Ramadan Reflections: Day 15 Nafs Hack with Sharif Aly

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Nafs Hack: Holding Your Tongue

Assalamu alaikum! This is Sharif Aly, and this is your Nafs Hack for today.

Alhamdulillah, it’s such a blessing that we’re able to to experience this month of Ramadan together. One of the things that I’m constantly reminded of in Ramadan amidst the amount of worship that we do is that we cannot forget that Ramadan goes beyond abstaining from food and drink, beyond these areas of worship, but also in how we conduct ourselves in our behaviors.

I know it’s easier said than done, but protecting our tongue and what we say, like stopping ourselves from gossiping or backbiting, is also a key part of this blessed month of Ramadan.

We must find ways so that we can attain all the mercy and benefit of this month without also harming ourselves. I have a few suggestions about how we can prevent ourselves from falling into the traps of gossiping or backbiting or just speaking idly in ways that are not the best use of our time.

Number one is keep yourself really busy, whether it’s with ibadah, whether it’s with work. Do something in occupying your time that’s good and beneficial.

Number two is make sure you surround yourself with other people of high character. People who you know will remind you of Allah (SWT) and remind you also no to do those things that are not so acceptable by Allah (SWT).

Number three is if you do get into a situation when you see people talking bad about others, like sharing something that isn’t appropriate, you can find a way to even deflect the conversation. If you’re close enough to the people you can tell them, ‘Hey this is not the best way to use our time during the month of Ramadan.’ Or, at minimum, change the subject so you can get away from something that might be displeasing to Allah (SWT) in this blessed month of Ramadan.

This is my Nafs Hack for this month of Ramadan. How can we make sure to protect our tongues  as well as abstain from food and drink and experience Ramadan? We cannot forget the opportunity that we have before us.

Do your best this Ramadan and let’s all remind ourselves and remind each other how we do a better job in keeping this month going in the right direction for all of us.

Jazzakamullah khairan wa salamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatu.