10 Issues That Can Impact Your Ramadan

During the month of Ramadan we regularly receive plenty of knowledge instructing us on its significance, what to try and do and what nullifies a fast. However, we regularly overlook different aspects of the human condition and things that we tend to either impose upon ourselves or have imposed upon us that impact the complete experience.

1. Ibadah:

During the month of Ramadan we tend to increase our ibadah with the fasting, reading the Qur’an, extra prayers, kindness, charitable deeds and heightened consciousness of try to please our Lord. However, ‘your’ ibadah isn't mine and a few members of the family may leave off responsibilities that impact the family. keep in mind that we've rights over one another.

Islam is a religion of good judgment. during Itikaf, a time of intense religious reflection, Rasullah (peace be upon him) wouldn't leave to visit the sick or attend a funeral. however it's reported in Sahih Bukhari of an incident wherever that he left to escort Safiyyah home when she came to visit him during the night. He saw himself liable for her safety. It's an example of the rights our families have over us even within the interior of our own heightened spirituality.

2. Moonsighting Conflicts:

Each year the beginning and end of the month of Ramadan is set by the sighting of the moon. Therefore, though a begin day is listed on a calendar or ‘determined’ a couple of days before, it's necessary to follow this sunnah. there's little need to complain or argue regarding errors nor disgrace or accuse those who start on a different day. this is an unnecessary fitnah that compromises the collective spirit of the Umma. The messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is reported in both Bukhari as relaying that Allah says “Every deed of Adam’s son is for him except fasting, it's for me (Allah) and that i shall reward (the fasting person) for it”. fasting is between the individual and his Lord, and Allah tells us in the Holy Qu’ran that “O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the messenger and those in authority among you. And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result.” [Qur’an: Chapter 4, Verse 59]

3. Traditions:

The month of Ramadan has its own traditions that ar expanded upon by the family and culture during which we tend to live. this might be anything from iftar and sahoor meals to how the Eid is determined. Families over time develop a habit of what will happen every year. Even family traditions that we once wanted can become older. they will no longer be age acceptable, relevant within the current surroundings or even enjoyed. Don’t assume that just because you’ve been doing them forever that they’re still operating. If they're, great, if not, change them! Or on the flip side, will your family even have traditions for the month of Ramadan? – if not start some.

 

4. Cooking and Preparing:

Some families might realize that they need one person who does all the planning, cooking, cleanup and preparation for the month of Ramadan. This person may be overwhelmed since they're not exempt from fasting or increasing their own ibadah. it's necessary for families to be aware of what we impose on one another. creating a schedule of shared duties is usually an honest idea and is a sadaqah which will enhance the month of Ramadan for the whole family Volunteer and pitch in once necessary. Rasullah (peace be upon him) said “Every act of goodness is a sadaqah”. [Muslim]

5. Finances:

It is an honest idea to discuss and set a budget before time and follow it. Zakatul-Fitr is due at the end of the month of Ramadan. additionally, there ar expenses of gifts to family and friends, a lot of sadaqah than usual, extra gasoline mileage to and from the mosque and even the expense of additional food for potlucks or iftars and dinners held at your home. there's also the trend in several Islamic centers to use the month of Ramadan as a time to fund-raise for expenses, programs or faculties. Some will have a ‘fund raising’ iftar practically each weekend for the community. Be aware that all of this ‘giving’ will place a strain on the family budget. we ar reminded of the person who was dying and had just one heir, a daughter, that once he asked how much to give away, Rasullah (peace be upon him) taught him that even giving away a 3rd could also be too much because it absolutely was better to leave one heirs well off then give so much they're forced into economic condition or begging. Islam is a religion of moderation and that we remind ourselves that balance is required even with our good intentions.

