Ramadan is a time where our good deeds are multiplied and Iman/remembrance of Allah increases. Below are some lessons from the Sunnah on how to act during Ramadan and some advice regarding maximizing our rewards during the Holy Month.
Avoid Obscene Language, Backbiting, and Quarreling
During Ramadan many of us tend to lose our temper and think it is “ok because were fasting”. The Prophet ﷺ warned against this and taught how to respond when someone else is acting in this manner in the below narrations:
Narrated Abu Hurairah: The Prophet (ﷺ) as saying: Fast is a shield ; when one of you is fasting, he should neither behave in an obscene manner nor foolishly. If a man fights or abuses him, he should say: I am fasting, I am fasting.
Sunan Abi Dawud 2363
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions, Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink (i.e. Allah will not accept his fasting.)"
Sahih al-Bukhari 1903
Increase in your kindness and charity
Due to our reward being multiplied in the month of Ramadan, we should be even more kind and charity to people than normal. This is an action of the Prophet ﷺ as mentioned below:
Narrated Ibn `Abbas: The Prophet (ﷺ) 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 Qur'an with him. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) then used to be more generous than the fast wind.
Sahih al-Bukhari 3554
It was narrated from 'Ubaidullah bin 'Abdullah bin 'Utabah that 'Abdullah bin 'Abbas used to say: "The Messenger of Allah was the most generous of people, and he was most generous in Ramadan when Jibril met him. Jibril use to meet him every night during the month of Ramadan and study Quran with him." And he said: "When Jibril met him, the Messenger of Allah was more generous in doing good than the blowing wind."
Sunan an-Nasa’i 2095
Increase in Good Deeds
During Ramadan the rewards of our good deeds are multiplied, which means we should be more hasty to perform good deeds to earn the mercy of Allah.
This can be charity such as feeding fasting people when they break their fast, or giving money to the poor.
There are many narrations of the Prophet ﷺ being more generous during Ramadan and commanding us to emulate this:
Narrated Ibn `Abbas: The Prophet (ﷺ) 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 Qur'an with him. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) then used to be more generous than the fast wind.
Sahih al-Bukhari 3554
Zaid bin Khalid Al-Juhani narrated that: The Messenger of Allah said: "Whoever provides the food for a fasting person to break his fast with, then for him is the same reward as his (the fasting person's), without anything being diminished from the reward of the fasting person."
Jami` at-Tirmidhi 807
Other ways to increase in good deeds can be to increase in the voluntary salah and supplications/dhikr:
It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'There has come to you Ramadan, a blessed month, 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."'
Sunan an-Nasa’i 2106
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "He who observes fasting during the month of Ramadan with Faith while seeking its reward from Allah, will have his past sins forgiven."
Riyad as-Salihin 1219
Az-Zuhri said:** “A Tasbihah in Ramadan is better than a thousand Tasbihah in other that it.”
Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3472
Stay away from time wasters (Social Media, Video Games, Lounging)
As mentioned before, Ramadan is a time to maximize good deeds and take advantage of the blessings Allah has given us. Using this precious time on social media, video games, or lounging around is simply unproductive and not what Ramadan is supposed to be. We shouldn’t be ‘passing the time’ to get through the day, but instead increasing our supplications, charity, and salah.
The above mentioned is not talking about Haram/Halal, but simply a prospective every Muslim should have when fasting Ramadan.
Maximize Salah and Duas
The Prophet ﷺ would increase in his supplications and dua during the month of Ramadan, as mentioned in the below narrations:
It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'There has come to you Ramadan, a blessed month, 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."'
Sunan an-Nasa’i 2106
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "He who observes fasting during the month of Ramadan with Faith while seeking its reward from Allah, will have his past sins forgiven."
Riyad as-Salihin 1219
Az-Zuhri said: “A Tasbihah in Ramadan is better than a thousand Tasbihah in other that it.”
Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3472
Don’t overindulge after breaking your fast
Many Muslims after breaking the fast tend to overendulge in food after breaking the fast, but this is against the sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ and the command of Allah in the Holy Quran.
Narrated Anas ibn Malik: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to break his fast before praying with some fresh dates; but if there were no fresh dates, he had a few dry dates, and if there were no dry dates, he took some mouthfuls of water.
Sunan Abi Dawud 2356
“…Eat of the good things We have provided for your sustenance, but commit no excess therein…”
Quran 20:81
The above shows we should not commit excess in our food and drink, but eat what we need. This is especially important during Ramadan, as eating so much can cause sluggishness and may discourage one to go pray in congregation.
Don’t Sleep the Whole Day
This follows the same principle as avoiding wasting time. You are losing the rewards of fasting, while missing Salah, and not maximizing your rewards.
The above list is not made to overwhelm you, but goals for ALL of us to try and achieve in the coming Ramadans. May Allah bless you and your fast and may He accept our fasting and good deeds in this blessed month.