Sunnats and Aadaab of Ramadhaan – Part 2

1. With the approach of Ramadhaan and during Ramadhaan as well, one should recite the following dua:

اَللّهُمَّ سَلِّمْنِيْ لِرَمَضَان وَسَلِّمْ رَمَضَانَ لِيْ وَسَلِّمْهُ لِيْ مُتَقَبَّلًا

O Allah! Safeguard me for the month of Ramadhaan (by making me see the month of Ramadhaan healthy and fit so that I can take maximum benefit from it), and safeguard the month of Ramadhaan for me (by making the conditions in it such that I can take maximum benefit from it), and accept it from me.

عن عبادة بن الصامت قال كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يعلمنا هؤلاء الكلمات إذا جاء رمضان اللهم سلمني لرمضان وسلم رمضان لي وسلمه لي متقبلا (الدعاء للطبراني، الرقم: 913)

Hazrat Ubaadah bin Saamit (radhiyallahu anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) would teach the Sahaabah the following dua at the approach of Ramadhaan:

اَللّهُمَّ سَلِّمْنِيْ لِرَمَضَان وَ سَلِّمْ رَمَضَانَ لِيْ وَسَلِّمْهُ لِيْ مُتَقَبَّلًا

2. Form the habit of carrying out good deeds in the month of Ramadhaan and shun the habit of committing evil deeds and sins.

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا كان أول ليلة من شهر رمضان صفدت الشياطين ومردة الجن وغلقت أبواب النار فلم يفتح منها باب وفتحت أبواب الجنة فلم يغلق منها باب وينادي مناد يا باغي الخير أقبل ويا باغي الشر أقصر ولله عتقاء من النار وذلك كل ليلة (سنن الترمذي، الرقم: 682)

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (radhiyallahu anhu) reports that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “When the first night of Ramadhaan enters, the shayaateen and rebellious jinnaat are chained, the doors of Jahannum are closed and no door is thereafter opened (during Ramadhaan), the doors of Jannah are opened and no door is thereafter closed (during Ramadhaan), and a caller announces, ‘O the one seeking piety and goodness, advance! O the one seeking evil, restrain (from your evil)!’ And Allah Ta’ala emancipates many souls from the fire of Jahannum, and this transpires every night throughout the month of Ramadhaan.”

3. If you are able to provide iftaar for a fasting person, then you should do so, even if it be by giving him a date to break his fast.

عن زيد بن خالد الجهني قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم من فطر صائما كان له مثل أجره غير أنه لا ينقص من أجر الصائم شيئا (سنن الترمذي، الرقم: 807، وقال: هذا حديث حسن صحيح)

Hazrat Zaid Bin Khaalid Al-Juhani (radhiyallahu anhu) reports that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “The one who provides iftaar for a fasting person, he will receive the same reward as he (the fasting person) receives, without the reward of the fasting person decreasing in any way.”

4. Spend time in the company of the pious servants of Allah Ta’ala in order to derive maximum benefit from this month.

5. Refrain from anything that is haraam or even doubtful, whether it is doubtful food, actions, statements, etc.

6. Fasting in the month of Ramadhaan is a great ibaadah. Hence, during the fast, one should ensure that he does not involve himself in any sinful action which will cause the reward of the fast to be lost. Similarly, one should refrain from engaging in any type of ‘la ya’ni’ activity during the fast (e.g. vain talk, futile pursuits and activities etc.).

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم رب صائم ليس له من صيامه إلا الجوع ورب قائم ليس له من قيامه إلا السهر (سنن ابن ماجة، الرقم: 1690)

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (radhiyallahu anhu) reports that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “Many are the ones who fast, yet attain nothing by such fasting except for hunger, and many are the ones performing salaah by night, yet attain nothing by it except for the discomfort of staying awake at night.”

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم من لم يدع قول الزور والعمل به فليس لله حاجة في أن يدع طعامه وشرابه (صحيح البخاري، الرقم: 1903)

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (radhiyallahu anhu) reports that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “The one who does not refrain from shameless talk and shameless deeds (while fasting), Allah Ta’ala does not need him to refrain from eating and drinking.”

7. While fasting, one should refrain from quarrelling and fighting. If anyone wishes to engage in an argument with the fasting person, he should respectfully say to him, “I am fasting” (i.e. it does not behove a fasting person to enter into quarrels, fights and arguments).

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وإذا كان يوم صوم أحدكم فلا يرفث ولا يصخب فإن سابه أحد أو قاتله فليقل إني امرؤ صائم (صحيح البخاري، الرقم: 1904)

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (radhiyallahu anhu) reports that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “When anyone of you is fasting, he should not engage in obscene talk nor engage in shouting and yelling. If anyone hurls abuse and swears at the fasting person or fights with him, then he should (respectfully) say, ‘I am fasting’.”