This Ramadan, I have tried studying in depth how RasulAllah (PBUH) spent a typical day during this blessed month. If one were to imagine what it would be like to walk in the footsteps of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in the month of Ramadan, one might think it would be impossible.
But is it?
Let us start from the beginning when the good news of the sighting of moon of Ramadan came to our Beloved Prophet (PBUH).
Our Beloved Prophet (PBUH) used to gather his companions and give them the glad tidings of the beginning of Ramadan to draw their attention and to give them a signal that the starting month is a month full of Barakah (blessings) as reported by Abu Hurairah (RA) [1]:
The Messenger of Allah said: “There has come to you Ramadan, a blessed month, in which Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, has enjoined you to fast. In it the gates of heavens are opened and the gates of Hell are closed, and every devil is chained up. In it Allah has a night which is better than a thousand months; whoever is deprived of its goodness is indeed deprived.”
Our Beloved Prophet (PBUH) started his day with praying Fajr with congregation as it was his norm in the other months. And He taught us the importance of Fajr prayer, Jundub bin Sufyan (RA) reported [2]:
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “He who offers the dawn (Fajr) prayers will come under the Protection of Allah. O son of Adam! Beware, lest Allah should call you to account in any respect from (for withdrawing) His Protection.”
He (PBUH) would sit after Fajr prayer supplicating and remembering Allah until sunrise and then supplicate the morning supplication as reported by Abdullah bin Masud (RA) and collected in Sahih Muslim.
And when it was forenoon, RasulAllah (PBUH) would perform Salat al-Duhaa (the forenoon prayer) as reported by Aisha (RA) [3]:
The Messenger (PBUH) of Allah used to perform four Rakah of Duha prayer (at the forenoon) and would add to them whatever Allah wished.
The Messenger (PBUH) of Allah used to remember Allah a lot during his day and he informed us that it is the most beloved act to Allah as reported by Abud-Darda (RA) [4]:
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “Shall I not inform you of the best of your actions which are the purest to your Rabb, which exalt you to the high ranks, which are more efficacious than spending gold and silver (in charity), and better for you than you should encounter your enemies whom you will smite their necks and they will smite your necks?” They said, “Certainly!” He (PBUH) said, “Remembrance of Allah the Exalted.”
We can also learn from the generosity of our Beloved Prophet (PBUH) in Ramadan. He gave a lot of Sadaqah and urged his companions to do so as well. The month of Ramadan is a month of blessing, a month in which we remember the poor and the situation they live in. So giving a lot of Sadaqah was the Sunnah of our Beloved Prophet (PBUH). As narrated by Ibn Abbas (RA) [5]:
The Prophet (PBUH) was the most generous of all the people, and he used to become more generous in Ramadan when Gabriel met him. Gabriel used to meet him every night during Ramadan to revise The Quran with him. Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) then used to be more generous than the fast wind.
As we all know, the Prophet (PBUH) used to read Quran in abundance in Ramadan and it is the only month in which he would finish the Quran in one night. As reported by Aisha (RA) [6]:
I do not know that the Messenger (PBUH) of Allah recited the whole Quran in one night, or prayed Qiyam until morning, or ever fasted an entire month except Ramadan.
In the evening, as it was his norm, the Messenger (PBUH) of Allah used to hasten the breaking of his fast as reported by Sahl bin Sa’ad (RA) [7]:
The people will remain on the right path as long as they hasten the breaking of the fast.
And as reported by Abu Hurairah (RA) [8]:
There are three whose supplications are not turned back: a just ruler, and a fasting person until he breaks his fast. And, the supplication of one who has been wronged is raised by Allah up to the clouds on the Day of Resurrection, and the gates of heaven are opened for it, and Allah says, ‘By My Might I will help you (against the wrongdoer) even if it is after a while.’
And as reported by Anas bin Malik (RA) and collected by Imam An-Nawawi in his famous work Riyadh Saliheen (May Allah be pleased with him), he said [9]:
The Messenger of Allah would break the fast with fresh dates before performing salah. If there were no fresh dates then (he would break the fast) with dried dates, and if there were no dried dates then he would take a few sips of water.
In the last ten days of Ramadan, the Prophet (PBUH) would stay awake at night and pray the whole night not alone but together with his family members.
Aisha (RA) reported [10]:
When the last ten nights (of Ramadan) would begin, the Messenger (PBUH) of Allah would keep awake at night (for prayer and devotion), awaken his family and prepare himself to be more diligent in worship.
To complete the 24 hour cycle, our Beloved Prophet (PBUH) used to eat suhoor and he urged his Ummah to do so because of its immense blessings. As collected in Sahih Bukhari, Anas bin Malik (RA) narrates that [11]:
The Prophet said: “Take Suhoor as there is a blessing in it.”
References
- Sunan an-Nasai 2106 Vol 3, Book 22, Hadith 2108
- Sahih Muslim Book 9, Hadith 59
- Sahih Muslim Book 9, Hadith 151
- Sunan Tirmidhi Book 16, Hadith 34
- Sahih Bukhari Vol 4, Book 56, Hadith 754
- Sunan an-Nasai Book 22, Hadith 93
- Sahih Bukhari Book 30, Hadith 64
- Sunan Ibn Majah Book 7, Hadith 1824
- Tirmidhi Book 8, Hadith 15
- Sahih Muslim Book of Virtues; Sahih Bukhari Book 9, Hadith 203
- Sahih Bukhari Book 30, Hadith 32
