21. It is best to open one’s fast with dates and water.
عن سلمان بن عامر قال : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا أفطر أحدكم فليفطر على تمر فإنه بركة فإن لم يجد تمرا فالماء فإنه طهور (ترمذي رقم 658)
Hadhrat Salmaan bin Aamir (Radhiallahu Anhu) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “At the time of iftaar one should open his fast with dates as this is full of blessings, and if this is not possible then he should drink water as this is a means of purification.”
عن أنس قال : كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يفطر قبل أن يصلي على رطبات فإن لم تكن فتميرات فإن لم تكن تميرات حسى حسوات من ماء . (ترمذي رقم 696)
Hadhrat Anas (Radhiallahu Anhu) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) would open his fast with fresh dates before performing the Maghrib salaah. If fresh dates were not found, then Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) would open his fast with dry dates. If dry dates were not found, Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) would open his fast with a few sips of water.
22. At the time of iftaar recite the following du'aa:
اَللّهُمَّ لَكَ صُمْتُ وَ عَلى رِزْقِكَ أَفْطَرْتُ فَتَقَبَّلْ مِنِّيْ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ السَّمِيعُ العَلِيم
O Allah, I have kept this fast solely for You, and with Your sustenance I have opened my fast. Accept this fast from me. Indeed You are All hearing and All knowing.
ذَهَبَ الظَّمَأُ وَابْتَلَّتِ الْعُرُوقُ وَثَبَتَ الأَجْرُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ
(My) thirst has been quenched, and the veins have been moistened and the reward has been obtained (by Allah Ta’ala) Insha Allah.
عن معاذ بن زهرة قال : إن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم كان إذا أفطر قال : اللهم لك صمت وعلى رزقك أفطرت. ( أبو داود رقم 2360)
Hadhrat Muaaz bin Zuhrah (Radhiallahu Anhu) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) would recite the following Duaa at the time of opening the fast:
اَللّهُمَّ لَكَ صُمْتُ وَ عَلى رِزْقِكَ أَفْطَرْتُ
عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما قال كان النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم إذا أفطر قال : لك صمت وعلى رزقك أفطرت فتقبل مني إنك أنت السميع العليم رواه الطبراني في الكبير وفيه عبد الملك بن هارون وهو ضعيف (مجمع الزوائد رقم 4893)
Hadhrat ibn Abbaas (Radhiallahu Anhuma) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) would recite the following Duaa at the time of opening the fast:
اَللّهُمَّ لَكَ صُمْتُ وَ عَلى رِزْقِكَ أَفْطَرْتُ فَتَقَبَّلْ مِنِّيْ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ السَّمِيعُ العَلِيم
عن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما قال : كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا أفطر قال : ذهب الظمأ وابتلت العروق وثبت الأجر إن شاء الله ( أبو داود رقم 2359)
Hadhrat ibn Umar (Radhiallahu Anhu) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) would recite the following Duaa at the time of opening the fast:
ذَهَبَ الظَّمَأُ وَابْتَلَّتِ الْعُرُوقُ وَثَبَتَ الأَجْرُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ
23. Be generous in the month of Ramadhaan. Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) would express the most amount of generosity in the month of Ramadhaan compared to the other months of the year.
عن ابن عباس قال كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أجود الناس وكان أجود ما يكون في رمضان حين يلقاه جبريل وكان يلقاه في كل ليلة من رمضان فيدارسه القرآن فلرسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أجود بالخير من الريح المرسلة (بخاري رقم 6)
Hadhrat ibn Abbaas (Radhiallahu Anhuma) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) was the most generous of people. He would reach the peak of his generosity in the month of Ramadhaan when Hadhrat Jibra’eel (Alaihis Salaam) would come to meet him (to make dhor and revise the Qur’an). Hadhrat Jibra’eel (Alaihis Salaam) would meet him every night in Ramadhaan wherein they both used to recite the Qur’an Majeed to each other. Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) was more generous than the (beneficial) wind that blew (i.e. the wind is known for having no boundaries and it reaches all places, hence the generosity of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) even surpassed the limits of the wind in showing love and compassion for the creation).
24. If it is possible, provide iftaar for a fasting person, even if it be a date.
عن سلمان رضي الله عنه قال خطبنا رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم في آخر يوم من شعبان ... من فطر فيه صائما كان مغفرة لذنوبه وعتق رقبته من النار وكان له مثل أجره من غير أن ينقص من أجره شيء قالوا يا رسول الله ليس كلنا يجد ما يفطر الصائم فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم يعطي الله هذا الثواب من فطر صائما على تمرة أو على شربة ماء أو مذقة لبن... ومن سقى صائما سقاه الله من حوضي شربة لا يظمأ حتى يدخل الجنة (الترغيب و الترهيب رقم 1483)
Hadhrat Salmaan (Radhiallahu Anhu) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) delivered a khutbah on the last day of Sha’baan (wherein he mentioned): “Whoever feeds a fasting person at the time of iftaar, it will be a means of forgiveness of his sins and freedom from the fire of Jahannum, and he will receive the same reward as the fasting person, without his reward diminishing in the least. The Sahaabah said: “O Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), not all of us have the means to feed a fasting person. Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “Allah Ta’ala will grant this reward to the one who provides the fasting person with just a date, or a sip of water, or a sip of milk…
And whoever gives a fasting person something to drink (at the time of iftaar), Allah Ta’ala will give him to drink from my haudh (on the day of Qiyaamah), such a drink after which he will never feel thirsty again until he enters into Jannah.”
25. Ensure that you perform the twenty rakaat taraweeh salaah every night. The taraweeh salaah is an emphasised sunnah. In the era of Hadhrat Umar (Radhiallahu Anhu), all the Sahaabah had consensus on performing twenty rakaat taraweeh. At least try to complete one khatam of the Qur’aan 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 (ابو داود رقم 1373)
Hadhrat Abu Hurayrah (Radhiallahu Anhu) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “The one who stands in Taraweeh 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 و تعالى فرض صيام رمضان عليكم و سننت لكم قيامه فمن صامه و قامه إيمانا و احتسابا خرج من ذنوبه كيوم ولدته أمه (سنن النسائي 1/308)
Hadhrat Abdur Rahman bin Auf reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “Verily 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’aala, he will be cleansed from all his sins like the day his mother bore him.”
عن ابى 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 (سنن الكبرى للبيهقي رقم 4805)
Abul Hasana says, “Hadhrat Ali (Radhiallahu Anhu) ordered a person to perform twenty rakaats of Taraweeh 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 و يوتر بثلاث (عمدة القاري 11/127)
A’amash says, “Abdullah ibn Mas’ood (Radhiallahu Anhu) used to lead the taraweeh salaah during the month of Ramadhaan for the people and he used to perform 20 rakaats and would perform 3 witr.”
روى البيهقي بإسناد صحيح انهم كانوا يقيمون على عهد عمر بعشرين ركعة و علي عهد عثمان و علي (و هكذا هو في عمدة القاري) (فتح الملهم 2/320)
Allamah Ayni says, “The illustrious Sahaabah of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) had performed twenty Rakaats during the reign of Hazrat Umar (Radhiallahu Anhu), and Hazrat Uthmaan and Hazrat Ali (Radhiallahu Anhuma).” (Ayni's Sharh-e- Bukhari Vol.7 P.178)