Muslims in Ramadan
In Ramadan, Muslims can be categorised into one of the following groups. Firstly, there are those who await this month patiently, with increasing happiness at its advent, so you see them working diligently in varying acts of worship, performing what is obligatory, and carrying out multiple mustahab (desired) acts of worship. They do so following in the footsteps of the best of mankind, Muhammad (SAW), as has been narrated in Saheeh Bukhari.
Then there are those people who enter this month and come out in the same state as they entered, that is, without any increase in righteous actions. Indeed, the individuals of this group have forfeited an abundant and countless deal of meritorious deeds.
The third group of people are those who don’t know Allah except in this month. These people are referred to as Ramadan Muslims. When the month of Ramadan arrives you see these people bowing and prostrating, however as soon as the month comes to a halt they return to their old self. To the individual in this category we say, if Allah (s.w.t) decreed death upon you in this month, whilst you are in obedience to Allah, do you not think that you will meet Allah pleased with you? Therefore it is incumbent on you to be in complete obedience to Allah just as you were in Ramadan, so that you meet Allah in a state that pleases Him.
The next group of people are those who fast by abstaining from food and drink and not anything else, that is, they do not forbear sinful actions. The only thing these people attain from their fasting is hunger and thirst, as Prophet Muhammad (SAW) informs us. We seek refuge with Allah from all types of abominable actions both in and outside of Ramadan.
Another group of people are those who transform the days of Ramadan into times of sleep, and its nights into times of entertainment. They do not build the days or nights in remembering Allah, instead they spend their nights in unlawful acts of amusements. To these people we say, fear Allah, and do not fall short from occupying yourself with the abundance of good that has been bestowed upon you, whilst you are blessed with commendable living standards and excellent health.
The final group of people includes those who do not know Allah Most High, not in Ramadan, nor outside of it. You find these individuals heedless regarding their Salaat and fasting. They abandon these pillars despite being gifted with excellent health, and then they have the audacity to declare that they are believing Muslims – laa hawla wa laa quwata illa billaahi from such immense evil.