20 Common Mistakes In Ramadhan

Ramadhan

The month of Ramadhan might not be among the sacred months but it is by far the most blessed  of all twelve months in Islam. 


Fasting in the month of Ramadhan is a pillar of Islam in other words; deliberately refusing to fast in the month of Ramadhan without a valid reason is enough to lead an individual out of the fold of Islam. May Allah save us from such fate.

Allah (SWT) said in a Hadith Qudsi, ‛Every act of the son of Adam is for him, except Saum (fasting) which is (exclusively) for Me and I will reward him for it.’ 

If fasting is a pillar of Islam then, doing it properly should be paramount and should be a top priority for every sincere Muslim. 

Muhammad (SAW) said, “Every slave of Allah who observes Saum (fasting) for one day for the Sake of Allah, Allah will draw his face farther from Hellfire to the extent of a distance to be covered in seventy years.”

Muhammad (SAW) warned Muslims against laxity and lackadaisical attitudes in the month of Ramadhan with this statement, “There are people who fast and get nothing from their fast except hunger, and there are those who pray Qiyâm (standing to pray at night) and get nothing from their Qiyâm but a sleepless night.”

Over the years, scholars and individuals alike have pointed out flaws in the practices of Muslims in the month of Ramadhan. This write-up seeks to point out some of these flaws (some of which might be known), of course, for correction purposes.

1.         Extravagance

Quite unfortunately, a month that was meant to be a month of restrain has become a month of excesses. The month of Ramadhan witnesses arguably the worst period of wastage on earth every year. 

A report on Malaysia in Ramadhan 2017 showed that solid waste disposed off in Kuala Lumpur during the month of Ramadhan increased by 25 per cent or 3,000 tonnes daily from the normal 2,500 tonnes. 

The chief executive officer of Alam Flora Sdn Bhd, Mohammed Zain Hassan said regarding the report, "Everytime during the fasting month, we see a lot of food being wasted. The amount of solid waste disposed off in the city alone has increased by 400 tonnes daily."

Allah (SWT) says, "O children of Adam, take your adornment at every masjid, and eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess”. Suratul Araf (7:31)

2.         Eating sahur too early

Some people often feel too lazy to wake up early in the morning to take their sahur, to ‘circumvent’ this, they take sahur very early and go to sleep afterwards that way, they don’t need to wake up till it’s time for salutul Subhi.  

Zaid bin Thabit said; "We took Sahur with the Messenger of Allah then we went to pray." I asked the Prophet (SAW), "How long was there between Adhan and Suhur?" He said, “As long as it takes a man to recite fifty verses”.

This conversation shows that the period between sahur and salatul Subhi is very short which implies that sahur should be delayed.

It was narrated that Abu 'Atiyyah said: "I said to 'Aishah: 'Among us there are two men, one of whom hastens Iftar and delays Sahur, and the other delays Iftar and hastens Sahur.' She said; 'Which of them is the one who hastens Iftar and delays Sahur?' I said: "Abdullah bin Masud.' She said; 'This is what the Messenger of Allah used to do."'

To settle this once and for all, Muhammad (SAW) said, “We the Prophets have been commanded to hasten the breaking of our fast and to delay our Suhûr (the time before dawn when we take Sahûr), and to put our right hands over our left when praying”

3.         Not taking sahur

This mistake is committed mostly by men. Some men believe only weak people like women and children take sahur. Statements of the Prophet (SAW) show that this ideology is not authentic. 

Muhammad (SAW) said, “The difference between our observance of Saum (fasting) and that of the People of the Scriptures is the Sahûr (predawn meal) in Ramadhan”.

Muhammad (SAW) also said, “Take Sahûr (predawn meal). Surely, there is a blessing in the Sahûr.” And lastly we have the Hadith:  “Allah sends His blessings on those who take Sahûr (predawn meal) and also His angels”.

4.         Delaying iftar

Some people, especially men (again), often delay iftar. According to them, they have the stamina to go on without food or drink. Muhammad (SAW) said, “People will remain upon goodness as long as they hasten the Iftaar (breaking the fast).” PLEASE brothers, take iftar on time.

5.         Eating after Adhan has been made

This might not be called a mistake; rather, it should be called rebellion. Even neophytes on Islam know that eating and drinking is to stop the moment the adhan is made. Allah (SWT) said, “And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night]. Then complete the fast until the sunset”. Suratul Baqarah (2:187)

In relation to this, Muhammad (SAW) said, "Bilal calls the adhan in the night, so eat and drink until Ibn Umm Maktum calls the adhan." Ibn Umm Maktum was a blind man who did not call the adhan until someone said to him, "The morning has come. The morning has come."

6.         Breaking the fast before the sun sets

In some localities, during the month of Ramadhan, everyone wants to become a muadhin-breaking their fasts whenever they feel the sun has set. As is obtainable from Islamic traditions, breaking the fast even a second before the sun sets vitiates the fast of that day. If we do not know the necessary skills involved in telling when the sun has set, we should always wait for the muadhin to make the adhan before we break our fasts.

