Ramadan should be a time to avoid being wasteful. Some Muslims are unable to distinguish between their needs and luxuries, hence they engage in wasteful spending. Whether in the varieties of food they devour each night, or in the other types of spending. If you have more, remember the have-nots. The act of giving is ibadah, and no act of ibadah can be said to be too much.

Most women are found during the day in the kitchen busy cooking meals, while some would also not spare the night to pound yam and prepare other delicacies. Inasmuch as we strive to satisfy our appetites, we should also be conscious of the fact that our time should mostly be dedicated to one act of ibadah or the other.

Some sleep through the night with a rationale that they had a hectic day. Some even find it easy to compromise their sahur for more hours of sleep. Ramadan is a time we have to increase all our spiritual devotion, the day and night should be a beehive of spiritual activities.

Less attention to Tarawih: At the beginning of Ramadan, precisely the first eight days, there was a wide increase of Muslims going to mosques to offer their Tarawih prayers, in fact, you wonder where they had been since. At the moment, if you visit some mosques during tarawih prayers, you will notice a drop. We should rather step up activities because it will take another 12 circle of the moon before we witness another Ramadan.

Reading Holy Qur’an to fast: Some insist on finishing the Holy Qur’an once or more, even if they have to read very fast. Although reading the Holy Qur’an many times is desirable, this should not be done hastily, without pondering upon its meaning. Allah (SWT) 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).

Muslims should explore all avenues and opportunities of zhikr (remembrance of Allah) while also realising that his priorities should be dictated by the desire to secure al-janah and be less concerned about mundane things.

We should apply ourselves to deepen our senses of following the practice of Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW), in every aspect of our lives, at all times and especially during the Ramadan.

This necessitates seeking more knowledge about the fasting and its etiquettes, assimilating the wisdom and goals of fasting, and facilitating the means that will make large number of Muslims benefit from their fasting.