Suhur: The Pre-Dawn Meal During Ramadhan

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the  Most Merciful,

Allah, the Most High, says: " ... Eat and drink until the white thread becomes distinct to you from the black thread of the dawn. Then resume the fast till nightfall ... " [Al-Qur'an 2:187]

It was narrated that Adi ibn Hatim, may Allah be pleased with him, said when the following verses were revealed: " ... until the white thread becomes distinct to you from the black thread," that he took two strands of hair, one black and the other white, and kept them under his pillow and went on looking at them throughout the night but could not make anything out of it. So, the next morning he went to Allah's Messenger, peace be upon him, and told him the whole story. He explained, "that verse means the darkness of night and the whiteness of dawn." [Recorded by al-Bukhari]

It was also narrated by Sahl ibn Saud, may Allah be pleased with him, that when the following verse was revealed: " ... Eat and drink until the white thread becomes distinct to you from the black thread ... " and "of the dawn" was not revealed, some people who intended to fast, tied black and white threads to their legs and went on eating till they differentiated between the two. Allah then revealed the words, "of the dawn", and it became clear that meant night and day. [Recorded by al-Bukhari]

The Excellence of Spending out charity during Ramadan

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

1222. Ibn `Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) was the most generous of the men; and he was the most generous during the month of Ramadan when Jibril visited him every night and recited the Qur'an to him. During this period, the generosity of Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) waxed faster than the rain bearing wind.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Commentary:  This Hadith induces us to do two good things frequently and with full preparation in the month of Ramadan. First, benevolence and generosity so that people get maximum time for worship and reduce their mundane affairs during this month. Second, recitation of the Qur'an and Mudarsah, (reading and hearing the Qur'an from one another) as is done by two Huffaz in this manner. The reason for the stress on the Qur'an is that the Qur'an and the month of Ramadan are closely linked with each other. The Qur'an was revealed in this month.

1223. `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: When the last ten nights (of Ramadan) would begin, the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) would keep awake at night (for prayer and devotion), awaken his family and prepare himself to be more diligent in worship.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Commentary: The entire month of Ramadan is a spring season for virtues, worship and obedience of Allah, but its last ten days are the peak of this season of worship. Therefore, one must strive hard in the last ten days and nights of this month to follow the practice of the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam), to seek the Pleasure of Allah and to attain the benefits of Lailat-ul-Qadr, which occurs during this period. The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) used to make special arrangement for observing I`tikaf, and we must also follow this practice of his.

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Source: 

- AbdurRahman.org

- Imam Al-Nawawi's Riyad-us-Saliheen [Chapter 218]

- Image Source

Dua for Ramadan and Fasting.

Duas for breaking the fast:

Meaning: The thirst has gone and the veins are quenched, and reward is confirmed, if Allaah wills.

Transliteration: Zahabadh-dhama'u wabtallatil-'urooqu, wa thabatal-ajru inshaa-Allaahu.

Source: Abu Dawud 2/306, Sahih Al-Jami As Saghir 4/209

Meaning: O Allaah, I ask You by Your mercy which envelops all things, that You forgive me.

Transliteration: Allahumma innee as'aluka bi-rahmatikal-latee wasi'ath kulla shai'in an taghfira lee.

Source: Ibn Majah 1/557

 Dua for Sighting the Crescent Moon

Meaning: Allaah is the greatest. O Allaah, let the crescent loom above us in safety, faith, peace, and Islaam, and in agreement with all that You love and pleases You. Our Lord and your Lord is Allaah.

Transliteration: Allahu Akbar, Allaahumma ahillahu 'alaina bil-amni wal-imaani, was-salaamati wal-Islaami, wat-tawfeeqi limaa tuhibbu wa tardhaa, Rabbunaa wa Rabbukallaahu.

Source: At Tirmidhi 5/504

Dua for Laila tul Qadr

Meaning: O Allah You are The One Who pardons greatly, and loves to pardon, so pardon me.

Transliteration: Allahumma innaka 'affuwwun tuhibbul 'afwa fa'fu 'anni.

Source: Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah

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Islamcan.com

The Virtues of Ramadan

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Praise be to Allaah. 

Ramadaan is one of the twelve Arabic months. It is a month which is venerated in the Islamic religion, and it is distinguished from the other months by a number of characteristics and virtues, including the following:

1 – Allaah has made fasting this month the fourth pillar of Islam, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):

“The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’aan, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong). So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadan i.e. is present at his home), he must observe Sawm (fasts) that month…” [al-Baqarah 2:185]

and it was narrated in al-Saheehayn (al-Bukhaari, 8; Muslim, 16) from the hadeeth of Ibn ‘Umar that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Islam is built on five (pillars): the testimony that there is no god except Allaah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah; establishing prayer; paying zakaah; fasting Ramadaan; and Hajj to the House (the Ka’bah).”

Fasting is a Shield

It is reported that Hafsah bint Sîrîn – Allâh have mercy on her – said:

"Fasting is a shield as long as one does not tear it, and tearing it is when you backbite".

[‘Abd Al-Razzâq Al-San’ânî, Al-Musannaf articles 8975.]

Source: Sayings of the Salaf

Story of two women fasting during the lifetime of Allaah’s Messenger

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,

It has been reported in the Musnad of Imaam Ahmad that this breaks the fast:

“Two women were once fasting during the lifetime of Allaah’s Messenger and they almost died of thirst. This was mentioned to the Prophet (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) but he turned away from (allowing) them (to break the fast). Then they were mentioned to him again, so he called for them and ordered them to vomit, i.e. throw up, what was in their stomachs. So they both vomited and filled up a bowl with puss, blood and pieces of flesh. Then the Prophet (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘These two fasted by refraining from what Allaah made lawful for them. but they broke their fast by doing what Allaah made unlawful for them. One of them sat with the other and they began to eat from the flesh of people.’”

Eating to Fast [Not fasting to eat]

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,

It is reported that once, some good food was served to Anas [Ibn Mâlik] – Allâh be pleased with him, and [the person who served the food] was well off enough to afford good food. As he was eating, he kept a morsel of the food in his mouth for a while, then looked at the people and began to cry. Then he said, “By Allâh, I have accompanied people who, if they could get hold of this kind of food, would have fasted even more often, and spent less time not fasting. One of them would find only milk mixed with water [as food], which he would drink and then fast on.”

Al-Mu’âfâ b. ‘Imrân, Kitâb Al-Zuhd article 215.
Source: Sayings of the salaf

Purpose and Benefits of Fasting

An old but good reminder...