Parenting Perspective 

Ramadan is a month that should nurture the qualities of patience, simplicity, and closeness to Allah. However, the flashy advertising that is common during this sacred month can shift a child’s focus away from spiritual growth and towards material indulgence. Instead of valuing fasting and prayer, they can become more excited about shopping for new clothes or eating lavish meals. 

The Distortion of Ramadan’s Purpose 

When advertising presents Ramadan as a month of feasting and shopping, it distorts its true purpose for a child. The core values of self-restraint, empathy for the poor, and spiritual reflection can be easily lost in the noise of consumerism. 

The Pressure to Consume More 

Advertisements that showcase luxury iftar spreads and exclusive deals create an atmosphere of pressure. Children may begin to associate a successful Ramadan with buying and showing off, rather than with self-control. This can lead them to demand more from their parents, creating stress in the family and undermining the very lesson of moderation. 

Weakening a Child’s Gratitude and Contentment 

The constant promotion of abundance can make ordinary meals or simple family gatherings feel inadequate in a child’s eyes. Their sense of gratitude diminishes as they compare their own experiences to the glossy images in advertisements, which can lead to dissatisfaction during a month that should nurture thankfulness. 

The Long-Term Harm to Values 

This materialistic approach to Ramadan can have lasting effects. 

• Material Attachment: Children may grow up viewing Ramadan as a season for luxury instead of for sacrifice. 

• A Loss of Simplicity: They can struggle to appreciate the beauty of modest and sincere spiritual practices. 

• A Misaligned Identity: Their sense of pride may shift from spiritual accomplishments to material displays. 

Helping Children to Reclaim Simplicity 

Parents can protect the sanctity of the month for their children with gentle guidance. 

• Explain that many advertisements exaggerate reality for the sake of profit. 

• Redirect their attention to acts of worship, charity, and family traditions that are rooted in simplicity. 

• Involve them in preparing modest yet meaningful meals for iftar and suhoor. 

• Encourage their participation in giving charity so that they can experience the joy of sharing. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam teaches that Ramadan is a time for purifying the soul, not for indulging the self. The consumer culture that now surrounds the holy month is in direct opposition to its core purpose, which is to detach from worldly desires and draw closer to Allah through acts of worship and self-restraint. 

A Quranic Reminder on Moderation 

The Quran reminds believers that moderation is a beloved quality, especially during times of worship. Excess and wastefulness can spoil the purpose of our spiritual acts. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Aa’raaf (7), Verse 31: 

‘ O children of Adam, take (appropriate) measures to beautify yourself (before you appear) at any place of worship (for Prayer); and eat and drink and do not be extravagant (wasteful), as indeed, He (Allah Almighty) does not like extravagance.‘ 

This verse teaches that moderation is beloved to Allah, especially during Ramadan. 

The Prophetic Teaching on Sincerity 

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ warned that religious acts performed without sincerity or true consciousness of Allah are empty of reward. 

It is recorded in Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 1690, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Many who fast get nothing from their fast except hunger and thirst, and many who pray at night get nothing from it except sleeplessness.’ 

This hadith shows that an external show without a sincere heart strips Ramadan of its purpose, much like consumerist distractions do. 

By emphasising that Ramadan is a month of spiritual richness, not material excess, parents can help their children to appreciate the value of simplicity. They can learn that the real happiness of Ramadan comes from a closer relationship with Allah, family love, and acts of generosity, which are values that last far beyond the influence of seasonal advertising.