What is the ruling on staying up late in Ramadan watching what are called religious dramas, or playing cards, or doing other such things?
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The questioner : May Allah reward the honorableThe Shaykh : It is well known to many people that in Ramadan, staying up late at night becomes common. Most of the night is spent by many people in something other than worship of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), either watching dramas they call religious that air during Ramadan, whether they depict some of the knowledge of some of the Tabi'un (the generation after the Companions) or other matters, with women who may be clothed yet naked. Likewise, many young people spend this night in Ramadan staying up late for a long time in matters that do not please Allah (Mighty and Majestic), whether playing cards, playing ball, going out to the wilderness, or sitting on the sidewalks. So what is your advice and guidance for everyone, whether they are old or young?
The Shaykh : My advice is that these people should make use of this blessed, precious time, which is rare and may not come again. They should sleep or recite the Qur'an until sleep overtakes them. How wonderful it would be if, after the tarawih prayer, people gathered to read the Qur'an, studying it among themselves. One person could read an eighth (part), and the next person could read another eighth after him, or one person could read an eighth and then the next person could follow him by reading the same eighth. They could read two, three, or four eighths, depending on their energy. They should use this time to review the tafsir (exegesis) of what they have read, thereby gaining knowledge of the Qur'an in both its wording and its meaning. This is better for them than wasting their time. This is in addition to the fact that some of them, as mentioned in the question, waste their time in what is forbidden, either by watching series that contain fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) or other such things. So my advice to my brothers is to make use of this time in what pleases Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Furthermore, we are not in need of sleeping during the day now, for the day is short, the weather is cold, and the day is full of work. The student is in his school, the teacher is in his school, the merchant is in his shop, and the employee is at his job. There is no need for daytime sleep. So let us spend the night in sleep, studying the Qur'an, and standing in night prayer if it is facilitated, and let a person have completed his witr (the odd-numbered night prayer) with his imam, and so on.
The Shaykh : My advice is that these people should make use of this blessed, precious time, which is rare and may not come again. They should sleep or recite the Qur'an until sleep overtakes them. How wonderful it would be if, after the tarawih prayer, people gathered to read the Qur'an, studying it among themselves. One person could read an eighth (part), and the next person could read another eighth after him, or one person could read an eighth and then the next person could follow him by reading the same eighth. They could read two, three, or four eighths, depending on their energy. They should use this time to review the tafsir (exegesis) of what they have read, thereby gaining knowledge of the Qur'an in both its wording and its meaning. This is better for them than wasting their time. This is in addition to the fact that some of them, as mentioned in the question, waste their time in what is forbidden, either by watching series that contain fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) or other such things. So my advice to my brothers is to make use of this time in what pleases Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Furthermore, we are not in need of sleeping during the day now, for the day is short, the weather is cold, and the day is full of work. The student is in his school, the teacher is in his school, the merchant is in his shop, and the employee is at his job. There is no need for daytime sleep. So let us spend the night in sleep, studying the Qur'an, and standing in night prayer if it is facilitated, and let a person have completed his witr (the odd-numbered night prayer) with his imam, and so on.