It's that time of year again where Ramadhan is almost upon us! In Shaa Allah, we have long enough lives to be able to survive for and throughout this years Ramadhan and many more to come. I thought, with it approaching in under 3months time, I should share a small story.
As Ramadhan approaches, we all think of 'bad' habits we should leave. Why? Because we know they are sins we commit and can avoid doing so. I'd like to share a little story with you that lead to me making a decision during last years Ramadhan, that I would not regret.
When I was younger, my Saturday routines used to consist of going to Kung Fu training at 12pm. Prior to that I used to wake up around 9am, without fail. It was like a biological clock; my system was used to it. I had three hours to kill and used to switch on the TV in my room and flick through channels as you do, watching 'Dick & Dom in Da Bungalow', or 'TMI', you know the usual. Sundays didn't have that much of a variety, but anyhow, I used to watch 'Hollyoaks Omnibus'. I got quite into it, watched it for a couple of years. As I got a little older and soon started work when I was 16, I didn't get those early weekend mornings to watch it you see. I'm not those type of people that can get hooked onto something and become an addict. I can let go of things very easily so it didn't phase me not watching it.
It wasn't until we got Sky+ in the house that I eventually found the urge to start watching 'Hollyoaks' again. The wonders of recording ability eh? I would record episodes continuously, even including 'Neighbours'. Sometimes I would be so busy with college work, I'd find myself 4-5 episodes behind but nevertheless managed to make time and catch up on all that I missed out on. At one point, I was 20 episodes behind!
I was into this like never before. I had been watching it for almost a year continuously, now completely an expert.
As you may have read in my previous posts, my Grandmas death came about in September 2012 which changed me for the better in my opinion. This coincided with the death of 'Riley' if I remember correctly? As you may have experienced, deaths in the family can cause wonders to oneself. I didn't involve my time in watching 'Hollyoaks' for around 3months until I started the same routine again. This is when something clicked.
Those of you who may have watched 'Hollyoaks' or still do, would have realised by now how much 'Sexualisation' there is in the programme and you can'y deny it. Even if the story lines are interesting. As some change occured in me with my Grandma's death, if I didn't realise before, I realised now. Looking at the way the media had used this as a technique to get you engrossed, I realised it was wrong to watch this and I had to stop.
It wasn't until Ramadhan of last year that I finally gave it up. How so?
As I was fasting on one of the first few days of Ramadhan, I realised because of all this 'Sexualisation' and me watching it, could jeopardise the validity of my fast. Now I haven't taken any rulings on this, so don't quote me, but isn't it obvious here? What we shouldn't do ourselves, isn't something we should enjoy watching either. So I knew it was wrong and stop watching it I did. Then I had a little moment with myself. Would I continue watching this after Ramadhan when I'm not fasting because of course then I am not fasting. But then, wouldn't the sin still be present? I had made my mind.
Right then and there, I gave up watching and type of soaps and drama's that were not only sinful to watch, but a whole waste of time. The thought came upon me that, if something is prohibited for me to do during Ramadhan, it is obviously prohibited after it too! And since that day, I have never sat in front of the TV, to watch 'Hollyoaks' and 'Neighbours' again. This of course applies to anything else you may find personal to you, in terms of giving things up in Ramadhan.
The message I want to give across to all of you who are reading is that you may not watch 'Hollyoaks' or 'Neighbours', but you may watch things like 'Eastenders' or Indian dramas, but the question I want to pose to you is, what benefit does it bring to you? How does watching 'Eastenders' benefit you or your deen in any way shape or form? These programmes bring our Imaan down. Program like 'Eastenders' love to portray Muslims and Islam often causing outrage. Why give these programmes the attention they crave? If we all gave it up and concentrated on bettering ourselves, we would all be in a better place.
Give them up before it's too late. If something is bad in Ramadhan, it is bad during the rest of the year too.
Thank you for taking your time in reading my blog post. Remember, I am only a tweet away @TheFursaan! And don't forget to vote on my World Cup blog on the side of this page!
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