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Morals of Fasting
1-Hastening
in breaking the fast:
It
is preferred for the fasting person to hasten in breaking the fast
when the sun has set. Sahl ibn Sa`d reported that the Prophet said: "The
people will always be with the good as long as they hasten in
breaking the fast." (Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.)
The fast should be broken with an odd number of dates or, if that is
not available, with some water. Anas reported: “The Messenger of Allah
would break his fast with ripe dates before he would pray. If those
were not available, he would eat dried dates. If those were not available,
he would drink some water.” (Related by Abu Dawud and by Al-Hakim,
who called it Authentic, and by At-Tirmidhi, who called it
Sound.)
Sulaiman ibn `Amr reported that the Prophet said: “If one of you
is fasting, he should break his fast with dates. If dates are not available,
then with water, for water is purifying.” (Related by Ahmad and by
At-Tirmidhi, who called it Sound and Authentic.)
The preceding hadith also shows that it is preferred to break the
fast in the above manner before praying. After the prayer, the
person may continue to eat, but if the evening meal is ready,
one may begin with that. Anas reported that the Messenger of Allah
said: “If the food is already presented, eat before the
sunset prayer and do not eat your meals in haste.” (Related by Al-Bukhari
and Muslim.)
2-Supplications
while breaking the fast and while fasting:
Ibn
Majah related from `Abdullah ibn `Amr ibnul-`Aas that the Prophet,
peace and blessings be upon him, said: “A fasting person, upon
breaking his fast, has a supplication that will not be
rejected. When 'Abdullah broke his fast he would say: "O Allah,
I ask of You, by Your mercy that encompasses everything, to
forgive me."
It is confirmed that the Prophet would say: “The thirst has gone,
the glands are wet and, Allah willing, the reward is confirmed.”
In Mursal form, it is reported that he would say: "O
Allah, for You I have fasted and with Your provisions do I break my
fast."
At-Tirmidhi recorded, with a good chain, that the Prophet said:
"Three people will not have their supplications rejected: a
fasting person until he breaks his fast, a just ruler, and an
oppressed person."
3-Avoiding
Unbecoming Actions:
Fasting
is a type of worship that draws one closer to Allah. Allah has
prescribed it to purify the soul and to train it in good deeds. The fasting
person must be on guard against any act that may cause him to lose
the benefits of his fast. Thus, his fast will increase his Allah-consciousness,
and Allah says in the Qur’an: “O you who believe, fasting is
prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you so
perchance you may attain Allah-consciousness.”
Fasting is not just refraining from eating and drinking, but it is
also refraining from everything else that Allah has forbidden. Abu Hurairah
reported that the Prophet said: “Fasting is not [abstaining] from
eating and drinking only, but also from vein speech and foul language.
If one of you is being cursed or annoyed, he should say: "I am
fasting, I am fasting." (Related by Ibn Khuzaimah, Ibn Hibban,
and Al-Hakim. The latter said that it is Authentic according to
Muslim's criterion.)
Abu Hurairah also reported that the Prophet, peace and blessings be
upon him, said: “Allah does not need the fast of one who does not
abandon false speech or acting according to his false
speech.” (Related by the group, except for Muslim.)
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet said: “Perhaps a fasting
person will get nothing from his fast save hunger, and perhaps the
one who stands to pray at night will get nothing from his
standing except sleeplessness.” (Related by An-Nasa’i, Ibn Majah,
and Al-Hakim. The latter said that it is Authentic according to
Al-Bukhari's criterion.)
4-Being
generous and studying the Qur`an:
Being
generous and studying the Qur'an is recommended during any time, but
it is especially stressed during the month of Ramadan. Al-Bukhari
recorded that Ibn `Abbas said: "The Prophet was the most
generous of people, but he would be his most generous during Ramadan
when he would meet with [the angel] Gabriel. He would meet with him
every night and recite the Qur'an. When Gabriel met him, he
used to be more generous than a fast wind."
5-Striving
to perform as many acts of worship as possible during the last ten
days of Ramadan:
Al-Bukhari
and Muslim record from `A’ishah that during the last ten days of
Ramadan, the Messenger of Allah would wake his wives up during
the night and then remain apart from them (that is, being busy in
acts of worship). A version in Muslim states: "He would strive [to
do acts of worship] during the last ten days of Ramadan more than he
would at any other time." At-Tirmidhi also recorded this from `Ali.
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