There are many blessings during the month of Ramadan but we must have the knowledge to take full advantage of the opportunity that lies ahead.
As Muslims we offer the fast to develop our taqwa (increase our consciousness and fear Allah). By increasing our taqwa we create a barrier between us and the punishment of Allah on the day of reckoning.
We must make a study of the habits and practices of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) so we can do our best to emulate how to live a life of excellence and virtue.
Today I am going to share with you some of the Sunnahs of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) in regard to fasting during month of Ramadan.
Sunnahs of Fasting During Ramadan
1. Sunnah To Eat Suhoor or Sehri.
Anas (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: Take meal a little before dawn, for there is a blessing in taking meal at that time. [1]
2. Sunnah To Avoid Getting Angry or Swearing.
Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: Allah the Exalted and Majestic said: Every act of the son of Adam is for him, except fasting. It is (exclusively) meant for Me and I (alone) will reward it. Fasting is a shield. When any one of you is fasting on a day, he should neither indulge in obscene language, nor raise the voice; or if anyone reviles him or tries to quarrel with him he should say: I am a person fasting. By Him, in Whose Hand is the life of Muhammad, the breath of the observer of fast is sweeter to Allah on the Day of judgment than the fragrance of musk. The one who fasts has two (occasions) of joy, one when he breaks the fast he is glad with the breaking of (the fast) and one when he meets his Lord he is glad with his fast. [2]
3. Sunnah To Be Generous.
It was narrated from ‘Ubaidullah bin ‘Abdullah bin ‘Utabah that ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbas used to say: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was the most generous of people, and he was most generous in Ramadan when Jibril met him. Jibril use to meet him every night during the month of Ramadan and study Quran with him.” And he said: “When Jibril met him, the Messenger of Allah was more generous in doing good than the blowing wind.” [3]
4. Sunnah To Break The Fast With Dates.
Narrated Anas ibn Malik: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to break his fast before praying with some fresh dates; but if there were no fresh dates, he had a few dry dates, and if there were no dry dates, he took some mouthfuls of water. [4]
5. Sunnah To Break The Fast As Soon As You Can (Hasten to Iftar).
Sahl b. Sa’d (Allah be pleased with him) repotted Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: The people will continue to prosper as long as they hasten the breaking of the fast. [5]
6. Sunnah to Avoid Negative Talk.
Narrated Abu Hurairah: The Prophet (ﷺ) as saying: Fast 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. [6]
Read Related Article: Backbiting in Islam.
7. Pray Taraweeh.
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “He who observes optional prayer (Tarawih prayers) throughout Ramadan, out of sincerity of Faith and in the hope of earning reward will have his past sins pardoned.” [7]
References:
[1] Sahih al-Bukhari 1923 & Sahih Muslim 1095
[2] Sahih Muslim 1151 d
[3] Sunan an-Nasa’i 2095
[4] Sunan Abi Dawud 2356
[5] Sahih Muslim 1098 a & Sahih al-Bukhari 1957
[6] Sunan Abi Dawud 2363
[7] Riyad As Salihin Book 9, Hadith 1187
