Its recommendation:The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Take suhoor even if only with a gulp of ; water" (Ahmad). He also said, "The suhoor is a meal of blessings, so do not leave it, even if one of you just takes (a gulp of) water, since Allaah send mercy and His angels seek forgiveness for those who take the suhoor" (Ahmad).
It differentiate us from People of the Book: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "The distinction between our fasting and the fasting of the People of the Book is the taking of the pre-dawn meal (suhoor) "(Muslim).
It should be delayed: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Three things are from the manners of the Prophets: hastening in breaking the fast, delaying the suhoor, and placing the right hand on the left in the Prayer" (Tabaraanee) we should avoid the following: The time for ending the fast Allah says: "Then complete the fasting until night" (Q2:187).
And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "The people will continue to be in good condition as long as they hasten to break the fast" (Bukhari). The Companions were also upon this as Amrun Ibn Maimoon al-Awdee said: "The Companions of the Messenger were the fastest people to break the fast and the last to eat the sahoor" (Mussanaf AbdurRazak).
Break the fast before praying the Maghrib prayer: Anas (RA) reported that Allahs Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to break the fast before praying (Abu Dawud). It is better to break the fast with fresh dates, or with older dates or with water. Narrated Anas (RA): "The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to break the fast with fresh dates before praying, and if not with fresh dates then with older dates, and if not with dates then with some mouthfuls of water" (Abu Dawud).
What to be avoided while fasting: Fasting is not just mere abstaining from food, drink and desires. There are some sins that reduce the rewards one gets from his fasting. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "It may be that a fasting person attains nothing but hunger and thirst from his fasting" (Ahmad).
In order for us not to just go on hunger strike, thinking that we are fasting we should avoid the following:
Falsehood: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Whoever does not abandon falsehood in word and action then Allaah the Mighty and Majestic has no need that he should leave his food and drink" (Bukhari).
Ignorant and indecent speech: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Fasting is not (merely abstaining) from eating and drinking, rather it is (abstaining) from ignorant and indecent speech, so if anyone abuses or behaves ignorantly with you, then say: I am fasting, I am fasting (Ibn Khuzaimah).
The nights of Ramadan: The nights of Ramadan should be spent in prayers. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Whoever stands (in night prayer) during Ramadaan with faith and seeking reward (from Allaah), all of his previous sins will be forgiven. " (Bukhari).
You could pray with the Imam and/or pray alone: It is however preferable that you finish praying with the Imam even if you are going to pray later in the night.Abu Dhar (RA) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessing of Allaah be upon him) led them in prayer until half of the night had passed, and he said "Oh Messenger of Allaah, I wish that you had continued until the end of the night." He said, If a man prays with the Imaam until he finishes, it will be counted as if he prayed the whole night (Abu Dawud)
The number of rakahs: Aisha (RA) narrated that: "Allaahs Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not increase upon eleven rakahs in Ramadan, or outside it." (Bukhari)
Laylat al-Qadr (Night of Decree): The time for ending the fast The night of decree is in the last ten nights of Ramadan, and, it is in one of the odd nights (21 ,23 , 25 ,27 or 29 ). The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said "Seek Laylat al-Qadr in the (odd nights) of the last ten of Ramadan" (Bukhari).
There are however strong indications that Laylat al-Qadr occurs on the 27th night of Ramadan based on reports of the Prophet (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) action of gathering all his family to pray on this night (Abu Dawud) and the belief of some companion like Ubay (RA) that it occurs on the 27th night (Abu Dawud). It should however be noted that in Islaam , the night comes before the day. So the27th night is the night preceding the 27th day. Its virtues Regarding this night Allah says: "Verily! We have sent it (this Quran) down in the night of Al-Qadr (Decree) And what will make you know what the lIight of Al-Qadr (Decree) is? The night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is better than a thousand months (i.e. worshipping Allah in that night is better than worshipping Him a thousand months, i.e. 83 years and 4 months). Therein descend the angels and the Ruh [Jibrael] by Allah's Permission with all Decrees, Peace! (All that night, there is Peace and Goodness from Allah to His believing slaves) until the appearance of dawn. (Q98:1-5).
And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Whoever prays at night during Laylat al-Qadr (an manages to catch it) out of faith and the hope of reward, all his previous sins will be forgiven" "(Bukhari)
How to seek Laylat al-Oadr: We do not celeberate Laylat al-Qadr; rather we seek it and pray in it so as to get its reward. Aisha (RA) reported that she asked the Prophet "Oh Messenger of Allaah! What if I knew which night Laylat al-Qadr was, then what should I say in it?" He said: "Say: Allaahuma innaka affuwun tuhibul afwa fafu annee" Oh Allaah you are the one who pardons greatly. and loves to pardon, so pardon me" (Tirmidhi). So please avoid all those rendezvous where they ,are celebrating Laylat al-Qadr with singing and dancing and all those strange things.
What nullifies your fast
Eating and drinking deliberately: What is known as fasting is to keep away from eating and drinking and having sexual relation with ones spouse during the day, so if someone were to deliberately eat or drink then his fast has been nullified. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "If one of you eats and drinks out of forgetfulness, then let him complete his fast, for it was indeed Allah who gave him food and drink" (Bukhari). So it is only those who do so out of forgetfulness that still have their fast.
Vomiting intentionally: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Whoever has an attack of vomiting, then no atonement is required of him, but whoever vomits intentionally then let him make atonement (fast another ) for it (Abu Dawud)
Menstruation: If a woman start fasting and then her menstrual cycle begins, she should stop fasting and make up the missed days after Ramadan. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Isnt it true that a woman does not pray and does not fast on menstruating? And that is the defect (a loss) in her religion. " (Bukhari)
What does not nullify your fast: There are some actions that people doubt whether, they nullify the fast or not, when in actual fact they do not nullify the fast. Some of them are: Using as-Siwaak (tooth-stick The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "If it were not that I would be putting my nation to hardship I would have ordered them to use the siwaak along with every wudoo " (Bukhari). And he did not mention- any exception for the month of Ramadan.
Tasting food: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "There is no harm for a person to taste vinegar or anything whilst he is fasting as long as it does not enter his throat" (Bukhari). Pouringwater over the head or taking a bath The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to pour water over his head while fasting due to thirst or the heat. (Bukhari)
Zakaatul -fitr: Ibn Umar [RA] reported Allaah's Messenger: I made it obligatory to give Zakaah-ul-Fitr as a saa of dates or a saa of barley, upon the slave and the free person, the male and the female, and the young and the old amongst the Muslims. And he commanded that it be given before the people set out for the prayer (Bukhari). It is to be given by the Muslim on behalf of himself and for those he takes care of, including the young, the old and slaves. It is also recommended that the common staple food of the people be used in giving it -
Searching for the end of the month: As with the beginning of the month, the end of the month is also established by sighting of the moon or counting Ramadan to be thirty. There is no middle way
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited