Book 8: The Book of Virtues

Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had two Mu'adhdhin: Bilal and Ibn Umm Maktum (May Allah be pleased with them). The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Bilal proclaims Adhan [call to Salat (prayer)] at fag end of night, so eat and drink till Ibn Umm Maktum pronounces Adhan." Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) added: And the gap between their Adhan was not more than the time spent in one's getting down and the other's climbing (the minaret).

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

'Amr bin Al-'As (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "The difference between our observance of Saum (fasting) and that of the people of the Scriptures is Suhur (predawn meal in Ramadan)."

[Muslim].

Sahl bin Sa'd (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "People will continue to adhere to good as long as they hasten to break the Saum (fasting)."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Abu Atiyyah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Masruq and I visited 'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) and said: "O Mother of the Believers! There are two Companions of Muhammad (ﷺ) and neither of them holds back from doing good acts; but one of them hastens to break Saum (fasting) and hastens to perform the Maghrib prayer, while the other delays breaking Saum and delays performing Salat (prayer)." She asked, "Who is the one who hastens to break Saum and perform the Maghrib prayer?" Masruq said, "It is 'Abdullah (meaning 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud)." She said, "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to do so."

[Muslim].

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Allah the Most High says: 'From amongst my slaves, the quicker the one is in breaking the Saum (fasting), the dearer is he to me."'

[At-Tirmidhi].

'Umar bin Al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "When the night approaches from this side (i.e., the east) and the day retreats from that side (i.e., west) and the sun sets, then it is time for a person observing Saum (fasting) to break his fast."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Abu Ibrahim 'Abdullah bin Abu Aufa (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: We were with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on a journey and he was observing Saum (fasting). When the sun set, he (ﷺ) said to a person, "Dismount and prepare the ground roasted barley drink for us." Upon this he replied, "O Messenger of Allah, there is daylight still." The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Get down and prepare barley drink for us." He said, "But it is still daytime." The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) again said to him, "Get down and prepare barely drink for us." So he got down and prepared a barley liquid meal for him. The Prophet (ﷺ) drank that and then said, "When you perceive the night approaching from that side, a person observing Saum (fasting) should break the fast." And he (ﷺ) pointed towards the east with his hand.

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Salman bin 'Amir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying, "When one of you breaks his Saum (fasting), let him break it on dates; if he does not have any, break his fast with water for it is pure."

[Abu Dawud].

Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to break his Saum (fasting) before performing Maghrib prayer with three fresh date-fruits; if there were no fresh date- fruits, he will eat three dry dates; and if there were no dry date- fruits; he would take three draughts of water.

[At- Tirmidhi].

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "When any one of you is observing Saum (fasting) on a day, he should neither indulge in obscene language nor should he raise the voice; and if anyone reviles him or tries to quarrel with him he should say: 'I am observing fast."'

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "If one does not eschew lies and false conduct, Allah has no need that he should abstain from his food and his drink."

[Al-Bukhari].

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "If any one of you forgetfully eats or drinks (while observing fasting) he should complete his Saum (fasting), for Allah has fed him and given him to drink."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Laqit bin Sabirah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I requested the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) to talk to me about ablution. He said, "Perform the Wudu' well (by washing those parts of the body, such as the face, hands and feet beyond what is required, like washing the hands up to the upper-arm instead of the elbow). Cleanse the base of your fingers and sniff water deep into the nose except when you are observing fast."

[Abu Dawud and At- Tirmidhi].

'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would wake up at Fajr time in a state of Janabah; so he would take bath before dawn and observe fasting.

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

'Aishah, and Umm Salamah (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would wake during Ramadan (fasting) in a state of major impurity without a wet dream, but on account of sexual intercourse and he would take a bath before dawn.

[Al- Bukhari and Muslim].

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "The best month for observing Saum (fasting) next after Ramadan is the month of Allah, the Muharram; and the best Salat (prayer) next after the prescribed Salat is Salat at night (Tahajjud prayers)."

[Muslim].

'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Prophet (ﷺ) did not observe voluntary Saum (fasting) so frequently during any other month as he did during Sha'ban. He observed Saum throughout the month of Sha'ban.

Another narration is: He (ﷺ) observed Saum during the whole month of Sha'ban except a few days.

[Al- Bukhari and Muslim].

Reported Mujibah Al-Bahiliyah on the authority of her father or uncle that he visited the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) once and then went to see him again after a year. His appearance had totally changed. He asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) if he had recognized him. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) asked, "Who are you?" He replied: "I am Al- Bahili who visited you last year." The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "You were quite handsome, what has changed your appearance so much?" He replied, "Since my departure from here, I have not eaten anything except at night." The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) remarked, "You have put yourself to torture. Observe Saum (fasting) during the Month of Patience (i.e., Ramadan) and fast one day from each month." He submitted, "Permit me to observe more voluntary fasts because I have capacity to do so." The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Then observe fasts for two days in every month." He said, "Permit me to observe more." The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Observe fasts on three days in every month." He requested that he should be allowed to observe more fasts. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Fast three days during the sacred months and omit fasting for three days alternately." He (ﷺ) joined his three fingers together and left them apart while repeating this sentence thrice.

[Abu Dawud].

Ibn 'Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "There are no days during which the righteous action is so pleasing to Allah than these days (i.e., the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah)." He was asked: "O Messenger of Allah, not even Jihad in the Cause of Allah?" He (ﷺ) replied, "Not even Jihad in the Cause of Allah, except in case one goes forth with his life and his property and does not return with either of it."

[Al- Bukhari].

Abu Qatadah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was asked about the observance of Saum (fasting) on the day of 'Arafah. He said, "It is an expiation for the sins of the preceding year and the current year."

[Muslim].