What Should I do if Someone Tries to Fight or Argue with me when I’m Fasting?

Ramadan is not just the month of controlling what you eat – it’s also the month of controlling your speech, particularly from arguments and fights. The Prophet ﷺ forbade the fasting person from fighting with others, and advised us that if someone was to fight him or insult him, he should say:

إِنِّي صَائِمٌ إِنِّي صَائِمٌ

Narrated Abu Hurayrah:  The Prophet (ﷺ) as saying:

“Fasting is a shield; when one of you is fasting, he should neither behave in an obscene manner nor foolishly. If a man fights or abuses him, he should say: I am fasting, I am fasting.” (Abu Dawud)

Narrated Abu Hurayra:  Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said,

“Allah said, ‘All the deeds of Adam’s sons (people) are for them, except fasting which is for Me, and I will give the reward for it.’ Fasting is a shield or protection from the fire and from committing sins. If one of you is fasting, he should avoid sexual relation with his wife and quarrelling, and if somebody should fight or quarrel with him, he should say, ‘I am fasting.’ By Him in Whose Hands my soul is’ The unpleasant smell coming out from the mouth of a fasting person is better in the sight of Allah than the smell of musk. There are two pleasures for the fasting person, one at the time of breaking his fast, and the other at the time when he will meet his Lord; then he will be pleased because of his fasting.” (Bukhari)

This doesn’t only apply in Ramadan, but at all times.  Ramadan is a great time to get in the practice of avoiding quarreling.  There’s a huge reward of a house in Jannah if you are able to avoid quarreling, even if you are in the right.   Narrated by Abu Umamah:  The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“I guarantee a house in the surroundings of Paradise for a man who avoids quarrelling even if he were in the right, a house in the middle of Paradise for a man who avoids lying even if he were joking, and a house in the upper part of Paradise for a man who made his character good.” (Abu Dawud)

So leave off fights, debates, and arguments this month and #ReviveRamadan.