The Book of Fasting

 

Abu Hurairah (radi Allahu anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: ‘When Ramadhan comes, the gates of mercy are opened and the gates of Hell are shut, and the devils are put in chains.” [The Book of Fasting: Sahih Muslim]

Commentary: The burden of Shaytan is lifted from us in Ramadan and a real difference can be felt. However, people still commit sins during Ramadan. This is because year round the Shaytan is busy training our “nafs,” our lower self, to be just like it and take over in his absence. He does a pretty good job, how good can be judged by the demands that our nafs makes of us during this month! That much sin we are ready to commit all by ourselves, without any additional help from Shaytan.

The nafs is like a spoilt child. A spoilt child is not dealt with by giving in to its demands. Obeying a spoilt child only turns him/her into a monster. This is why in the duas of the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) he would ask Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) not to leave him at the mercy of his nafs for even a moment.

Once Hazrat Umar saw a Sahabah (radi Allahu anhuma) carrying a package. He told Hazrat Umar (radi Allahu anhuma) that he had felt like eating meat and so had gone to the market to get some. Hazrat Umar (radi Allahu anhu) wonderingly asked him, "Do you do everything that your nafs tells you to do?"