5 Sunnah Of Fasting In Ramadan That Muslims Ignore

5 Sunnah Of Fasting During Ramadan
From delaying in breaking fast to skipping suhoor, Muslims usually ignore 5 most important sunnah of fasting during the month of Ramadan.

We all do know that Ramadan is the month of mercy, the month of forgiveness when rewards are multiplied.

The main purpose of fasting during the blessed month of Ramadan is to attain Taqwa (God consciousness).

Apart from it, fasting is a means for one to share in a little bit of the pain that millions of others go through everyday without having foods that motivate us to give charity and help more to those who are in need.

The much of the benefits and rewards of this blessed month can only redeemed by observing fast and all the things correctly according to the sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).


Here are list of 5 sunnah of fasting in Ramadan that we should not ignore.

1. Hastening the breaking of fast.

This is breaking the fast (Iftar) immediately after it is confirmed that the sun has set. 

This is due to the statement of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) : 
The people will remain upon goodness as long as they hasten in breaking the fast. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim) 

And the statement of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him):
Verily the Prophet did not used to pray Al-Maghrib (the prayer after sunset) until he broke his fast (first), even if it was with a drink of water. (Ar-Tirmidhi, and he said it is Hasan)

2. Breaking the fast with fresh dates, dried dates or water.

The second sunnah of fasting is breaking the fast by having any of three things.

However, the of these three things is the first of them (fresh dates), and the last of them (water) is the least preferred of them. 

It is also recommended to break the fast with an odd number – three, five, or seven (of whatever is being eaten). 

This is due to the statement of Anas bin Malik: 
The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu’alayhi’wa’sallam) used to break his fast with fresh dates before praying (i.e. the Maghrib prayer). If there were no fresh dates, he would break his fast with dry dates. If there were no dry dates he would take some sips of water. (At Tabarani)

3. Supplicating when breaking the fast.

The Dua that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to recite after breaking the fast:
Authentic dua for breaking fast

The thirst is gone, the veins are moistened and the reward is confirmed if Allah wills.

Another narration mentioned the presented Dua also which is considered as Daeef (weak) by many scholars.

This says that Prophet (sallallaahu’alayhi’wa’sallam) used to say when breaking his fast: 

Allaahumma laka sumnaa wa ‘alaa rizqika aftarnaa, fataqabbal minnaa innaka Antas-Samee’ul Aleem.


[“O Allah! We have faster for You, and upon Your provisions we have broken our fast. So accept it from us. Verily, You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.” -Abu Dawood]
Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, used to say: 

Allaahumma innee asa’luka birahmatik, allatee wasi’at kulla shay’in, an taghfirlee thunoobi.

[“O Allah! Verily, I ask You by Your Mercy, which encompasses everything, that You forgive my sins for me.” -Ibn Majah and it is Sahih]

4. Having Suhoor (Pre-Dawn breakfast)

The fourth sunnah of fasting is by having suhoor meal. Most of us usually skip it and don't take it as important.
We should have our Suhoor by eating and drinking during the last part of the night before dawn with the intention of fasting. 

As Prophet (ï·º) said:
Verily that which separates (i.e. distinguishes) between our fast and the fasting of the People of the Book (i.e. Jews and Christians) is the eating before dawn (Sahur). (Muslim) 

“Eat the meal of Sahur for verily in the Sahur there are blessings.” (Al Bukhari and Muslim)

5. Delaying the Suhoor until the very last part of the night.

The last sunnah of fasting in Ramadan is that delaying the Suhoor meal until before the Fajr.

Our beloved Prophet () was quoted as saying:
My Ummah (nation of followers) will not cease being upon goodness as long as they hasten in breaking the fast and delay the Suhoor (pre-dawn meal). (Ahmad and it is authentic) 

The time of Suhoor begins from the last half of the night and it ends (a few) minutes before Fajr (the first crack of dawn) comes in. 

This is due to the statement of Zayd ibn Thabit, may Allah be pleased with him: 

"We used to take the Sahur meal with the Messenger of Allah . Then he would stand and offer the prayer (Salat-ul-Fajr).” 

I (the subnarrator) said, “How much time was between the Adhan (for Salatul-Fajr) and the Sahur?” 

He (Zayd) said, “The amount (of time) for fifty verses (of Quran to be recited).” 

(Reference: Al-Bukhari and Muslim) 

Note: Whoever has doubt about the entry of Fajr (the crack of dawn), he may eat or drink until he is certain that the time of Fajr has entered. Then he must abstain (from eating and drinking).

Bibliography:
  1. Fiqh Of Ramadan: A Comprehensive And Concise Guide About Ramadan From Minhaj AlMuslim. (Pg. No: 28, 29 & 30)
  2. Ramadan: A day with Dr. Zakir Naik (Video available in YouTube)

2 Comments

  1. JazakAllah for sharing the knowledge about Islam with us, it will be a great reward for you. More power to you.

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  2. MashaAllah you are doing great work by providing the people with the knowledge of Islam. May Allah give you more courage to do more work like this. Join online Quran teaching services in USA and learn more about Quran.

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