بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ. الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ.
اَلَّلهُمَّ صَلِّ وَسَـلَّمْ وَبَأّرَکْ عَلَى نَبِيِّنَأّ مُحَمَّدٍ وَّعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِيْن.
رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي. وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي. وَاحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِّن لِّسَانِي. يَفْقَهُوا قَوْلِي.
Alhamdulillah, as committed believers, we all strive for the pleasure of Allah by fasting, recitation of Quran, doing Taraweeh and Qiyam Al layl, giving charity, and doing other acts of virtue and goodness.
Eating, Drinking, and engaging in marital relations from dawn until sunset, obviously these invalidate the fast altogether.
However, there are things that we may be doing knowingly or unknowingly that undermine our effort and take away from our sacrifice and hard-earned rewards.
Lying, Backbiting, and Slander – Engaging in falsehood, lying, backbiting, slandering, or spreading malicious gossip go against the spirit of fasting and diminishes its reward.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever does not give up false speech and acting upon it, Allah has no need of his leaving his food and drink” (Bukhari).
Anger and Quarreling – Fasting is a time for patience, self-discipline, and restraint. Engaging in arguments, disputes, or harboring feelings of anger and resentment detracts from the spiritual benefits of fasting.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “If one of you is fasting, he should avoid obscene language or raise his voice in anger. If someone insults him or fights with him, he should say, ‘I am fasting'” (Bukhari, Muslim).
Indulging in Worldly Pleasures – Excessive engagement in worldly pursuits, entertainment, or materialistic desires can distract from the essence of Ramadan and diminish its spiritual rewards.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Many people who fast get nothing from their fast except hunger and thirst, and many people who pray at night get nothing from it except wakefulness” (Ibn Majah).
Neglecting Obligatory Acts of Worship – Ramadan is a time for increased devotion, prayer, and reflection. Neglecting obligatory acts of worship, such as performing the five daily prayers or fulfilling other religious duties, undermines the purpose of fasting and diminishes its spiritual rewards.
Failing to Seek Forgiveness and Repentance – Ramadan is an opportune time for seeking forgiveness, repentance, and spiritual renewal. Failing to acknowledge one’s mistakes, seek forgiveness from Allah, and repent for past sins diminishes the transformative potential of fasting. Allah says in the Quran:
وَٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا فَعَلُوا۟ فَـٰحِشَةً أَوْ ظَلَمُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ ذَكَرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ فَٱسْتَغْفَرُوا۟ لِذُنُوبِهِمْ وَمَن يَغْفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ وَلَمْ يُصِرُّوا۟ عَلَىٰ مَا فَعَلُوا۟ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ. ١٣٥
“And those who, when they commit an immorality or wrong themselves [by transgression], remember Allah and seek forgiveness for their sins – and who can forgive sins except Allah? – and [who] do not persist in what they have done while they know” (Quran 3:135).
Avoiding actions that invalidate the fast, reduce its reward, or detract from its spiritual significance is essential for maximizing the benefits of Ramadan.
By upholding the principles of piety, self-discipline, and devotion, we can derive immense spiritual blessings and draw closer to Allah during this blessed month.
May Allah make this easy for us.
وَآخِرُ دَعْوَاهُمْ أَنِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ نَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ نَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَنَتُوبُ إِلَيْكَ.
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّكَ رَبِّ الْعِزَّةِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ وَسَلَامٌ عَلَى الْمُرْسَلِينَ.
وَصَلَّـى اللهُ تَعَالَى عَلَى خَيْرِ خَلْقِهِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَّاَلِهِ وَاَصْحَابِهِ اَجْمَعِيْنَ بِرَحْمَتِكَ يَا اَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِيْنَ.