What is your advice to some Muslims today in the month of Ramadan, who are observed to be extravagant in eating and drinking?
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The questioner : A questioner says: Your Eminence, it is observed that some Muslims today in the month of Ramadan are extravagant in eating and drinking? He wrote down a number of observations, following serials, excessive...?
The Shaykh : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
What the questioner said is correct. Some people are extravagant in food and drink during the day in Ramadan, as if they do not read the saying of Allah, Mighty and Majestic:[Al-A'raf 7:31]. It is true that Ramadan is the month of generosity and the month of liberality. But it must be in a beneficial way. As for extravagance, there is no benefit in it. Among such things is what some people do in 'Umrah; you find one who goes to Makkah and stays there for the whole month or most of it, and loses fifty thousand or sixty thousand on this. This is poor management. These many dirhams—five thousand would suffice for you and your family to go and perform 'Umrah in one or two days and return, and you spend the rest. There are poor, hungry Muslims. Indeed, there are poor, hungry people in your own country. Participate in building mosques, participate in relief work, and the like. As for taking fifty thousand or sixty thousand when the objective is achieved without it, because 'Umrah is sufficient in one day, this is also extravagance that some people do. We ask Allah for guidance for us and for them. Yes.
The questioner : A lot, Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Yes?
The questioner : A number of observations?
The Shaykh : Very well.
The questioner : It is also observed that there is a lot of going down to the markets by women, especially at the end of the month of Ramadan?
The Shaykh : This is also an error. First: a woman’s home is better for her, even for tarawih; if she stayed in her home, it would be better. But some women say: if I stay in the house, laziness will overtake me and I will not be able to perform tarawih. So we say: there is nothing wrong with that. So this is a benefit, so go to the mosque. But to roam in the markets, to loiter in the markets with the many foolish people, this is wrong. And it is obligatory for the guardians of women to prevent them from this. Yes.
The questioner : Following serials and channels that compete in evil in this month?
The Shaykh : Likewise, following serials and obscene films in this month is forbidden, and it is forbidden in other months as well. But here the prohibition is intensified, because this is a month of worship, a month of taqwa, a month of staying away from forbidden things. So it is obligatory for the guardians to prevent those over whom Allah has placed their guardianship from watching these serials. Yes.
The questioner : Engaging in games at night among the youth.
The Shaykh : What?
The questioner : Engaging in games at night among the youth.
The Shaykh : And likewise. Games are of two types: a type that is permissible, such as racing on foot, and football, if there is no exposure of the 'awrah and no quarreling or enmity. There is nothing wrong with these. But I do not see that they should keep their night alive with this. I say: this is a noble time. Gather in the house and study the Qur'an, or sleep so that you are free for worship during the day, because many people are awake all night, and sleeping during the day. Worse than that is that some people sleep when they pray Fajr and do not get up until the sun sets, so they leave what? The prayers. This is wrong, a great error.
To our brothers in Buraydah.
The questioner : Peace be upon you, Your Eminence.
The Shaykh : And upon you peace.
The questioner : In the name of Allah and with His blessing we begin. With the first reception of the monthly meeting of Your Eminence, Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymeen (may Allah preserve him), in the city of Buraydah, via direct telephone transmission. Your Eminence, the first thing we received from the brothers present here is conveying their greetings to you all and their supplication for you for success in this world and the hereafter, and that He place what you have permitted for them of transmitting this meeting in the scale of your good deeds.
The Shaykh : I say to them: peace and the mercy of Allah and His blessings be upon them. And we thank them for having expanded the circle of students, because every person who benefits from a person’s knowledge is a gain, because it is hoped that this person will spread it to others. So may Allah reward them with good. Yes.
The Shaykh : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
What the questioner said is correct. Some people are extravagant in food and drink during the day in Ramadan, as if they do not read the saying of Allah, Mighty and Majestic:
and eat and drink, but be not excessive
وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا وَلا تُسْرِفُواThe questioner : A lot, Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Yes?
The questioner : A number of observations?
The Shaykh : Very well.
The questioner : It is also observed that there is a lot of going down to the markets by women, especially at the end of the month of Ramadan?
The Shaykh : This is also an error. First: a woman’s home is better for her, even for tarawih; if she stayed in her home, it would be better. But some women say: if I stay in the house, laziness will overtake me and I will not be able to perform tarawih. So we say: there is nothing wrong with that. So this is a benefit, so go to the mosque. But to roam in the markets, to loiter in the markets with the many foolish people, this is wrong. And it is obligatory for the guardians of women to prevent them from this. Yes.
The questioner : Following serials and channels that compete in evil in this month?
The Shaykh : Likewise, following serials and obscene films in this month is forbidden, and it is forbidden in other months as well. But here the prohibition is intensified, because this is a month of worship, a month of taqwa, a month of staying away from forbidden things. So it is obligatory for the guardians to prevent those over whom Allah has placed their guardianship from watching these serials. Yes.
The questioner : Engaging in games at night among the youth.
The Shaykh : What?
The questioner : Engaging in games at night among the youth.
The Shaykh : And likewise. Games are of two types: a type that is permissible, such as racing on foot, and football, if there is no exposure of the 'awrah and no quarreling or enmity. There is nothing wrong with these. But I do not see that they should keep their night alive with this. I say: this is a noble time. Gather in the house and study the Qur'an, or sleep so that you are free for worship during the day, because many people are awake all night, and sleeping during the day. Worse than that is that some people sleep when they pray Fajr and do not get up until the sun sets, so they leave what? The prayers. This is wrong, a great error.
To our brothers in Buraydah.
The questioner : Peace be upon you, Your Eminence.
The Shaykh : And upon you peace.
The questioner : In the name of Allah and with His blessing we begin. With the first reception of the monthly meeting of Your Eminence, Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymeen (may Allah preserve him), in the city of Buraydah, via direct telephone transmission. Your Eminence, the first thing we received from the brothers present here is conveying their greetings to you all and their supplication for you for success in this world and the hereafter, and that He place what you have permitted for them of transmitting this meeting in the scale of your good deeds.
The Shaykh : I say to them: peace and the mercy of Allah and His blessings be upon them. And we thank them for having expanded the circle of students, because every person who benefits from a person’s knowledge is a gain, because it is hoped that this person will spread it to others. So may Allah reward them with good. Yes.