7.         Fasting and not praying

There are those people who fast simply because they see others fasting hence they hardly get into the fasting mood spiritually. This set of people pay very low attention to acts of Ibadah including salah; they sleep all day. There is a trend in some quarters among Nigeria. Some people take hard drugs during sahur, as a result of this, the moment they return from salatul subhi, they fall asleep and don’t wake up till it’s just a few minutes to iftar. They don’t observe the salawat of Zuhr and Asr in congregation. Some other people remain awake but still don’t observe their salawat or at times, delay them arrogantly.

Salatul Asr seems to surfer the most in the month of RAMADAN probably due to the fact that most people get exhausted around that time. It is however not a justification if truly we take the words of the Prophet (SAW) seriously. 

Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said, “Pray asr prayer as soon as its time starts.” (Musnad- Imam Abu Hanifa)

In another hadith, the Prophet (SAW) said, “Whoever misses the ‘Asr prayer, it is as if he had lost his family and his wealth” (Bukhari, Muslim)

Still Muhammad (SAW) said in relatively harsher terms, “Whoever does not pray the asr prayer until the sunset and abandons it, his deeds of worship become void.”

8.         Fasting and engaging in ill speech

Ill speech includes every utterance that does not reflect the spirit of Islam. Ill speech could be lies or comments that are intended to cause psychological pain.

For people who think they have one reason or the other to speak according to their whims even in the month of Ramadhan, this should clear their doubts. 

Muhammad (SAW) said, “Whoever does not give up lying speech and acting on those lies and evil actions etc; Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink [i.e. Allah will not accept his Saum (fasting)]”

9.         Fasting and committing sins at night

The sanctity of Ramadhan lasts from the first of Ramadhan to the twenty-ninth or thirtieth day as the case may be contrary to popular belief that the month is only holy in the day time when the fast is on. This idea has led some people to be of their best behavior during the day while they commit terrible sins after iftar. Too bad.

To help ourselves with this habit, we should always remember the statement of the Prophet (SAW) in the Hadith above when he (SAW) said, "Whoever reaches the month of Ramadan and he is not forgiven, then he will enter Hellfire and Allah will cast him far away, so say amin. I said amin". 

It is simple logic, how do you expect to be forgiven when you have become so addicted to sin that you even make a timetable for sins?

10.      Making jest of Ramadan

Due to the depth of ignorance in some people, they are unable to detect when they make a mockery of Islam.

An individual deliberately goes to a person or people from the opposite gender to engage in immoral jokes (sometimes physical contacts and gestures) and then in the thick of the immoral activity, they begin to repeat, ‘don’t break my fast - don't break my fast'.

This is a mockery of Ramadhan, Islam and by extension; Allah.

Allah makes it lucid that among the greatest sins an individual can commit is to make mockery or jest of anything that has been ordained by Islam.

Fasting the month of Ramadhan is a pillar of Islam.

Allah says concerning the hypocrites when they were making jest of the Prophet (SAW) and the Muslims:

"And if you ask them, they will surely say, "We were only conversing and playing." Say, "Is it Allah and His verses and His Messenger that you were mocking?" Make no excuse; you have disbelieved after your belief. If We pardon one faction of you - We will punish another faction because they were criminals". Suratul Tawba (9:65-66)

This is not to be seen as a confirmation that those who mock Ramadhan in this way have left the fold of Islam but, to show how dangerous this habit could prove to be. Take heed.

11.      Complaining of hunger

In another show of weakness of faith and ignorance, some people complain of hunger while they fast, as if to say they are being punished by Allah, which means they do not fast out of the fear of Allah. 

This set of people are those who often pray for the month to come an end; if only they were fully aware of the bounties of the blessed month.

Allah says, “The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful”. Suratul Baqarah (2:187)

12.      Not attending tarawih

Some people often give very flimsy reasons as to why they cannot make it to tarawih. Reasons like: there is a football match going on at the time of prayers and they would rather miss tarawih than miss the game or that they are just not in the mood.

It is true that observing tarawih is not compulsory but think of it who would see an opportunity to earn Allah’s reward and Rahma in the month of Ramadhan and refuse to take it if not a clueless person. 

Muhammad (SAW) said, “Whoever stood to pray (Tarawîh) in Ramadan with perfect faith and seeking reward, he will have his previous sins forgiven.”

Tarawih can be observed in congregation as well as in seclusion. However we choose to observe it, it is always wise to. 

13.      Eating and drinking in public when not fasting

As said inter alia, even if Ramadhan is not among the sacred months, it is the most blessed of the months in Islam hence its sanctity should be respected by all. It is highly inappropriate to eat and drink in the presence of people who are fasting in the month of Ramadhan even if for some reasons accepted Islamically you cannot fast at that point in time. 

It could cause those fasting to begin to feel deprived or jealous which could in turn affect the soundness of their fasting.

