Many people spend their fasting hours sleeping. As a result it seems as if they did not fast. Of these, they are some who only awake to pray and then return to sleep. They, as it were, pass their days in neglect and their nights awake. Neither their long sleep nor their staying up at night will increase or reduce their age. The wisdom of fasting, therefore, is that the one who fasts should experience the pangs of hunger and savour thirst in order to gain the pleasure of Allah. The one who devotes his entire day to sleep will not attain this.
Among the fasting people are those who play games that are, at the very least, regarded as despicable in the Islamic law. They kill their valuable time in futile games which they claim help them to relax. Allah says:
Did you, then think that We created you in mere idle play, and that you would not have return to Us?
Quran [23:115]
Allah also says in the Quran:
Leave to themselves all those who, beguiled by the life of this world, have made play and passing delights their religion
Quran [6:70]
There are besides other people who fast and spend their entire nights awake in futile activities. They engage in amusement, play and deviance without ever offering a single prayer in the darkness of night. Among the worst mistakes perpetrated by some fasters is their failure to perform collective prayers for the most trifling excuses. This, of course, is among the signs of hypocrisy and evidence of sick hearts and dead spirits.
There are others, still, who have no relationship or closeness with the Quran during Ramadan. They read much, but not the Glorious Quran. They delve into many books but not the book of Allah the Most High.
It is certainly regrettable that during the great month of Ramadan there are also people who make no effort to do good for themselves by giving charity. They do not honour their tables by allowing others to break their fast with them. Their doors are shut and their fists are tight. Allah says to them:
All that is with you is bound to come to an end, whereas that which is with God is everlasting
Quran [16:96]
Furthermore Allah says:
For whatever good deed you may offer up in your own behalf, you shall truly find it with God - yea, better, and richer in reward
Quran [73:20]
Apart from the categories already cited, there are besides some people who forsake the Taraweeh prayer in Ramadan and ignore it completely. Such individuals are apparently driven by their inner voices that tell them their performance of the compulsory prayers is enough. These same persons are, however, never satisfied with a little of this world. They seek by all means its non-essentials as well as its necessities. And if you come individually on the Day of the Gathering and you see the different stations in it. On that day regret will be immense because of the loss of what you wasted in this worldly life.
And finally, there remain another group who fast and yet inconvenience their families with the responsibility of making so much food and drink that they are left with very little time for the Quran, Prophetic traditions, remembrance of Allah and worship. If their demands were limited to the necessities, their families would surely find greater time to expend in the worship of Allah Almighty.
O Allah! Increase us and do not decrease us. Bestow upon us and do not deny us. Honour us and do not disgrace us. Pardon us and grant us forgiveness.