Ramadan starts with its blessings and opportunities. Muslims are busy to grasp the merits of this month; they are strongly trying to break bad habits, writing a new page for their lifestyle.
In this special folder, we collect outstanding tips features that help Muslims throughout Ramadan fight back the bad habits and messy life routines.
Ramadan is always the month where people talk about making changes, engaging in good deeds and breaking bad habits, i.e., the non-beneficial deeds. But does it really work?
How does one really engage in breaking those bad habits? Though I am not professor in sociology, and am still self-studying such behavioral sciences, I do believe in the heartiest of hearts that bad habits can be broken. And this is especially true during Ramadan.
A bad habit is a string of bad deeds that have become repetitive or even addictive. They could be as simple as indulging in front of the television, over-eating, over-spending, back-biting, vain talk, instigating quarrels with others, not lowering one’s gaze, and generally engaging in activities that could bring us closer to zina (adultery). Whatever it is, Ramadan is probably the best time to make those changes.
Cultivate a Deep Love for Allah and the Qur’an
The first step to break an addiction is to cultivate a deep love for Allah and the Qur’an. In fact, being very aware about the benefits of fasting alone rather than skimming the fast on the surface makes a whole lot of difference when it comes to breaking bad habits.
In the Qur’an it says:
"O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may guard against evil." (Al Baqarah: 183).
Guarding one’s self against evil is one of the underlying notions of the fasting month, but this can only be achieved through fasting with sincerity and for the sake of Allah alone. Without that conscientious effort, fasting becomes difficult and full of resentment. But when fasting becomes an integral part of loving Allah, the entire Ramadan becomes light weight and a joy to please Allah and Allah alone. With this, the determination to worship transposes into determination to break bad habits for the sake of Allah.
Find the Motivation to Break that Habit
While being familiar with the Qur’an and the hadith, Muslims who want to break their addictions should be able to pin point their bad habits and pay heed to the direction to actually change their ways.
So which habit do you really want to break?
Is it smoking and / or constant food bingeing? Well, fasting certainly stops one from doing both during the day. Make a resolution to not break the habit after night fall.
Remember that Allah says:
“Eat of the good things, which we have provided for you, (Al-Baqarah: 173).
In Surah Ar-Rahman, Allah talks about balance and nutrition for good health, so this is a good motivation to break the bad habit of smoking and food bingeing, when both habits bring more harm than good to one’s body. Accordingly, one of the two blessings humans are deluded by is good health. The measure of good health is only noticed when one falls ill – and both smoking and bingeing cause illnesses and downplay the importance of good health in every way.
Is wasting time becoming a bad habit and the feeling of unproductiveness becoming over-whelming? Then recall the important verse in the Qur’an, al-Asr, reminding us that time is limited and what we do with our time will be questioned on the Day of Judgment.
Is the habit of quarreling with others, something you want to break? Do you wish to have better control over your temper?
Allah has provided ways to conquer temper flares through performing ablution and others, such as curbing anger by sitting and then lying down. Saying the Istaghfar is a good way to keep Satan’s reckonings at bay. (This was reported in the 'Musnad' of Ahmad). Remember also that it is the whispers of Satan, though he is locked up, that causes us to argue with each other and break apart in disunity.
Is back-biting and vain talk a problem?
Surah Al-Humazah talks about both bad habits very sternly. And in a narration amongst Imam Nawawi’s Hadith compilation, Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) reminds to speak good otherwise remain silent.
Is “addiction” to the opposite gender – no matter in what form, leading to zina? There are various “levels” of zina (adultery), and each one is prohibited, lest our lower selves venture out into the more severe stages. Then a fruitful reminder would be in this verse: “Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and be modest. That is purer for them. Lo! Allah is Aware of what they do. And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest,” (An-Nur: 30-31).
In a hadith, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is reported as having said: “And the eyes commit zina (adultery). Their zina is gazing.”
Whatever the habit is, whatever the addiction that is leading to laziness, ignorance and deviation from the Straight Path, it can be broken as long as we are reminded of the injunctions of the Qur’an and the corresponding hadith narrations. To read up and search for enlightenment is a blessing on its own, and searching would lead to understanding, and understanding will lead to practice insha Allah.
Engage in Good Deeds to Break Bad Habits
Engaging in good deeds will help break bad habits as they will bring us closer to Allah in full sincerity. What is more, Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) narrated that good deeds wipe out sins, thus should be again a motivation in keeping with the best of intentions, behavior and actions.
Surah Hood revealed important advice from Allah: "And perform Salat (prayer), at the two ends of the day and in some hours of the night (i.e. the five compulsory Daily prayers). Verily, the good deeds remove the evil deeds. That is a reminder (an advice) for the mindful (those who accept advice)."
This verse was in response to an incident whereby a man unlawfully kissed a girl and went to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) for help.
The Prophet announced that this verse was for all the believers, (Bukhari), thus for Muslims even today, quickly engage in good deeds to wipe out bad inklings or even intentions before they turn into actions. And if one falls into the trap of a bad habit again, quickly repent to Allah and ask for forgiveness with the intention to never go down that path again. Even half a date in charity will save one from Hell-fire (Bukhari).
| If you are on a mend, keep steadfast to your beliefs; if you want to make a change, go ahead and push forward with all the might you have, if you have a bad habit you want to break, do it and don’t look back. |
Keep Good Company
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): “A good friend and a bad friend are like a perfume-seller and a blacksmith: The perfume-seller might give you some perfume as a gift, or you might buy some from him, or at least you might smell its fragrance. As for the blacksmith, he might singe your clothes, and at the very least you will breathe in the fumes of the furnace,” (Bukhari & Muslim).
Similarly, the Qur’an says: “And keep yourself patient by being with those who call upon their Lord in the morning and the evening, seeking His countenance. And let not your eyes pass beyond them, desiring adornments of the worldly life, and do not obey one whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance and who follows his desire and whose affair is ever in neglect,” Kahf: 28).
In all cases, the camaraderie of good companionship resonates throughout Islamic history. It is so important to keep friends who strive to better themselves and the spillover effects of doing so will affect those around them. To break an addiction or bad habit, keep close to those who have similar goals and in turn, the togetherness will infuse collective Love for Allah and enhance the need to engage in good and shun evil.
Ramadan is the month of Miracles and part of those miracles are making changes for the better. Remember Allah, and Allah will keep you in Mind. Ask and He will respond. And Allah never goes back on His Promises.
If you are on a mend, keep steadfast to your beliefs; if you want to make a change, go ahead and push forward with all the might you have, if you have a bad habit you want to break, do it and don’t look back. And always remember to ask from Allah through du’a and never give up on His Mercy. Allah provides miracles every day of the year, and it happens to those who love Him and whom He loves in return.
| Ramadan is the month of Miracles and part of those miracles are making changes for the better. Remember Allah, and Allah will keep you in Mind. Ask and He will respond. And Allah never goes back on His Promises. |
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