As we know, making Muslims feel weak in any way has been described as being an act only hypocrites engage in. We get a hint of this from the Qur'an:

Those to whom hypocrites said, "Indeed, the people have gathered against you, so fear them." But it [merely] increased them in faith, and they said, "Sufficient for us is Allah , and [He is] the best Disposer of affairs." Suratul Ali Imran (3:173)


It is also highly immoral for females to do this on the grounds that they cannot fast on that day due to menstruation. Being in your menstrual period is not news for public entertainment.

Kudos to countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia and Pakistan who have laws that criminalize public eating and drinking in the month of Ramadhan.

14.      Fasting with sin

People who do certain things have been condemned by the Prophet (SAW). Among these people are those who spot hair-cuts that show disregard for modesty, e. g tomahawks. The Prophet (SAW) saw a boy; part of whose head had been shaven and part had been left. He forbade that and said: "Shave all of it, or leave all of it.

It is known that Islamically, women are not to display their adornments (beauty) in public. Despite this, we still see some sisters wearing make-up (lipstick, blushes and eye-shadows) while fasting. 

Some sisters also continue in their habit of wearing clothes that  totally violate the spirit of Islam. All these in the  holy month of Ramadhan. This is so wrong. 

Allah says, “And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their head covers over their chests and not expose their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their women, that which their right hands possess, or those male attendants having no physical desire, or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women. And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment. And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers that you might succeed”. Suratul Nur (24:31)

Seriously, no right thinking person will go for a lecturing job interview looking like a blacksmith. If you want the blessings of Allah you have to at least look like those who are blessed or who want to be blessed by Allah.

15.      Whiling away time

This is a major misgiving of Muslims. To ease the hunger, some people would engage in entertaining things which unfortunately bring no benefit. To derive maximum utility from the month of Ramadhan requires patience. Like Allah said, it is just a number of days, after which we might have our fun since it is not haram neither is it makrooh to have fun. Allah says, “Fasting is for a fixed number of days…” Suratul Baqarah (2:184)

16.      Standing for too long in tarawih/tahajjud

Panic grips Muslims when Ramadhan approaches because of the torture they know awaits them during tarawih. This is very sad considering the fact that Muhammad (SAW) did not approve of this. 

The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, “When you lead in congregational prayer, do not let your prayer be so lengthy as to cause discomfort to the congregation or raise in them the feeling of dislike for it or liquidate its effect: for in the congregation there may be invalids and also those who have to attend pressing affairs of their own”.

In another Hadith Abu Hurairah reports that the Prophet (SAW) said: "If one of you leads the people in prayer, he should be easy on them for among the people are the weak, sick, and aged. If one prays by himself, one may make it as long as one wishes." 

17.      Making it compulsory to complete recite the whole of the Qur’an in Tahajjud

There is no evidence to show that Muslims in the time of Muhammad (SAW) compelled themselves to recite the whole of the Qur’an either in tarawih or tahajjud. We should not torture ourselves and others for reasons that have no basis. Insisting on reciting the whole of the Qur’an in tarawih or tahajjud has led to the bastardization of Qur’an recitation. 

In order to meet the target, imams recite the Qur’an with so much pace that make the recitation more or less useless because no one is able to make any sense of what is being recited.

It should be noted that Salah is not the only thing that can be done in the period of Tahajjud. We could recite the Qur'an and we can also make Du'as.

However, for those who are more comfortable with Salah for Tahajjud, we could increase the number of raka'at and reduce the number of ayat recited in each raka'a. 

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said: "The people disputed as to whether it is better to stand for a long time or to do a lot of bowing and prostrating, or are they both equal? There are three views, the soundest of which is that they are both equal."

18.      Standing too little

It is true that people should be made to stand for too long but standing for very little periods is another misgiving. It was reported that Muhammad (SAW) used to recite the Quran very much during this month. He prolonged Qiyâm (standing at night to pray) in Ramadan more than he did out of it. He became more generous than ever in giving charity and gifts and in other sorts of kindness.

19.      Reciting over one another

It is true that the recitation of the Qur’an is highly meritorious in the month of Ramadhan-the month being nicknamed ‘the month of the Qur’an’. Due to this, we go to our masajid and we find tens of people reciting the Qur’an aloud at the same time. It gets so rowdy and loud that one would hardly understand what any single person is reciting. Muhammad (SAW) disapproved of this. 

Abu Sa’ed al-Khudri  (RA) said: The Messenger of Allah (SAW) observed i’tikaf in the mosque and he heard them raising their voices in reciting Qur’an. He drew back the curtain and said: “Each of you is conversing with his Lord, so do not disturb one another, and do not raise your voices above one another in reciting Qur’an or in prayer.”

20.      Forgetting Ibadah in the last ten days

The last ten days of Ramadhan is the most blessed part of the month. Aisha, reported: “With the start of the last ten days of Ramadan, the Prophet (SAW) used to tighten his waist belt, used to pray the whole night, and used to keep his family awake for the prayers”. 

A lot of people forget the eminence of these days and do nothing but prepare for Eid thereby losing out on the bounties of the period.

May Allah assist us in our efforts to correct this mistakes and grant us the maximum reward for fasting the month of Ramadhan, Ameen.

Allah Knows Best.