Recommended Practices in Fasting That We Should Know

A list of recommended practices in fasting, starting from hastening to break the fast and taking the pre-dawn meal, guarding the tongue and actions, to increasing acts of worship so that the fast is more valuable.

Recommended Practices in Fasting That We Should Know

In performing the act of fasting, there are certain recommended practices in fasting that we should follow.

1. Hastening to break the fast when the time of Maghrib enters.

According to a hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "People are in a good state as long as they hasten to break the fast." (Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim).

The meaning is: the discipline of the Ummah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)in following his practices including recommended matters.

2. Breaking the fast with 3 dates, or if dates are not available, break the fast with water.

From Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him), indeed the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) would break his fast before praying by eating some fresh dates (ruthab), and if he could not find them, he would break his fast with dried dates (tamr). And if he could not find them, he would break his fast with a few sips of water." (Narrated by Abu Dawud and at-Tirmidhi).

3. Reciting the supplication when breaking the fast with the supplication of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).

The supplication for breaking the fast:

اَللَّهُمَّ لَكَ صُمْتُ وَبِكَ اَمَنْتُ وَعَلَى رِزْقِكَ اَفْطَرْتُ ذَهَبَ الظَّمَأُ وَابْتَلَّتِ الْعُرُوْقُ وَثَبَتَ اْلأَجْرُ إِنْ شَاءَ الله

"O Allah, for You I have fasted, in You I have believed, and by Your provision I break my fast. The thirst has gone and the veins are moistened, and the reward is established, Allah willing."

From Muadh ibn Zuhrah (may Allah be pleased with him), indeed the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), when he would break his fast, would supplicate: "Allahumma laka shumtu wa 'ala rizkika aftartu," meaning: O Allah, for You I have fasted and by Your provision I break my fast. (Narrated by Abu Dawud)

Or the following supplication can also be used:

ذَهَبَ الظَّمَأُ وَابْتَلَّتْ الْعُرُوقُ وَثَبَتَ الْأَجْرُ إن شَاءَ الله

"The thirst is gone, the veins are moistened, and the reward is established, Allah willing."

From Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), indeed the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), when he would break his fast, would supplicate: "Dhahaba adh-dhama'u wa-batallat al-'uruqu wa-thabata al-ajru insha'allah." (Narrated by Abu Dawud and an-Nasa'i, a good hadith)

4. Feeding a fasting person - the reward is equal to the reward of fasting.

From Zaid ibn Khalid al-Juhani, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

"Whoever feeds a fasting person, his reward is equal to that of the one fasting, and nothing is diminished from the reward of the one fasting." (Narrated by at-Tirmidhi)

5. Taking the pre-dawn meal and delaying it until before Fajr.

From Anas ibn Malik,

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Take the pre-dawn meal for indeed in the pre-dawn meal there is blessing." (Narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim)
From Anas, indeed Zaid ibn Thabit (may Allah be pleased with him) once took the pre-dawn meal with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and then prayed with him. Anas asked: "What was the interval between Zaid's pre-dawn meal and his prayer?" Zaid ibn Thabit said: "The interval was (the recitation of) 50 verses." (Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim)

6. Guarding oneself from sinful actions throughout the day.

Such as guarding the tongue from lies, curses, falsehood, backbiting (spreading secrets about others), tale-bearing, arrogance, deception, mockery, sarcasm, curiosity about others' affairs, excessive talk, suspicion, self-conceit, and evil deeds. This is a recommended practice of fasting.

According to a hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) from Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him):

"If someone is fasting, let him not speak obscenely and do not act foolishly. If someone insults him or fights him, let him say: I am fasting." (Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim)

7. Increasing acts of worship such as reading the Qur'an, treating family and neighbors with kindness and excellence, and giving much charity especially in the last days of fasting, etc.

According to a hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) who said:

"The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was the most generous of people in the month of Ramadan when he met Gabriel, and Gabriel would meet him every night of Ramadan, and Gabriel would teach him the Qur'an. Verily, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was quicker in doing good than the wind that blows." (Narrated by Muslim, an-Nasa'i, and Ahmad).

Another hadith from Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) indeed:

"When the last ten days of Ramadan would enter, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) would keep vigil in the night and wake his family, and he would tighten his waist." (Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim).

8. Bathing before dawn to enter the time of fasting in a state of purity.

9. Not wearing fragrances and anything that refreshes the body after the time of Dhuhr enters.

10. Restraining oneself from desires during the day because this is the essence and purpose of fasting.

11. Increasing supplication and seeking forgiveness. One of the supplications is:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنَّا

"O Allah, You are indeed Pardoning and love pardoning, so pardon us."

That was our discussion regarding the recommended practices in fasting which we should follow to attain abundant mercy, Allah willing.

Read the following articles:

Loading the full version…