The holy month of Ramadan is thirty days during which Muslims fast and practice their spirituality and self-contradiction. Fasting is mandatory for all Muslim men and women as it is one of the pillars of Islam.
When we live among Muslims belonging to different cultures and nationalities, it is quite common to hear about Islamic knowledge from a variety of sources. However, not all of the information that you come across may be true.
Similarly, there are a lot of misconceptions about fasting, Ramadan, Suhoor, and Iftaar, which we will discuss in this article. Let’s start right away!
DO’s
This is absolutely not true. Fasting is Ramadan, and it is so much more than just abstaining from food and drinks. It is a month of self-control, and Muslims must avoid anything that is not liked by Allah or his Prophet. These even include lying, deceiving others or basically anything that could hurt other Muslims around you.
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet said, “Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions, Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink (i.e. Allah will not accept his fasting.).”
[Sahih al-Bukhari 1903]
Additionally, we must also stay away from any worldly pleasures such as sexual intercourse and listening to music until we break our fast. Instead, we must seek forgiveness and promise that we will not repeat them again, even after Ramadan ends.
Muslims, especially ladies, like to spend the majority of their time in the Kitchen preparing delicacies for the family. It is a general concept that the family must be well-fed during the entire month of Ramadan. In accomplishing this, they forget that Ramadan is the month of seeking forgiveness and praying to Allah.
Remember, while it is good to serve your family with suhoor and iftar, going overboard is not recommended. Instead, you can practice moderation and keep some time aside for your prayers as well.
Who remembers the time when we were young and would sleep throughout the day to conserve energy while fasting? Well, some of us still continue to practice the same. Ramadan is a month of prayers, and Muslims must try and gather all the blessings that Allah offers during the month.
Moreover, how would you fulfill the obligations of the third pillar of Islam when you are skipping the second pillar, namaz itself? Instead, offer your prayers regularly, perform Tahajjud, and pray that Allah blesses you with all the goodness this month and the rest of the year that is to come.
The majority of Muslims believe that fasting in the month of Ramadan is obligatory for every Muslim man and woman. However, no one needs to fast if they are medically unfit or have not reached their age of maturity yet.
In Surah Baqarah, Allah says:
Fast a (fixed) number of days, but if someone is ill or is traveling (he should complete) the number of days (he had missed); and those who find it hard to fast should expiate by feeding a poor person. For the good they do with a little hardship is better for men. And if you fast, it is good for you, if you know.
[Al-Baqara 2:184]
Islam also does not recommend fasting for the following groups of people
- Medically or physically unfit
- Children
- Frail, weak or the elderly
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women
- Those who are traveling
- Women who are menstruating or suffering from postpartum bleeding
If it is something that is temporary and you are aware that you will recover from your condition soon, then you will have to make up for your missed fasts on any other day. For instance, if you are traveling and do not fast, then you can always make up for that at any time of the year.
Islam is very flexible, and it even offers a choice for those who won’t be able to make up for their missed fasts for valid reasons. In such cases, Muslims can give a charitable form of compensation called the Fidyah.
DONT’s
The concept of brushing teeth while fasting is different across several schools of thought. However, one thing that is certain is that brushing your teeth is allowed as long as you do not swallow the toothpaste or its remnants while fasting. Alternatively, you can also perform Miswak as a form of brushing your teeth as it does not contain any flavors.
Many Muslims believe that swallowing the spit will break their fast. However, it is one of the biggest misconceptions that people have. People must remember that the production of saliva is a natural bodily process, and there is no way any average body would stop producing it. Therefore, swallowing your own saliva will never break your fast.
Humans are not perfect, and they are bound to make mistakes. There can be any instance during your life where you accidentally ate or drank something. Some may say that it breaks your fast. However, mistakenly consuming anything never does.
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet said, “If somebody eats or drinks forgetfully then he should complete his fast, for what he has eaten or drunk, has been given to him by Allah.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari 1933]
Conclusion
We have discussed the majority of the misconceptions that people have about the holy month of Ramadan. Hopefully, it will clear any doubts you have about the practice of Fasting so that you can offer your prayers with more focus. The blessed month comes only once a year, and we, as Muslims, must not worry about this misconception. Instead, we must divert all of our focus towards earning the blessings of Allah and his Prophet. We will end this article with a Hadith narrated by Abu Huraira.
Narrated Abu Huraira:
“Allah’s Messenger said, “Fasting is a shield (or a screen or a shelter). So, the person observing Fasting should avoid sexual relations with his wife and should not behave foolishly and impudently, and if somebody fights with him or abuses him, he should tell him twice, ‘I am fasting.” The Prophet added, “By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, the smell coming out from the mouth of a fasting person is better in the sight of Allah than the smell of musk. (Allah says about the fasting person), ‘He has left his food, drink and desires for My sake. The fast is for Me. So I will reward (the fasting person) for it, and the reward for good deeds is multiplied ten times.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari 1894]
