Sunnats and Aadaab of Ramadhaan – Part 3

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

13. 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.”

14. 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’.” 

15. During the month of Ramadhaan, try to maximize in doing good deeds. It is reported in the Hadith that any nafl ibaadah (voluntary good deed) carried out in the month of Ramadhaan earns one the reward of doing a fardh act, and the reward of a fardh act carried out in Ramadhaan is multiplied seventy times.

عن سلمان رضي الله عنه قال خطبنا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم في آخر يوم من شعبان … من تقرب فيه بخصلة من الخير كان كمن أدى فريضة فيما سواه ومن أدى فريضة فيه كان كمن أدى سبعين فريضة فيما سواه (صحيح ابن خزيمة، الرقم: 1887)

Hazrat Salmaan (radhiyallahu anhu) reports that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) delivered a khutbah on the last day of Sha’baan (wherein he mentioned), “The one who draws near to Allah Ta’ala by performing any nafl deed, he will receive reward equivalent to the reward of the one who performs a fardh deed at any other time. The one who performs a fardh deed during this month will be blessed with the reward of the one who performs seventy faraaidh at any other time.”

16. Ensure that you perform twenty rakaats of Taraaweeh salaah every night. The Taraaweeh Salaah is an emphasised sunnah. In the era of Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu anhu), all the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu anhum) had consensus on performing twenty rakaats of Taraaweeh Salaah. At least try to complete one khatam of the Quraan Majeed in the Taraaweeh Salaah.

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم من قام رمضان إيمانا واحتسابا غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه (صحيح البخاري، الرقم: 37)

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (radhiyallahu anhu) reports that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “The one who stands in Taraaweeh Salaah in Ramadhaan with Imaan (complete belief and faith) and with the hope of reward, all his past (minor) sins will be forgiven.”

عن عبد الرحمن بن عوف رضي الله عنه قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إن الله تبارك وتعالى فرض صيام رمضان عليكم وسننت لكم قيامه فمن صامه وقامه إيمانا واحتسابا خرج من ذنوبه كيوم ولدته أمه (سنن النسائي، الرقم: 2210)

Hazrat Abdur Rahmaan bin Awf (radhiyallahu anhu) reports that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “Indeed Allah Ta’ala has ordained the fast of Ramadhaan upon you and I have prescribed for you standing during its nights (in Taraaweeh Salaah). Whosoever fasts during the days and stands up during the night in Taraaweeh Salaah with true faith and hope of reward from Allah Ta’ala, he will be cleansed from all his sins like the day his mother gave birth to him.”

عن أبى الحسناء أن علي بن أبي طالب أمر رجلا أن يصلي بالناس خمس ترويحات عشرين ركعة – باب ما روي في عدد ركعات القيام في شهر رمضان (السنن الكبرى للبيهقي، الرقم: 4805)

Abul Hasnaa (rahimahullah) says, “Ali (radhiyallahu anhu) appointed a person to perform twenty rakaats of Taraaweeh Salaah with the people during Ramadhaan.”

عن الأعمش عن زيد بن وهب قال كان عبد الله بن مسعود يصلي لنا في شهر رمضان فينصرف عليه ليل قال الأعمش كان يصلي عشرين ركعة ويوتر بثلاث (عمدة القاري 11/127)

A’amash (rahimahullah) says, “During the month of Ramadhaan, Abdullah bin Mas’ood (radhiyallahu anhu) used to lead the Taraaweeh Salaah for the people. He used to perform 20 rakaats of Taraaweeh Salaah and 3 rakaats of Witr.”

روى البيهقي بإسناد صحيح انهم كانوا يقيمون على عهد عمر بعشرين ركعة وعلى عهد عثمان وعلي (عمدة القاري 5/267)

Allamah Aini (rahimahullah) says, “The illustrious Sahaabah of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) would perform twenty rakaats of Taraaweeh Salaah during the reign of Umar (radhiyallahu anhu), Uthmaan (radhiyallahu anhu) and Ali (radhiyallahu anhu).”