Ramadan is a time of devotion. It is the time when all of us Muslims strive to be our best, both when it comes to our religion, and as good human beings in general. That is why it’s important to do our best when it comes to cultivating good habits while avoiding harmful and unnecessary habits.
Here are some of the habits to avoid during Ramadan. These habits are something that we must make a part of our character, not only during the month of Ramadan but throughout our entire lives.
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Prayer is one of the five pillars of Islam, and it is one of the things that distinguishes a Muslim from a non-Muslim. A Muslim who neglects his prayers has no use refraining from eating or drinking, as his fasts will not be accepted.
Prophet Muhammed (SAW) is reported to have said: “Between a man and shirk and kufr stands his giving up prayer.” – [Sahih al-Muslim]
It’s understandable that you may feel like piling on food during Iftar after more than half a day of not eating. Or we might be tempted to eat until our stomachs are bursting at suhoor to prepare for the day of abstaining to come. This is a good time to practice another aspect that we must groom in ourselves: restraint.
Overeating is a habit that Muslims should avoid during Ramadan, as it causes laziness and sleepiness, which will prevent you from spending your nights praying, reciting, and doing ibadah.
Allah says in the Holy Quran, “…and eat and drink but waste not in extravagance, certainly, He likes not the Al-Musrifoon (those who waste by extravagance).” – [Al-A'raf, 7:31]
Eating habits you should avoid during Ramadan include food that is fried, greasy, and full of heavy calories. Instead, stock your iftar table with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and healthy foods.
Opt for baked dishes instead of fried (keeping in mind that a store-bought baked pizza could still be unhealthier than most homemade fried food). Replace sugary drinks with coconut water or fresh juices, and fruits can be swapped for dessert.
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Ramadan is not the time to spend hours in the kitchen trying out new recipes. Although eating good food that you enjoy is not a bad thing, make sure it doesn’t require too much work. The more time you spend slaving over a hot stove, the less energy and time you will have to do ibadah.
The TV is not your friend! Many of us tend to resort to spending our hours sprawled out in front of the TV or listening to music in the pretense of being “bored”. This is one of the habits we must avoid during Ramadan, as we end up wasting precious time that we won’t be getting back, with possibilities for getting exposed to contents that are unrecommended to consume during Ramadan.
Jabir ibn Abd-Allah al-Ansari said: “Do not let the day when you do not fast and the day when you fast be the same.”
Some people are in the habit of skipping suhoor, either because they are too lazy or sleepy to get up for it, or because they feel too full after eating before sleeping. Some people even skip suhoor in an attempt to use the month of Ramadan as a “diet” month. None of these are acceptable, and fasting for any other reason than to please Allah is considered a sin.
“Eat suhoor, for in suhoor there is barakah (blessing).” – [Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih al-Muslim]
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One of the main habits that Muslims should avoid during Ramadan is letting our tongues run free. A Muslim must never speak ill of another, especially when the intention is to hurt or inconvenience, even if what is said is supposedly "true.”.
The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, “Whoever does not give up false speech and acting upon it, Allah has no need of him giving up his food and drink.” – [Sahih-Al-Bukhari]
While your body might crave more rest during the month of Ramadan due to a lack of food/drink, the answer is not to sleep all day. Although it is not a sin, per se, it is a waste of time.
And if you miss your prayers by intentionally falling asleep when you know you haven’t prayed yet or you will have to pray soon, then it does become a sin. Sleep only as much as you need and spend the rest of your time praying, reciting, and finding ways to bring yourself closer to Allah.
Physical activity and exercise can be quite good for your health, and it is something that all of us must try to add to our routines, even during Ramadan.
But it is best to avoid exercising or doing things that are too strenuous during the period of fasting. Instead, try to clear some time out of the non-fasting hours. If doing it every day is too difficult, you could also aim for 2-3 times a week, whatever suits you best should be fine.
Smoking is a habit that is debated by many about whether it is haram or not. But one thing you cannot disagree on is that it is an addiction. Therefore, it becomes a habit that we must avoid during Ramadan, as Islam urges us to keep away from anything that causes addiction. We must also stay away from anything that will prevent our fasts from being nullified, so throw away your cigarettes. Ramadan is also a good time to practice giving up smoking.
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The main focus of your time during Ramadan should be on increasing your ibadah, prayers, and in becoming closer to your creator. The holy month of Ramadan will be over in a flash before you know it, so make use of the time in the right manner. Cooking, shopping, and entertainment can wait. And so can Instagram, Twitter, and WhatsApp too!
The Messenger of Allah (SAW) says, "Ramadan has come to you. (It is) a month of blessing, in which Allah covers you with blessings, for He sends down Mercy, decreases sins, and answers prayers. In it, Allah looks at your competition (in good deeds), and boasts about you to His angels. So show Allah goodness from yourselves, for the unfortunate one is he who is deprived in (this month) of the mercy of Allah, the Mighty, the Exalted." – [Imam Tabarani]
