Guidance of the Prophet ﷺ during the month of Fasting
The month of Ramadan is part of the things the prophet (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), used to rejoice and give glad tidings about. Abu Hurairah said, when the month of Ramadan approached, the Messenger of Allâh, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), gave good news of it to his companions, saying, " Ramadan has come to you, a blessed month, Allâh has imposed on you to fast it. In it the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of the Hell Fire are closed, and the devils are chained up. In it there is a night which is better than a thousand months. Anyone who is deprived of its goodness has been deprived "(Narrated by Ahmad).
It was part of his guidance in Ramadan, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), to urge Muslims to hasten in breaking fast. On this note, he said, «The people will remain on goodness as long as they hasten the breaking of the fast» (Agreed upon). He, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), used to break the fast on fresh dates before observing the (Maghrib) prayer, but if he couldn't find fresh dates, he would take dry dates. If he could not find dry dates, he would have some sips of water » (Abu Dawud).
The prophet, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), used to exhort them to take the predawn meal (Sahur) as well and he used to say, "Take Sahur, for in Sahur there is blessing" (Agreed upon).
He used to delay it as narrated by Zaid bin Thabit, May Allâh be pleased with him, who said, «We took Sahur (predawn meal) with the Messenger of Allâh (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), and then we stood up for (Fajr) Salah (prayer). It was asked: "How long was the gap between the two?" He replied: "The time required for the recitation of fifty verses of the Qur'an» (Agreed upon).
He, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), used to make du'a while breaking the fast and he would say, (Dhahab az-zwama wabtallat al-uruq wathabata al'ajr 'iin sha' Alllah) - Thirst has gone, the arteries are moist, and the reward is sure, if Allâh wills (Al-Hakim).
He used to exhort the people fasting to make du'a while they are fasting, saying, «There are three supplications that are not turned back: supplication of the parents, a fasting person and the traveler» (Al-Bayhaqi).
The prophet, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), used to pray at night (qiyamullail) in Ramadan just as he used to do throughout the nights of the whole year. Aisha narrated that the Messenger of Allâh, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), prayed one night in the mosque and people also prayed along with him. He then prayed on the following night and there were many persons. Then on the third or fourth night (many people) gathered there, but the Messenger of Allâh (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), did not come out to them (for leading the Tarawih prayer).
When it was morning he said: I saw what you were doing, but I desisted to come to you (and lead the prayer) for I feared that this prayer might become obligatory for you. (She the narrator) said: It was the month of Ramadan (Agreed upon).
Slaves of Allâh! It was also part of his guidance in Ramadan, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), to increase in generosity. He did not deprive the needy nor turn back the beggar. Ibn Abbas, reported saying, «The Messenger of Allâh, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), was the most generous of the men; and he was the most generous during the month of Ramadan when Jibril visited him every night and recited the Qur'an to him. During this period, the generosity of Messenger of Allâh (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), waxed faster than the rain bearing wind » (Agreed upon).
It was also part of his guidance in Ramadan, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), to urge giving food to people to break the fast during Ramadan. He would say: « Whoever provides the food for a fasting person to break his fast with, then for him is the same reward as his (the fasting person's), without anything being diminished from the reward of the fasting person» (At-Tirmidhi).
O believers! The prophet, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), was always of good manners whether fasting or not. He, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), even urged us to exercise good patience, forbearance, gentleness and good manners during fasting. Abu Hurairah, may Allâh be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allâh, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), said: « Fasting is a shield (or a screen or a shelter). So, the person observing fasting should avoid sexual relation with his wife and should not behave foolishly and impudently, and if somebody fights with him or abuses him, he should tell him twice, 'I am fasting» (Agreed upon).
The prophet, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), has explained that bad manners are likely to do away with the reward of fasting and destroy it completely, saying: «Whoever does not give up false speech and acting upon it, Allâh has no need of his giving up his food and drink» (Al-Bukhari). He would say also: « There are people who fast and get nothing from their fast except hunger, and there are those who pray and get nothing from their prayer but a sleepless night» (Ibn Majah).
While fasting, the prophet, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), was never showing grim or annoyance or warning. Rather, he (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), was polite, easygoing and smiling especially at his home with his wives. Aishah, may Allâh be pleased with her, narrated saying, «Ineed, the Messenger of Allâh, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), used to kiss some of his wives while he was fasting », then she laughed (Al-Bukhari).
It is reported on the authority of Zainab bint Abi Salamah that Ummu Salamah, the wife of the Prophet, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), said: I got my menses while I was lying with the Prophet (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), under a woolen sheet. So I slipped away, took the clothes for menses and put them on. Allâh's Messenger (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), said, 'Have you got your menses?' I replied, 'Yes.' Then he called me and took me with him under the woolen sheet". Ummu Salama further said, "The Prophet (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), used to kiss me while he was fasting». ( Agreed upon).
