Mishkat al-Masabih

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, "When Ramadan begins the gates of heaven are opened." A version has, "The gates of paradise are opened, the gates of jahannam are locked, and the devils are chained." Another has, "The gates of mercy are opened." (Bukhari and Muslim).

Sahl b. Sa'd reported God’s messenger as saying, "In paradise there are eight gates among which is a gate called ar-Rayyan which only those who fast will enter." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, "He who fasts during Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from God will have his past sins forgiven; he who prays during the night in Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from God will have his past sins forgiven; and he who passes Lailat al-qadr in prayer with faith and seeking his reward from God will have his past sins forgiven." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He reported God’s messenger as saying, "Every and when the day of the fast of any of you comes he must not use vile language or raise his voice, and if anyone reviles him or tries to fight with him he should tell him he is fasting.” *This is not from the Qur’an, but is a hadith qudsi, a tradition which gives words spoken by God. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, "When the first night of Ramadan comes the devils and the rebellious jinn are chained, the gates of hell are locked and not one of them is opened; the gates of paradise are opened and not one of them is locked, and a crier calls, 'You who desire what is good, come forward, and you who desire evil refrain.' Some are freed from hell by God, and that happens every night." Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it, and Ahmad transmitted it from a man. Tirmidhi said this is a gharib tradition.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “Ramadan, a blessed month, has come to you during which God has made it obligatory for you to fast. In it the gates of heaven are opened, the gates of al-Jahim are locked, and the rebellious devils are chained. In it God has a night which is better than a thousand months. He who is deprived of its good has indeed suffered deprivation." Ahmad and Nasa’i transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr reported God’s messenger as saying, “Fasting and the Qur’an intercede for a man. Fasting says, ‘O my Lord, I have kept him away from his food and his passions by day, so accept my intercession for him.’ The Qur’an says, ‘I have kept him away from sleep by night, so accept my intercession for him.’ Then their intercession is accepted." Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-iman.

Anas b. Malik told of God’s messenger saying when Ramadan began, “This month has come to you, and it contains a night which is better than a thousand months. He who is deprived of it is deprived of all good, but only those who are denied prosperity are deprived of it." Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Salman al-Farisi told of God’s messenger saying in a sermon which he delivered to them on the last day of Sha'ban, “A great month, a blessed month, a month containing a night which is better than a thousand months has approached you people. God has appointed the observance of fasting during it as an obligatory duty, and the passing of its night in prayer as a voluntary practice. If someone draws near to God during it with some good act he will be like one who fulfils an obligatory duty in another month, and he who fulfills an obligatory duty in it will be like one who fulfills seventy obligatory duties in another month. It is the month of endurance, and the reward of endurance is paradise. It is the month of sharing with others, and a month in which the believer’s provision is increased. If someone gives one who has been fasting something with which to break his fast it will provide forgiveness of his sins and save him from hell, and he will have a reward equal to his without his reward being diminished in any respect.” Some of them remarked to God’s messenger that they did not all have the means to give one who had been fasting something with which to break his fast, and he replied, “God gives this reward to him who gives one who has been fasting some milk mixed with water, or a date, or a drink of water with which to break his fast, and anyone who gives a full meal to one who has been fasting will be given a drink from any tank by God and will not thirst till he enters paradise. It is a month whose beginning is mercy, whose middle is forgiveness, and whose end is freedom from hell. If anyone makes things easy for his slave during it, God will forgive him and free him from hell.”

Ibn ‘Abbas said that when the month of Ramadan began God's messenger set every prisoner free and gave to every beggar.

Ibn ‘Umar reported the Prophet as saying, “Paradise is decorated for Ramadan from the beginning of the year till a following year, and when the first day of Ramadan comes a wind under the throne blows some of the leaves of paradise on the maidens with bright large eyes,* and they say, ‘My Lord, appoint us husbands from among Thy servants with whom we shall be happy and who will be happy with us’.” *cf. Qur’an, xliv, 54; lvi, 22. Baihaqi transmitted the three traditions in Shu'ab al-iman.

