The Phenomenon of Breaking Together Between Gathering and Negligence in Tarawih Prayers
Author, AbahRoy
The month of Ramadan is a time full of blessings, where Muslims compete in goodness and increase their worship.
One of the traditions that is popular this month is breaking the fast together, whether with family, friends, community or work colleagues.
Socially, this activity has positive value because it can strengthen relationships. However, on the other hand, an unfavorable phenomenon has emerged, namely the neglect of some people in carrying out tarawih prayers because they are too engrossed in breaking the fast together.
If viewed from the sharia, maintaining obligatory and sunnah worship in the month of Ramadan is a priority that should be maintained. Rasulullah ﷺ said:
“Whoever performs night prayers in the month of Ramadan out of faith and hoping for reward, his past sins will be forgiven.”
(HR. Bukhari No. 37 and Muslim No. 759)
This hadith shows that tarawih is a highly recommended worship and has great virtues. Unfortunately, many sacrifice this opportunity just to extend the time to gather after breaking the fast. Muslims should be wiser in managing their time and still prioritize worship.
In the Qur’an, Allah says:
“So woe to those who pray, (namely) those who are negligent of their prayers.”
(QS. Al-Ma’un: 4-5)
This verse reminds us that being negligent in praying, both in terms of time and implementation, is a dangerous form of negligence.
Don’t let the breaking of the fast together which should be a means of friendship actually make us categorized as people who are negligent in worship.
Solutions So That Breaking the Fast Together Does Not Neglect Tarawih
1. Choose a place that is close to the mosque, so that after breaking the fast you can immediately gather in congregation.
2. Manage your time well, for example by limiting your chat so that it doesn’t drag on past prayer time.
3. Intend breaking the fast together as an act of worship, not just eating and having fun.
4. Remind each other so that friends or family who join the event remain committed to carrying out the tarawih prayer.
Conclusion
Breaking the fast together is a good tradition if done with the right intention and does not sacrifice the main act of worship.
Don’t let friendship become an excuse to abandon the blessed deeds in the month of Ramadan.
Let’s make this month a momentum to strengthen worship, not just enjoy togetherness that neglects.
Let’s hold a breaking the fast together with a few more days of fasting, may Allah’s blessings be with us
Cirebon, 03/27/2025
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