Dear Brothers! As regards fasting while on journey Sheikh Muhammad Al-Uthaimeen, May Allâh have mercy on him, said, "The sounder opinion according to us based on the available evidence is that there are three cases with respect to the traveler's fast as follows:
First: His fast does not have any advantage over his not fasting, nor does his state of not fasting has any advantage over his state of fasting. In this case, fasting is better, because this was the act of Prophet Muhammad, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him). Abud-Darda, may Allâh be pleased with him, said: «We were with the Prophet, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), during the month of Ramadan in such an intense heat that one of us would place his hand over his head (in order to protect himself) against the excessive heat, and none among us was observing the fast, except the Messenger of Allâh (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), and 'Abdullah b. Rawahah» Al-Bukhari and Muslim transmitted it. Here, fasting was not difficult for the messenger of Allâh, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him); because he does not do, but that which is easier and better. Moreover, such is quicker in discharging one's obligation; because making up for the days missed may be delayed. Also, it is often easier for the legally obliged adult; because fasting along with the people and breaking fasting along with them is easier, and for the fact that he gets the virtuous period which is the month of Ramadhan.
Second case: When not fasting is more lenient for a person. In this case we opine that not to fast is better, but if fasting becomes somehow difficult, we would say that to fast in his respect is undesirable; because taking to hardship at the existence of a legal leave shows snubbing the leave granted by Allâh, the Almighty.
Third case: When fasting is severely difficult for him in a manner that he can't bear. In this case, fasting in his respect becomes haram (unlawful). The proof of this is that, «When it was said to the Prophet, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him) that the fast has become difficult for the people, and they are watching you to see what you will do', after Asr, he called for a cup of water and drank it while the people were looking at him. Some of them broke the fast while some of them continued their fasting. It was conveyed to him that people were still fasting, so he said: "Those are the disobedient. Those are the disobedient ». Narrated by Muslim. So, he described them as disobedient ones.
O believers of Tawhid (Islamic Monotheism)! The Prophet, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), was diligent in Ramadan more than he used to be in other months. When the last ten days of Ramadan set in he would augment his diligence and worship more than he used to do during the first twenty days. Aishah, the mother of believers, says: «The Messenger of Allâh, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), used to engage the first twenty days and nights to pray and sleep. When the last ten days set in, he would prepare himself and tighten his waist- wrap (to observe prayer with more vigour and abstain from marital relations) » (Ahmad).
In the Sahihain (Sahih Al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim), Aishah, May Allâh be pleased with her, reported that when the last ten nights began Allâh's Messenger (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), kept awake at night (for prayer and devotion), wakened his family, and prepared himself to observe prayer (with more vigour). (Agreed upon).
Part of his diligence in general, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), in these ten, is that he used to retreat to the mosque for seclusion (I'tikaf). Aishah (May Allâh be pleased with her) reported that the Prophet (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), used to engage himself in I'tikaf (seclusion for worship) in the mosque during the last ten nights of Ramadan till he passed away; thereafter, his wives followed this practice after him (Agreed upon).
The prophet, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), did not used to specify the last ten nights for i'tikaaf (seclusion) and diligence because they contain the night of power or decree (Lailatul-Qadr). Abu Salamah, narrated saying, "Once I went to Abu- Sa`id Al-Khudri and asked him, "Won't you come with us to the date-palm trees to have a talk?" So Abu Sa`id went out and I asked him, "Tell me what you heard from the Prophet (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), about the Night of Qadr." Abu Sa`id replied, "Once Allâh's Messenger (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), performed I`tikaf (seclusion) on the first ten days of the month of Ramadan and we did the same with him. Gabriel came to him and said, 'The night you are looking for is ahead of you.' So the Prophet (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), performed the I`tikaf in the middle (second) ten days of the month of Ramadan and we too performed I`tikaf with him. Gabriel came to him and said, 'The night which you are looking for is ahead of you.' In the morning of the 20th of Ramadan the Prophet (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), delivered a sermon saying, 'Whoever has performed I`tikaf with me should continue it. I have been shown the Night of "Qadr" (Decree or power), but have forgotten its date, but it is in the odd nights of the last ten nights. I saw in my dream that I was prostrating in mud and water.' In those days the roof of the mosque was made of branches of date-palm trees. At that time, the sky was clear and no cloud was visible, but suddenly a cloud came and it rained. The Prophet (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), led us in the prayer and I saw the traces of mud on the forehead and on the nose of Allâh's Messenger (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him). So it was the confirmation of that dream." (Agreed upon ).
These are some of the guidance of Allâh's messenger, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), regarding the month of Ramadan. It was all seriousness, diligence, good morals, calling to the path of Allâh, and a retreat to Allâh, the most Purified…
O assemblies of Muslims! How desperate are we in need to emulate him (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), that we might receive success in this world and the hereafter ...
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