Ramadan : 10 Things To Do Along With Fasting

Ramadan is the ninth month of Islamic/Hijri calendar. It is a month of utmost importance and Muslims all around the world wait eagerly for its arrival. It is the month of compulsory fasting. It is enjoined upon Muslims to observe fasting in the month of Ramadan, each day from dawn to sunset.

However, Ramadan is not just about staying away from food and water. Islam teaches us to base our actions upon rightly guided and sincere intentions. Our fasts should be out of faith and hope for reward from Allah (azza wa jall). Allah is not in need of our fasts, it is we who need Him (subhanahu wa ta’ala).

Allah (azza wa jall) sent our Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) as a blessing and warner to the Muslim nation. We must therefore learn from what he used to do and how.

Here, we have enlisted 10 things/acts/deeds which our Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) used to observe in Ramadan, in addition to the compulsory fasts and prayers –

Pray in the nights of Ramadan

Narrated Aisha (radi Allahu anha) – Allah’s Messenger (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) used to pray at night in Ramadan.

Sahih Al Bukhari

Narrated Abu Huraira (radi Allahu anhu) – I heard Allah’s Apostle (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) saying regarding Ramadan, “Whoever prayed at night in the month of Ramadan, out of sincere Faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.”

Sahih Al Bukhari

Abu Huraira (radi Allahu anhu) said – The messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) used to encourage us to pray Qiyam during Ramadan, without insisting on that.

Give Zakat

Narrated Anas (radi Allahu anhu) – Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) was asked, “Which charity is best?” He (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Charity in Ramadan.”

Tirmidhi

Ibn Abbas (radi Allahu anhu) said that when the month of Ramadan began Allah’s Messenger (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) set every prisoner free and gave to every beggar.

Mishkat Al Masabih

Ibn Umar (radi Allahu anhu) said – The Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) enjoined the zakah of Ramadan on everyone, young and old, free and slave, male and female, a Sa of dates or a Sa of barley.

Sunan An Nasai

Perform Umrah

The Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Umrah during Ramadan is equal to Hajj”

Tirmidhi

Practice Itikaf in the last ten nights of Ramadan

Narrated Aisha (radi Allahu anha) – Allah’s Apostle (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) used to practice Itikaf in the last 10 nights of Ramadan.

Sahih Al Bukhari

Increase ibadah in the last 10 days/nights

Narrated Aisha (radi Allahu anha) – Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) used to strive hard (in worship) in the last 10 nights of Ramadan as he never did in any other time.

Sunan Ibn Majah

Narrated Aisha (radi Allahu anha) – When the ten days of Ramadan began, the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) used to stay up at night and wake up his family (to pray).

Sunan Ibn Majah

Practice Generosity

Narrated Ibn Abbas (radi Allahu anhu) – The Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) was the most generous of all the people, and he used to become more generous in Ramadan when Jibreel (alayhi salam) met him. Jibreel (alayhi salam) used to meet him every night during Ramadan to revise the Quran with him. Allah’s Apostle (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) then used to be more generous than the fast wind.

Sahih Al Bukhari

Eat Suhoor

Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) said – The difference between our observance of Sawm/fasting and that of the people of scripture is Suhoor.

Invite others for Suhoor (pre dawn meal)

Narrated Al Irbad ibn Sariyyah (radi Allahu anhu) – Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) invited me to a meal shortly before dawn in Ramadan saying, “Come to the blessed morning meal.”

Sunan Abi Dawud

Narrated Al Irbad ibn Sariyyah (radi Allahu anhu) – I heard the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) inviting people to have Suhoor in Ramadan.

Sunan An Nasai

Hasten to break fast

Sahl (radi Allahu anhu) reported Allah’s Messenger (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) as saying – “The people will continue to prosper as long as they hasten the breaking of the fast.” This refers to each day during Ramadan, and recommends that the fast should be broken as early as that may lawfully be done.

Bukhari, Muslim

Do Dhikr (remembrance of Allah) as much as you can

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