u Excessive spending Ramadan should be a time to avoid being wasteful, and learning to be prepared in facing harder times by distinguishing the needs from the luxuries. Unfortunately, many people go beyond their limits to spend during Ramadan. Whether in the varieties of food that they savor each night, or by the other types of spending. u Staying awake during the night and sleeping during the day Some people sleep during most of the day when they are fasting. Ramadan is not a time of being lazy and this does not allow one to fully benefit from the experience of fasting. It is as if they have only inverted their nights into days and vice versa. In addition, some may spend a great portion of the night indulging in eating and drinking and socializing. u Spending more time in socializing Because people invite each other more often during Ramadan, they do tend to spend more time socializing with friends and relatives. While it is a good deed to feed the fasting person, this should not result in precious time lost in vain talk. Use the occasion for remembering Allah and offering additional prayers and for the Da'wah to Allah. u Rigid about number of Raka'at Insisting on performing a certain number of Raka'at during the Taraweeh (night) prayer to the point of not praying behind the Imam and thus forfeiting the benefit of congregational prayer. This might also bring hatred and disagreement between the Muslims of one community. u Reading Qur'an too fast Some insist on finishing the whole Qur'an once or more, even if they have to read very fast. Although reading the Qur'an many times is desirable, this should not be done hastily, especially during the Taraweeh prayer without pondering upon its meaning. Allah said: “This is a Book which We have sent down to you, full of blessings that they may ponder over its verses,” (Qur'an, 38:29), and the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Those who read the Qur'an in less than three days do not grasp (its meaning).” u Socializing in l'tikaf Many people are eager to do I'tikaf but some confine themselves in the Masjid not to pray and worship Allah but to talk and socialize. The ways of doing good are numerous in Ramadan. Many people try to perform more than they are able to. By going beyond their capabilities, they end up not performing any deed in the desired way. Scholars and Da'ees should assume a more prominent role in educating the people – both by talking to them and by giving the best example in their behavior which should comply to the Shariah and following the Sunnah. The Muslim should realize that his priorities dictate that he does what benefits him in the Hereafter and should not put worldly interests first. The Muslim should apply himself to deepen his sense of following the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him), in every aspect of his life, at all times and especially during the month of Ramadan. This necessitates seeking more knowledge about the Fiqh of fasting and its etiquette, assimilating the wisdom and goals of fasting, and facilitating the means that allow all the Muslims to benefit from their fasting.
