Naeem's Blog

As we embark on this month long journey of Ramadan, praying for the wondrous winds of the Most Merciful to propel our sails and rejuvenate us with the spiritual energy we’ve been sorely lacking all year long, I wish to share with you my simple advice.

Many others have provided us with a more comprehensive presentation of how we should approach this month so I will spare you the repetition.

I have just one critical piece of advice.

Please, please, please do NOT overeat.

Not when you wake up for Suhoor. Not when you sit to break your fast. Not when you come home from Tarawih prayers. Not ever.

You’ve tamed your carnal desires all day long. You’ve fought your physical inclinations and suppressed your nafs from dawn till dusk. You’ve finally taken control of your wild uncontrollable nafs, thrown on the saddle, and mounted it. After months of having your nafs ride you and control you and steer you and direct you*, you’ve finally set aright the natural order by forcing your nafs to obey its master.

By overeating, you’re giving your nafs a second chance. You’ve held it underwater all day with your fast, at the brink of its death, and then with the act of overeating, you’ve let it up so it can gasp for air.

By overeating, you’re like the villain who has caught the hero and right before he kills him, proceeds to prance around haughtily, revealing the details of his devious plot, giving the hero enough time to loosen the ropes around his hands, think up a scheme to foil the plot, and save the day.

Only your nafs is no hero. And it surely has no intentions to save the day.

By overeating, you are strengthening the nafs, empowering it. You are handing back control to your nafs.

By overeating, you will sleep more, you will talk more, and you will worship less.

So I beg you, don’t negate all your hard work by releasing this ravenous wretched beast to cause its mayhem. Keep it subjugated. Keep it controlled.

Eat moderately.
Talk moderately.
Sleep moderately.

Pray extensively.
Cry profusely.
Supplicate overzealously.
Prostrate endlessly.

Starve your nafs. Not from Fajr to Maghrib, but for one entire month.

*As Imam Ghazali mentioned in his Ihya, how odd would be the site of a rider carrying his horse. The rider is meant to be on top with the horse carrying him. Equally astonishing is the scene of the man who is controlled by his nafs. The nafs is riding him while it ought to be the other way around.

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And here’s a bonus word of advice for you kiddies who had the patience to read this far: keep your tongue busy with dhikr. Our beloved Prophet (saw) even told us which dhikr is most preferable:

“So increase during this month of four qualities: two with which you shall please your Lord, and two which you cannot do without. The two that shall please Allah are the repetition of La Illaha Ill Allah and Istighfaar (asking forgiveness), and the two qualities you cannot do without are asking Allah to be allowed into Paradise and taking refuge in Him from Hell” [Taken from the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wasallam's) khutbah on the last day of Sha'baan]

So constantly say La Illaha Ill Allah and Astaghfir-Allah as well as Allahumma Inni Asaluka alJannah wa Ajirni min anNar (O Allah, I ask You to grant me Jannah and save me from the Hellfire).