16. Try to complete all commitments and necessary duties before Ramadhaan so that all one’s time can be dedicated and devoted to ibaadat.
عن عبادة بن الصامت رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم قال يوما وحضر رمضان أتاكم رمضان شهر بركة يغشاكم الله فيه فينزل الرحمة ويحط الخطايا ويستجيب فيه الدعاء ينظر الله تعالى إلى تنافسكم فيه ويباهي بكم ملائكته فأروا الله من أنفسكم خيرا فإن الشقي من حرم فيه رحمة الله عز و جل رواه الطبراني ورواته ثقات إلا أن محمد بن قيس لا يحضرني فيه جرح ولا تعديل (الترغيب و الترهيب رقم 1490)
Hadhrat ‘Ubaadah bin Saamit (Radhiallahu Anhu) reports that on one occasion close to Ramadhaan, Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) addressed the Sahaabah saying: “Ramadhaan, the month full of blessings is about to dawn upon you. It is in this month wherein Allah Ta’ala turns His special mercies towards you, forgives your sins, accepts your duaas and supplications, looks at your vying with each other in carrying out good deeds (to please Allah Ta’ala) and boasts to His angels about you. Hence, show Allah Ta’ala your works of piety and righteousness. For certainly the most unfortunate one is the one who is deprived of the mercy of Allah Ta’ala in this blessed month.”
17. Spend time in the company of the pious servants of Allah Ta’ala in order to derive maximum benefit from this month.
18. There is a lot of barakah (blessings) in waking up for sehri. Hence, one should fulfil the sunnah of sehri before commencing the fast.
عن أبي سعيد الخدري رضي الله عنه قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم السحور كله بركة فلا تدعوه ولو أن يجرع أحدكم جرعة من ماء فإن الله عز و جل وملائكته يصلون على المتسحرين رواه أحمد وإسناده قوي (الترغيب و الترهيب رقم 1623)
Hadhrat Abu Saeed Khudri (radhiallahu Anhu) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “Sehri is full of blessings. Hence, do not omit the sunnah of sehri, even if one is able to have a sip of water at the time of sehri (one should do so in order to fulfil the sunnah of sehri). Certainly Allah Ta’ala descends His special grace upon those who wake up for sehri and the malaaikah make special duaa for them.
وعن عمرو بن العاص رضي الله عنه قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فصل ما بين صيامنا وصيام أهل الكتاب أكلة السحر. (مسلم رقم 1096)
Hadhrat Amr bin Aas (Radhiallahu Anhu) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “The difference between our fasts and the fasts of the Ahle kitaab is the eating of sehri.”
19. It is preferable to have sehri during the last portion of the night (i.e. a little before subh-saadiq).
عن أنس بن مالك رضي الله عنه أن نبي الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وزيد بن ثابت تسحرا فلما فرغا من سحورهما قام نبي الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إلى الصلاة فصلى قلنا لأنس كم كان بين فراغهما من سحورهما ودخولهما في الصلاة قال قدر ما يقرأ الرجل خمسين آية (بخاري رقم 576)
Hadhrat Anas (Radhiallahu Anhu) reports that on one occasion Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and Hadhrat Zaid bin Thaabit (Radhiallahu Anhu) sat to partake of sehri. When they completed with the sehri, Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) stood up to perform the Fajr salaah. The companions of Anas (Radhiallahu Anhu) asked him, “What was the duration of time after they completed sehri till the time the Fajr salaah was performed?” Hadhrat Anas (Radhiallahu Anhu) replied: “The duration was the time it would take a person to recite fifty verses of the Qur’an.”
20. One should have iftaar immediately after sunset.
عن سهل رضي الله عنه قال : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : لا يزال الناس بخير ما عجلوا الفطر. قال أبو عيسى حديث سهل بن سعد حديث حسن صحيح (ترمذي رقم 699)
Hadhrat Sahl (Radhiallahu Anhu) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “People will continue to remain upon goodness as long as they hasten in opening their fast.”
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال الله تعالى أحب عبادي إلي أعجلهم فطرا. (ترمذي رقم 700)
Hadhrat Abu Hurayrah (Radhiallahu Anhu) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said that Allah Ta’ala says: Those servants who are most beloved in My sight are those who hasten to open their fasts at the time of iftaar.