Abu Huraira said that when the Prophet stated that his people would be granted forgiveness on the last night in Ramadan and was asked whether it was Lailat al-qadr, he replied, “No, but a workman is paid his full wages only when he has finished his work.” Ahmad transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Umar reported God’s messenger as saying, “Do not fast till you see the new moon, and do not break your fast till you see it; but if the weather is cloudy calculate when it should appear.” In a version he said, “The month consists of twenty-nine days, but do not fast till you see it, and if the weather is cloudy wait till thirty days of the previous month have passed.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “Fast when you see it and break your fast when you see it, and if the weather is cloudy treat Sha‘ban as having thirty days.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn ‘Umar reported God’s messenger as saying, “We are an unlettered people who can neither write nor count. The month is thus and thus and thus,” drawing in his thumb when he said it the third time.* Then he said, “The month is thus and thus and thus,” meaning a complete thirty days. He meant alternately twenty-nine and thirty. *Spreading out the ten fingers the first two times and nine the third time. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Bakra reported God’s messenger as saying, “The months of festival, Ramadan and Dhul-hijja, are not defective.”* *The most probable meaning is that, even if these months have only twenty-nine days, they are not on that account to be considered deficient in comparison with a month which has thirty days. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “None of you must fast one day or two days just before Ramadan, except in the case of a man who has been in the habit of observing a particular fast, for he may fast on that day.”* *If a man is in the habit of fasting on a particular day of the week and one or other of the two days before Ramadan falls on that day, he may observe his usual practice. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, "When the middle of Sha'ban comes do not fast." Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.

He reported God’s messenger as saying, "Calculate on the basis of the new moon of Sha'ban when Ramadan begins." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Umm Salama said she never saw the Prophet fasting two consecutive months, except Sha'ban and Ramadan. Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

‘Ammar b. Yasir said, "He who fasts on a day about which he is doubtful has disobeyed Abul Qasim"* *i.e., the Prophet. Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Nasa’i, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas told a desert Arab coming to the Prophet and saying he had seen the new moon, i.e. the new moon of Ramadan. He asked him whether he testified that there is no god but God and he replied that he did. He then asked if he testified that Muhammad is God’s messenger, and when he replied that he did he said, “Bilal, announce to the people that they must fast tomorrow." Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Nasa’i, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Umar said that the people tried to see the new moon and he informed God’s messenger that he had seen it, so he fasted and commanded the people to observe the fast." Abu Dawud and Darimi transmitted it.

‘A’isha said that God’s messenger used to count the days in Sha'ban in a manner he did not practise any other month, then fasted when he saw the new moon of Ramadan; but if the weather was cloudy he counted thirty days and then fasted. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

We went out to perform the ‘umra, and when we encamped in the valley of Nakhla we tried to see the new moon. Some of the people said it was three nights old and others that it was two nights old. We then met Ibn ‘Abbas and told him we had seen the new moon, but that some of the people said it was three nights old and others that it was two nights old. He asked what night we had seen it, and when we told him we had seen it on such and such a night he said, “God’s messenger deferred it till the time it is seen, so it is to be reckoned as being on the night you saw it.” In a version he said: We saw the new moon of Ramadan when we were in Dhat ‘Irq* and we sent a man to Ibn ‘Abbas to enquire of him. He replied that God’s messenger had said, “God most high has deferred it till it is seen, but if the weather is cloudy observe the fast after the complete number of days have passed.” *Dhat 'Irq was near Nakhla, so this version is simply a little more precise than the other about were they were. Muslim transmitted it.

Anas reported God's messenger as saying, “Take a meal a little before dawn, for there is a blessing in taking a meal at that time.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘Amr b. al-‘As reported God’s messenger as saying, “The difference between our fasting and that of the People of the Book is eating shortly before dawn.” Muslim transmitted it.

Sahl reported God’s messenger as saying, “The people will continue to prosper as long as they hasten the breaking of the fast.”* *This refers to each day during Ramadan, and recommends that the fast should be broken as early as that may lawfully be done. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘Umar reported God’s messenger as saying, “When the night approaches on this side and the day retreats on that side and the sun sets, he who fasts has reached the time to break it.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira said that God’s messenger forbade uninterrupted fasting, and when a man said, “You fast uninterruptedly, messenger of God,” he replied, “Which of you is like me? During the night my Lord gives me food and drink.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Hafsa reported God’s messenger as saying, “He who does not before dawn express his intention of fasting is not credited with it.” Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Nasa’i and Darimi transmitted it. Abu Dawud said that Ma'mar, az-Zubaidi, Ibn ‘Uyaina and Yunus al-Aili, all of whom got it on Zuhri’s authority, traced it no farther back than Hafsa.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “When any of you hears the summons to prayer while he has a vessel in his hand he should not lay it down till he finishes his drink.”* *This is interpreted as referring to the dawn prayer during Ramadan. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

He reported God’s messenger as stating that God Most High has said, “Those of my servants who are quickest in breaking their fast are dearest to me.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Salman b. ‘Amir reported God’s messenger as saying, “When one of you breaks his fast he should do so with dates for they provide blessing; but if he cannot get any he should break his fast with water for it is purifying.” Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it, but only Tirmidhi included “for they provide blessing.”

