The entire idea of fasting is definitely not to starve oneself but to be on a different spiritual plane altogether. In doing this, it must be a period of total rededication to Allah with increase in activities that are in consonance with the dictates of Allah while also shunning the ways of shaytan (devil).

The fasting Muslim must ensure that the exercise goes far beyond abstinence from eating and drinking. It includes a change of habits that will put you on the track of righteousness. Some of them are as follow.

See, speak and hear no evil

Five things break a man’s fast, these are lying, backbiting, scandal, perjury and a lustful gaze.

Guarding one’s tongue from lying, backbiting, scandal, obscenity, rudeness, wrangling and controversy; rather observe silence and occupy yourself with remembrance of Allah and with recitation of the Quran. This is otherwise termed the fasting of the tongue. The Prophet said: ‘ Fasting is a shield; so when one of you is fasting he should not use foul or vain talk. If someone attacks him or insults him, let him say:”I am fasting, I am fasting!”

Closing one’s ears to everything reprehensible. It has been said that listening to evil talks is as bad as uttering it. That is why Allah equated the eavesdropper with the profiteer “ (They like to) listen to falsehood, to devour anything forbidden” (Quran 5: 42).

Do no evil: Keeping all organs and parts of the body away from sin: the hands and feet from reprehensible deeds, and the stomach from questionable food at the time for breaking fast.

It is meaningless to fast, to abstain from lawful food, only to break one’s fast with what is unlawful. How many of those who Fast, get nothing from it but hunger and thirst as a result of not being able to keep away from all unlawful things that have been spelt out as capable of vitiating fast.

Avoid overeating and concentrate on worship of Allah

Many spend most time in eating during the time of breaking fast (iftar) to make up for all what have been missed during the day to the detriment of giving enough time for the worship and remembering of Allah. The month of Ramadan should rather be used as an opportunity of getting closer to Allah, seeking His forgiveness and attracting His blessings at any time of the day in the month. Concentration on food throughout the evening is not a good use of time and ibadah in the month. Of what use is the fast, if at the time of breaking it not only make up for all one has missed during the day, but perhaps also indulges in a variety of extra foods?

It has even become the custom to stock up for Ramadan with all kinds of foodstuffs, so that more is consumed during that time than in the course of several other months put together.

It is well known that the object of fasting is to experience hunger and to check desire, in order to reinforce the soul with piety. If you have more food, give to those who do not have, make extra effort by locating them and make them happy for having something to break their fast.

If the stomach is starved from early morning till evening, so that it’s appetite is aroused and it’s craving intensified, and it is then offered delicacies and allowed to eat its fill, its taste for pleasure is increased and its force exaggerated; passions are activated which would have laid dormant under normal conditions.

It is therefore essential to cut down one’s intake of what one would consume on a normal night, when not Fasting. Look up to Allah with fear (taqwa)

After the fast has been broken, the heart should swing to Allah, in supplication on forgiveness and rahma. Embark on supererogatory prayers, tahjud and recitation of the Holy Quran.

May Allah accept it as acts of Ibaadah, forgive us and bless us abundantly.