What the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) did during Ramadan Fasting

In the Holy Qur’an, Allah (SWT) praises the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) as the best example for the people.

There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allah often.”  (Surat al-Ahzab [33]: 21)

Therefore, we as Muslims should follow what he did during his life, including how he was fasting.

Make the intention to fast the night before

Narrated Hafsah, she said, the Prophet (SAW) said:

“Anyone who does not intend fast Ramadan from the night before, there is no fast for him.” (hadith narrated by Abu Dawud)

Start with suhur (the pre-dawn meal)

Every time he would fast, the Prophet (SAW) used to eat (suhur) and delayed it until approached to Imsak.

Anas bin Malik (RA), the Prophet (SAW) said:

“Do suhur because in the suhur there is a blessing.” (hadith narrated by Al-Bukhari)

“The difference between our fasting and the fasting of ahlu al-Kitab is suhur.” (hadith narrated by Muslim)

Hasten the breakfast and Maghrib prayer

While at breakfast, the Messenger (SAW) only ate three pieces of dates and a glass of water, then immediately made ablution to perform Maghrib prayer in congregation.

The Prophet (SAW) when breaking the fast ate a few pieces of fresh dates before he prayed. If there were no fresh dates, the Prophet (SAW) ate dried dates. If no dry dates, he drank a few gulps of water.

“People will continue to remain in good standing as long as he hastens breaking the fast”. (hadith narrated by Bukhari, Muslim)

“Religion will always be tangible (obvious) as long as the people hasten breaking the fast because the Jews and Christians, they delayed it.” (hadith narrated by Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah)

Multiply worship

During Ramadan, the Prophet (SAW) always propagated practices, such as the night prayer, reading the Holy Qur’an, dhikr, and charity. We can also read the Holy Qur’an during Ramadan in a group to motivate each other to increase worship.

Sleep qailulah

The Prophet (SAW) used to sleep a little before the noon prayer, this act is named qailulah, so that it is easy to get up at night to perform worship.

The Prophet (SAW) said in a hadith reported by Ibn Majah:

Ibn Abbas (RA) that the Prophet (SAW) said: “Seek strength through suhur to fast on the next day and through qailulah (nap before noon) to establish night worship. (hadith narrated by Ibn Majah)

Tongue-in-Charge

Women often mistakenly gossip, speak unpleasantly of others, curse, etc.. and all of that would make their fasting in vain.

“When one of you is fasting, he should not curse and scold others. If he is approached by someone or makes enemies, let him say “I am fasting.” (hadith narrated by Al-Bukhari)

Feeding a Fasting Person

There is a great reward of those who feed a fasting person, as mentioned in the following hadith:

Whoever gives food to a fasting person (to break the fast), he will get the same reward as the fasting person’s reward without any curtailment.” (hadith narrated by Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah).

I’tikaf

Entering the last 10 days of Ramadan, the Prophet (SAW) improved his worship, specifically with a retreat (I’tikaf).

May our fasting this year be better than past years aamiin ya Robbal ‘aalamin.

by aMuslima
by aMuslima
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