Pivotal Quote
“The general principle is that both men and women seek to get closer to Allāh (سبحانه وتعالى) by performing actions of worship and doing good deeds. The woman should not busy herself in the kitchen preparing various types of food to such an extent that she forgets the Qurʾān or other forms of worship. This opposes the guidance of the Qurʾān and the Sunnah and the practice of the Salaf (the Righteous Predecessors). The believing men and women should honour this month, and honouring this month is by seeking to get closer to Allāh (سبحانه وتعالى) by doing acts of worship. “
سؤال وجواب – عربي – ٤:٢٥ دقائق
Question and Answer – English [3:35]
Question:
Our Shaykh, what advice can you give the sisters who spend all day and night in the kitchen preparing food to such an extent that they do not get time for Tarāwīḥ or to recite the Qurʾān?
Answer:
This unfortunately shows a misunderstanding that many of the Muslims today have, as they have made Ramaḍān a month of various food dishes and eating all types of food and drink. Allāh (سبحانه وتعالى), when He legislated fasting, He legislated it for worship and other forms of righteous actions like reading Qurʾān, like prayer, fasting of course and other righteous actions. However, the woman has become so busy in her kitchen preparing all types of food. This in all actuality contradicts what Allāh (سبحانه وتعالى) has legislated in His Book. Allāh has legislated fasting to get closer to Allāh and doing other types of worship, not preparing various types of food and different types of dishes, like what the women do today. This is in opposition to the guidance of Islām.
The general principle is that both men and women seek to get closer to Allāh (سبحانه وتعالى) by performing actions of worship and doing good deeds. The woman should not busy herself in the kitchen preparing various types of food to such an extent that she forgets the Qurʾān or other forms of worship. This opposes the guidance of the Qurʾān and the Sunnah and the practice of the Salaf (the Righteous Predecessors). The believing men and women should honour this month, and honouring this month is by seeking to get closer to Allāh (سبحانه وتعالى) by doing acts of worship.
But unfortunately, many of the Muslims, both men and women, have accustomed themselves to busying themselves with cooking, and this opposes what Allāh wants from His servants, and it is in actuality a loss for these individuals. Ramaḍān is only one month of the year and the Muslim is pleased upon its arrival and he seeks to not squander or waste anything from the days of Ramaḍān by sleeping too much or staying up all night or cooking a variety of food stuffs. All of these are examples of how people waste and squander their time during Ramaḍān. Rather, the Muslim has to be keen to take care of his time and take care of his acts of worship and to fear Allāh and to use his time to make himself busy in getting closer to Allāh (سبحانه وتعالى).
Yes, of course a person must prepare food for his children but it should not be done in exaggeration to such an extent that with many of the Muslims today, Ramaḍān is a month of various foods and drink. Rather, the Muslim follows the correct guidance, he follows the Book and the Sunnah upon what the Salaf were upon, and this is what the Muslim is to be keen to adhere to and be keen to follow.