|
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.
|