Anas said that the Prophet used to break his fast before praying with some fresh dates, but if there were no fresh dates he had a few dry dates, and if there were no dry dates he took some mouthfuls* of water. *Mirqat explains this as three mouthfuls, but 'three' does not occur in the text. Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying that this is a hasan gharib tradition.

Zaid b. Khalid reported God’s messenger as saying, ‘He who gives one who has been fasting something with which to break his fast, or who equips a fighter will have a reward equivalent to his.” Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-iman, and Muhyi as-sunna, who said it is sahih, in Sharh as-sunna.

Ibn ‘Umar told that the Prophet said when he broke his fast, “Thirst has gone, the arteries are moist, and the reward is sure, if God wills.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Mu'adh b. Zuhra told that when the Prophet broke his fast he said, “O God, for Thee I have fasted and with Thy provision I have broken my fast.” Abu Dawud transmitted it in mursal form.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “The religion will continue to prevail as long as people hasten to break the fast, because the Jews and the Christians delay doing so.” Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Masruq and I visited ‘A'isha and said, “Mother of the faithful, there are two of Muhammad’s companions one of whom hastens to break the fast and hastens to pray while the other delays breaking the fast and delays praying. She asked which of them hastened to break the fast and hastened to pray, and when we told her that he was ‘Abdallah b. Mas'ud she said, "Thus did God’s messenger do." The other was Abu Musa. Muslim transmitted it.

Al-‘Irbad b. Sariya told that God’s messenger invited him to a meal shortly before dawn in Ramadan saying, “Come to the blessed morning meal.” Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “How good is the believer’s meal of dates shortly before dawn!” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “If one does not abandon falsehood and action in accordance with it, God had no need that he should abandon his food and his drink.” Bukhari transmitted it.

‘A'isha said, “God’s messenger used to kiss and embrace while he was fasting, but he was the one of you who had most control over his desire.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

She said that God’s messenger would be overtaken by the dawn in Ramadan when he was in a state of sexual defilement, not owing to a dream, and would wash and fast. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn ‘Abbas said that the Prophet had himself cupped when he was wearing the ihram and also when he was fasting. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone forgets when he is fasting and eats or drinks he should complete his fast, for it is only God who has fed him and given him drink.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He said that while they were sitting with the Prophet a man came to him and said, “Messenger of God, I am undone.” He asked him what had happened to him and he replied that he had had intercourse with his wife while he was fasting. God’s messenger then asked him whether he could get a slave to free, but he replied that he could not. He asked if he could fast two consecutive months, but he replied that he could not. He asked if he could provide food for sixty poor people, and when he replied that he could not, he told him to sit down. The Prophet then waited for a time, and meanwhile an ‘araq containing dates was brought to him, an ‘araq being a huge basket.* He asked where the man who had questioned him was, and when he replied, " I am," he said, "Take this and give it as sadaqa." The man replied, “Am I to give it to one who is poorer than I am, messenger of God? I swear by God that there is no poorer family than mine between the two lava plains of Medina," i.e. the two harras. The Prophet thereupon laughed so that his eye-teeth became visible and said, "Give it to your family to eat." *In explaining the word 'araq the tradition calls it a hugh miktal. The miktal was a basket containing fifteen sa's. It is also said to have had double that capacity. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘A'isha said that the Prophet used to kiss her and suck her tongue when he was fasting. Abu Dawud transmitted it.* *Saum, 34. This is said by some to be weak because Muhammad b. Dinar and Sa'd b. Aus are among its transmitters.

Abu Huraira said that a man asked the Prophet whether one who was fasting might embrace his wife and he gave him permission, but when another came to him and asked him he forbade him. The one to whom he gave permission was an old man and the one whom he forbade was a youth. Abu Dawud transmitted it.