Saum (Roza / fasting): 
It is not Just a matter of staying without food for a certain duration, but it is to refrain from doing all that God doesn't like!

"Fasting is a shield with which a servant protects himself from the Fire." [Ahmad, Saheeh]
  Here are a few Do's and Don'ts, of which some you may not know and some that you may but shaytaan our ultimate enemy has made you forget!  
 
DON'TS  
 
Missing Prayers  
Salah (prayers) are the second pillar of Islam. It comes before Saum (fasting).  
It's OBLIGATORY on all Muslims and your saum is incomplete without Salah! 
-Pray 5 times a day understanding its importance and realizing that it is God you are standing in front of!  
 
The Eye 
Looking at a na-mehram (any person with whom marriage is allowed in Islam) is NOT allowed!  
A Muslim should lower his/her gaze at all times  

AVOID: 
* Eye contact with na-mahrams  
* Staring at the pictures in newspapers/magazines  
* TV - we stare at the TV without realizing that we are being sinful for every na-mahram that comes on the screen.  
 
It is said that if a person sees a na-mahram and lowers his/her gaze immediately from the fear of Allah, his rewards are plenty with his Lord!! 

INSTEAD-read Quran/observe nature and say Subhaan Allah!(All praise to Allah)  
 
Each flower/tree or leaf that you look at and praise Allah (say SubhanAllah) on the day of judgment that flower/tree or leaf will speak in your favor and say this human looked at me and praised You!  
The Ear 
Quit music or try refraining from it 
 
Narated By Abu 'Amir or Abu Malik Al-Ash'ari : That he heard the Prophet saying, "From among my followers there will be some people who will consider illegal sexual intercourse, the wearing of silk, the drinking of alcoholic drinks and the use of musical instruments, as lawful." - [Sahih Bukhari Vol.7, Book 69, #494B]  

INSTEAD: switch to  
*Dars e Quran 
*Recitation of Quran 
*Naats 
*CD's of Islamic lectures etc  
 
The Tongue  
Back biting is considered more sinful and worse than Adultery!!!  

So if you think that talking on the phone or meeting friends might result in back biting then avoid it. 
 
*Avoid talking to NaMehrams unnecessarily e.g. talking to classmates or on the phone etc 

Talking to na Mehrams (unless if it is very important), is NOT allowed.  
 
*Abusive language: When you abuse some one it doesn't harm him, it just adds to your sins!  
God hates people who abuse, so don't use it even if you don't mean it!  
 
*Be VERY careful how you use your tongue, hurting some one with your words, is DEEPER and STRONGER than physical pain!  
 
INSTEAD:  Tell people about Islam. 
It is obligatory on us to spread the word of Allah, as we are the Ummah of the last Prophet. 
 
The Hand  
Don't get into fights, stay away and if you get into one and loose your temper, practice patience (sabr) and walk away.  

Narated By Abu Huraira : The Prophet said, "Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions, Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink ( i.e. Allah will not accept his fasting.)" – [Sahih Bukhari, Vol.3, Book 31, #127] 

People will probably think you're a coward, but God thinks you're a lion!  

Choose: Unworthy selfish people or Ever-Loving and Forgiving God? 
And for God's sake don't go around shaking hands with na-Mahrams!  

Don't Waste Time 
Try and cash every moment by doing Dhikr.  
 
DO'S  

When it comes to Thawab, it's said that God will multiply our deeds by 70! So we should do as many deeds as possible and not waste a single minute this month!

 
Allah's Apostle said, "When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of the heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained." [Bukhari]  
 
Dhikr  
When ever your not talking do Dhikr! 
Not like a parrot but understanding and believing its meaning.  
Some of the common Dhikr which adds a lot to our deeds

*la illaha illAllah Muhamadurasool Allah  

There is no God but Allah and Muhammad (SAW) is His last prophet  
 
*Third Kalma: SubhanAllah Alhamdulilah wa lailaha illallah AllahuAkbar,wala howla wala quwata ila bila hil aleeyul azeem  

ALLAH is pure and all praise is due to ALLAH and there is no deity but ALLAH, and ALLAH is most great and no one has the strength of virtue and power to remain unexpended from sin, but with ALLAH who is high and venerable.  
 
*hasbunAllahi wa nemal wakeel 
Allah Suffices us (Allah is enough for us)and He is the best Guardian  
 
*SubhanAllahi wabi hamdi SubhanAllahil Azeem 
Glorified is Allah with all praise due to Him; Glorified is Allah, the Great. 
 
*Durood  
 
Sadaqah(Voluntary Charity)  
Allah gives all the wealth we have and from the very wealth He has given us. He doesn't say give some of it back to Me! 
Allah says about Sadaqah and Zakat 

Who is he that will loan to Allah a beautiful loan, which Allah will double unto his credit and multiply many times? It is Allah that giveth (you) Want or plenty, and to Him shall be your return. - [Quran 2:245]  

But in Ramazan that gets further multiplied by 70! 
Just imagine each Rupee/Dollar being multiplied so many times and being returned on the Day of Judgment!  

Where else will find such a beautiful deal? So give as much Sadaqah as possible. 
Also give sadaqah which can benefit you each time some one uses it  
For example gift some one a Quran with translation, so that when ever anyone reads it-you get the sawab! 
 
Iftar 

Distribute iftari to others.  
 
The Prophet said: He who gives food for a fasting person to break his fast, he will receive the same reward as him, except that nothing will be reduced from the fasting persons reward." [Ahmad, at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah, Ibn Hibbaan, Saheeh].  

So give whatever you can even if it is just a date. 
 
Dissolve Grudges  
If your holding a grudge against a friend this is the best time to patch things up or at least try (it doesn't matter if its not your fault). 
 
In Islam all Muslims are brothers and a Muslim is not allowed to refrain talking to his brother for more than 3 days!  

Random   
When you know your deeds are being multiplied by 70 try doing as many as u can:  

*CONTROL YOUR ANGER. 
*Be GOOD to your parents.  
*Say Assalam Alaikum.  
*Visit the sick. 
*Follow sunnah (sit and drink water, wash your hands before eating etc).  
*Go to the poor and talk to them, ask their problems and help them out in any way that you can. 
 
Astaghfar (Seeking Forgiveness)  
God becomes extra forgiving this month.  
This is the time to firstly REALIZE our sins and cry to God for forgiveness.  

So increase during this month of four qualities: two with which you shall please your Lord, and two which you cannot do without. The two that shall please Allah are the repitition of La Illaha Ill Allah and Istighfaar (asking forgiveness), and the two qualities you cannot do without are asking Allah to be allowed into Paradise and taking refuge in Him from Hell" [Taken from the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wasallam's) khutbah on the last day of Sha'baan]  
 
The fire in the hell has been burning for hundreds of years; it is so hot that a person can feel its heat from miles away.  
But it is said that if one tear(the size of a bees head) rolls down your cheek in repentance and grief of your sins, that tiny tear has the power to extinguish the entire hell fire! 
 
Then which of the favors of your Lord will ye deny? - [Quran 55:13]  
 
Allah has made this month specially to forgive us! 
He knows we are sinful but,  
Gods love is much more than the love which our mothers can give us. 

He loves us very much and says 'ask Me for forgiveness so that I may forgive you'.  
We cannot afford to miss this opportunity, you never know what if (God forbid) there is no next Ramzan for you!!! 
 
Ramzan Mubarak to you and your families 
 
This was a little effort made by me, so that when people fast they do not fast just because everyone is fasting.  
Also so that they may know what this month's true importance is and thus their entire day's fast does not go to waste!