6. Stress and Depression:

Although several Muslims are reluctant to discuss that the month of Ramadan might cause stress or depression, this is often a human reality. The stress of fasting on the body, Taraweh, or perhaps extra company is best relieved with rest throughout the day before the evening activities. On the flip side, resting an excessive amount of creates the stress of inactivity and boredom. In this case the remedy is additional Ibadah, work and charitable deeds. Depression throughout the month of Ramadan is also caused by separation from family, health problems, money considerations or loneliness and isolation.Community reluctance to acknowledge the matter only exacerbates the problem. we might reach out to one another for friendly or even skilled help. the simplest help comes from Allah, the most High as we tend to read the Qur’an for comfort and guidance and make dua:

“I ask You by every Name belonging to You which You named Yourself with…that You make the Qur’an the life of my heart and the light of my breast, and a departure for my sorrow and a release for my anxiety” [Ahmed].

7. Socialization:

There could also be several events that you simply might want to attend during the month of Ramadan. Discuss and coordinate invitation together with your family. it's Sunnah to acknowledge and reply to a request. Rasullah (peace be upon him) explained “If you're invited by 2 people at the same time, accept the invitation of him whose door is nearer to you as a result of the rights of the one whose door is nearer to you come first.” [Abu Dawud]. This is necessary since the Muslim community by and huge is isolated into cultural cliques. There are Muslims who have migrated to the us and have never invited an American convert to their home to enjoy iftar and dinner. There are american Muslims who have never socialised outside their religion. On the flip side, some Muslims have completely NO socialisation throughout the month of Ramadan receiving no invitations because they're new, live too far or a different race/ethnic group. A man asked the Prophet (peace be upon him), “What Muslim traits are the best?” The Prophet said, “Feed the people, and greet those whom you {know|you recognize} and people whom you do not know.” [Bukhari] Khutbahs abound of Muslim fraternity, however the fact is quite a bit less, that the month of Ramadan is a time to balance our words with real actions.

8. Family and In-Laws:

The entire month of Ramadan is a time for family, however we are able to have family members. When you've got non-Muslim or even non-practicing relatives, it's crucial to utilize your very best decision of how you can socialize. Should they interrupt your fast together with their behaviour or address, do not participate but alternatively refer back again to this hadith related by Abu Huraira"Fasting is a shield. If any of you are fasting on per single day he shouldn't indulge in disgusting language nor improve the voice; even when anybody reviles him or her attempts to quarrel with him should say: I'm an person fasting" [Muslim]

in-laws, may be an extra challenge particularly for couples of mixed cultures. Compromise greatest ensures that everyone believes their rights are known along with the tranquility claimed.

9. Children:

Muslim kids take part in the month of Ramadan at a young age. It's been noted that Umar (peace be on him) observed a guy drunk in the streets throughout the entire month of Ramadan and admonished him by quizzing"How would you're drunk, even when our children are still fasting?" This suggests that at the time childhood might have fasted frequently. There are varying views of the way or when kids quickly, but kids should watch themselves as being part of the blessed moment. Young kids can perform crafts, decorate surahs and attend iftars. Older kids can take turns preparing after along with sahoor. Teens may perform charitable deeds rather than sleep the day off.

Blended families could be a challenge, particularly if there are custody conflicts or situations in which the kids might not be practicing Muslims following the separation and currently think or behave otherwise. It's necessary to get limitations and have honest and open discussions beforehand about what's expected of those kids.

10. Summer Time:

Since we live throughout the planet, the duration of our fasting day fluctuates by hemisphere. Throughout summer time round the equator daily might be 12 or 13 hours, whereas it's 15 to 17 hours from the northern hemisphere. This implies late dinners, late Taraweh, short nights and long hot times. Some suffer heat exhaustion and sleep deprivation. Be mindful that fasting is prescribed in the Holy Qur'an however our bodies have faith and forcing yourself to perform all activities might be harmful. The impulse to be busy throughout the long nights have to be moderated the day will soon come.

"O you who have believed, decreed upon you're fasting since it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous" [Qur'an: Chapter 2, Verse 183]

About the Author:

Mahasin Shamsid-Deen is a world renowned author, poet and published playwright with plays performed, staged, and or read in the US, Europe and the Middle East. The play “One God” was translated into Arabic, Spanish and Malay. It was also presented in private audience to the late King Fahd of Saudi Arabia.

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