How the Holy Prophet (PBUH) Used To Spend His Ramadan

Ramadan in the light of Sunnah and Hadith
The auspicious month of Ramadan is here. Ramadan is the holiest month of all the Islamic  months. Holy Quran was sent down in this sacred month. It’s that time of the year when the blessings and mercy of Allah SWT are at peak. Fasts are observed for the whole month. The atonement for the past sins is done. And breaking bad habits and making good ones is easier than any other time of the year because devils are chained during this month. The importance of this Holy month is evident from the Holy Quran and hadith.

In Quran, Allah Almighty says, “ Oh you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you may learn piety and righteousness.”  (Q 2:183)

“And it is better for you that ye fast, if ye only knew.” (Q 2:184)
Holy Prophet SAW said,

“When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of the Heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained.” (Imam Bukhari)

“Whoever fasts during Ramadan out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah's rewards, then all his past sins will be forgiven.” (Imam Bukhari)

Talking about how we should spend this holy month immediately leads us into wondering how our beloved Prophet  Muhammad SAW used to spend Ramadan. He SAW , the best human to have ever walked on earth, is the role model of every Muslim in every single aspect of life. We are required to follow his footsteps if we are to succeed in this world and hereafter. He taught us the basic rules about fasting and set before us the  examples (Sunnah) of how can we make the most out of this Holy month and achieve greater rewards.

Following is a humble attempt to brief how Holy Prophet PBUH used to spend Ramadan and What he taught us to do to make the most out of this sacred month.

Reflection on the Quran:

Ibn Abbas (RA) narrates: "Jibril used to meet Him (Prophet Muhammad SAW) every night in Ramadan to study the Holy Quran carefully together.” (Bukhari)

This hadith shows that while its rewarding and extremely encouraged to recite the Holy Quran, studying  Quran deeply to understand its meaning and message is also very important. So, this Ramadan, along with reciting Quran, let's try to go deeper and ponder on the message Allah SWT has given us in this Holy Book.

Delaying Suhoor and hastening in Iftar:

Eating suhoor was highly encouraged by our beloved Prophet (PBUH). He said,

“Have the meal before daybreak because there is a blessing in it.”
Also, eating suhoor is what distinguishes us from the People of book as evident from this hadith,

“ The distinction between our fasting and the fasting of the People of book is taking of pre-dawn meal.” (Saheeh Muslim)

According to Sunnah, it is encouraged to delay suhoor till the last part of night and to hasten the iftar. “My ummah will not cease being upon goodness as long as they hasten the iftar and delay taking suhoor.” (Musnad Imam Ahmad)

The foods for breaking the fast according to Sunnah are fresh dates, dried dates or water.

Excessive Indulgence in worship and remembrance of Allah:
Holy Prophet PBUH used to spend Ramadan in  worship of Allah, Quran recitation and constant Dhikr. The enthusiasm of Holy Prophet Muhammad SAW in worshipping Allah  in Ramadan was more than any other month. We should also follow this Sunnah of our beloved Prophet and incorporate Dhikr and remembrance of Allah in our daily lives in Ramadan and even after Ramadan to earn abundant rewards and blessings of Allah.

Offering Taraweeh prayers:
It is a very strong Sunnah of our beloved Prophet to offer Taraweeh prayers in Ramadan nights. Prophet PBUH stated: “Whoever observes night prayer in Ramadan as an expression of his faith and to seek reward from Allah, then all his past sins will be blotted out" (Muslim)
Although Taraweeh prayers are not obligatory but offering them is highly encouraged and rewarding.

Itikaaf and the Night of Decree:
Itikaaf means to retreat and seclude from the world solely for the purpose of worship of Allah to seek His pleasure. Holy Prophet PBUH practiced itikaaf  in the last ten days of every Ramadan. He would limit his contact from the world and spend last ten days with utmost religious zest.
“The messenger of Allah PBUH would perform itikaaf in the last ten days of Ramadan. He continued it till he passed away.” (Bukhari, Muslim)

The night of decree Lailatul Qadr which also comes in the last ten days of Ramadan holds a lot of significance. Allah describes in Holy Quran that this night is better than thousand months.

“Indeed, We sent the Quran down during the Night of Decree. And what can make you know what is the Night Of Decree? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. The angels and the spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter. Peace it is until the emergence of dawn.” (Quran 97:1-5)

Prophet PBUH said: “Whoever established Salat (prayer) on the Night of Qadr with sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.” (Bukhari, Muslim)

Our beloved Prophet PBUH has told us to find the Night of Decree in the odd nights of  last ten nights of Ramadan. Our beloved Prophet PBUH would make special arrangements for ibadah in the last ten days.

“With the start of the last ten days of Ramadan, the Prophet PBUH used to tighten His waist belt (i.e. work hard) and used to pray all night and used to keep His family awake for prayers.” (Bukhari)

So we should avoid showing slackness and laziness in the last ten days and try our best to seek the abundant blessings, forgiveness and mercy of Allah by making the most of the Night of Decree.

Height of Generosity and alms giving/charity:
Prophet PBUH was the most generous and benevolent person but his generosity used to increase markedly in the month of Ramadan.
“Allah’s messenger was the most generous of all the people and he used to reach the peak in generosity in the month of Ramadan when Jibril met him. Jibril used to meet him every night of Ramadan to teach him the Quran. Allah's Messenger was the most generous person even more generous than the fair winds.”  (Bukhari)
Giving alms is a highly rewarding deed in the sight of Allah. Our beloved Prophet PBUH said,
“Giving alms can erase sins just like water ceases fire.” (Narrated by Tirmidhi)

May Allah SWT enable us all to follow the footsteps of His beloved Messenger PBUH and spend this Holy month of  Ramadan in its truest spirit. (Ameen)

- Mehroze Waseem (Class of 2019)