Ramadan: A Shield Against Vices
Allah has made fasting an obligation as one of the methods to change bad and reprehensible morals in both individuals and society, replacing them with virtuous and noble behavior. Among the vices that fasting combats are the following:
Self-Purification: A Path to Fruitful Ramadan
First: Fanaticism and Emotional Outbursts
Allah has considered the human struggle of being deprived of what it desires. Fasting deprives a Muslim of food, drink, and marital relations, which may lead to emotional outbursts due to this deprivation. However, Allah wants to transform this reaction into self-discipline. This is why the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, as narrated by Al-Bukhari: “Fasting is a protection, [i.e. from acts of disobedience in this world and from hell in the next. Pt. vi.] and when the day of the fast of any of you comes he must not use vile language or raise his voice, and if anyone reviles him or tries to fight with him he should tell him he is fasting.”
The Prophet (peace be upon him) guided us to understand that fasting is not about depriving the body of its natural needs, but rather about self-discipline, good manners, and avoiding undesirable traits. Al-Hakim narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Fasting is not merely abstaining from food and drink, but rather the fasting from empty and obscene talk. If anyone insults you or speaks to you in an ignorant manner, you must say: ‘I am fasting.’”
Second: False Speech
False speech is something uttered by the tongue, it is not food or drink that would nullify fasting. However, Allah does not need the fast of someone who engages in uttering falsehood. Al-Bukhari narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “If one does not abandon falsehood and action in accordance with it, God had no need that he should abandon his food and his drink.” Thus, refraining from food and drink holds no benefit if a person engages in false speech, which includes lying, injustice, and violating others' rights, wealth, and honor. These moral vices negate the reward of fasting and render the hardship of abstaining from food and drink meaningless.
For this reason, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, as narrated by Ibn Majah: “There are people who fast and get nothing from their fast except hunger, and there are those who pray and get nothing from their prayer but a sleepless night.” The secret behind this is that drawing closer to Allah by abstaining from lawful things is incomplete unless accompanied by avoiding prohibited things. If someone commits prohibited acts while claiming to draw closer to Allah by giving up permissible things, it is as if he neglects obligations while engaging in voluntary acts. (1)
Third: Backbiting
A Muslim should not waste time, even for a moment, in anything other than obedience to Allah. However, some people follow their desires, become preoccupied with others, and speak ill of them, claiming they are merely passing the time. They do not realize that they are nullifying their fasting reward by attacking the honor of others with words they dislike. The Prophet (peace be upon him) warned against this. Muslim narrated that he said: “Do you know what is backbiting?” The Companions said: “Allah and His Messenger know better.” Thereupon he said, “Backbiting is talking about your (Muslim) brother in a manner which he dislikes.” It was said to him: “What if my (Muslim) brother is as I say.” He said, “If he is actually as you say, then that is backbiting; but if that is not in him, that is slandering.”
If Islam prohibits backbiting outside of fasting, then engaging in it while fasting is even more dangerous, as it leads to losing rewards, accumulating sins, and wasting time without benefit.
Ahmad narrated from Ubayd, the servant of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), “Two women were once fasting during the lifetime of Allaah’s Messenger and they almost died of thirst. This was mentioned to the Prophet (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) but he turned away from (allowing) them (to break the fast). Then they were mentioned to him again, so he called for them and ordered them to vomit, i.e. throw up, what was in their stomachs. So they both vomited and filled up a bowl with puss, blood and pieces of flesh. Then the Prophet (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘These two fasted by refraining from what Allaah made lawful for them. but they broke their fast by doing what Allaah made unlawful for them. One of them sat with the other and they began to eat from the flesh of people.’” Allah has warned against this, saying: “And do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead? You would detest it.” (Al-Hujurat: 12)
Fourth: Quarreling Among People
Allah grants goodness to His servants due to their closeness to Him, and He may withhold blessings from them due to their turning away from His guidance. Allah revealed to His Prophet the exact night of Laylatul Qadr, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) intended to inform his companions about it. However, a dispute arose between two men, and in the process of resolving their quarrel, the Prophet (peace be upon him) forgot the exact date. Al-Bukhari narrated from Ubadah ibn As-Samit: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) went out to inform the people about the (date of the Night of decree (Laylatul Qadr). There happened a quarrel between two Muslim men. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “I came out to inform you about the Laylatul Qadr, but as so-and-so and so-and-so quarreled, so the news about it had been taken away; and may be it was better for you. So look for it in the ninth, the seventh, or the fifth (of the last ten days of Ramadan).”
Muslim narrated that Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) reported: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came to the people and said: O people, Laylatul Qadr was made manifest to me and I came out to inform you about it that two persons came contending with each other and there was a devil along with them and I forgot it. So seek it in the last ten nights of Ramadan.”
If quarreling and enmity caused the exact date of Laylatul Qadr to be forgotten, then continued disputes will surely cause one to lose its rewards and blessings. Al-Bayhaqi narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “On Laylatul Qadr, Allah commands Jibreel to descend with a company of angels to the earth. They spread out and greet every standing, sitting, praying, and remembering of Allah servant. They shake hands with them and say 'Ameen' to their supplications until dawn. When dawn breaks, Jibreel calls out, 'O company of angels, time to ascend!' They ask, 'O Jibreel, what has Allah decreed regarding the needs of the believers from the Ummah of Muhammad?' Jibreel replies, 'Allah looked upon them with mercy on this night and forgave them all—except for four.' The people asked, 'O Messenger of Allah, who are they?' He replied, 'The one addicted to alcohol, the one who disobeys his parents, the one who severs ties of kinship, and the one who harbors hostility.'” The people then asked, “O Messenger of Allah, who is the one who harbors hostility?” He replied: “The one who sever ties with his fellow Muslim.”
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(1) Lataaif al-Ma'aarif by ibn Rajab, pg. 292.