Recommended deeds while fasting

Breaking one’s fasting quickly is a recommended (sunnah) action, while he is sure the sun set. It is good to break one’s fast on dates, and if not available then by drinking water. As well, it is good to delay Suhur meal (Pre- dawn meal) to the extend in which one can complete 50 holy verses of Quran before the dawn. Once the Prophet (PBH) said: “Whoever draws nearer (to Allah) by performing any of the (optional) good deeds in (this month), shall receive the same reward as performing an obligatory deed at any other time”.

Abstaining from backbiting or cursing a Muslim and other sins is more emphasized while fasting. As committing such sins,  the reward of one’s fasting might be lessened or lost. If someone curses another, let him abstain from responding by a similar curse. Let him say, "I am fasting, I am fasting." 

There are a lot of rewarding actions in the Ramadan such as paying  much optional charity to the poor,  reciting the holy Qur’an, seclusion in the Masjid (itikaf) especially during the last ten days of Ramadan, praying the Tarawih Prayer (for more details of Tarawih look on the article The Prayer Tharawih), inviting others to break their fast on food which you provided even if only with a sip of water, keeping good relations with kinfolk and visit others for the sake of Allah Most High, taking a bath [ghusl] every night of Ramadan, especially if one attends the group prayer and so on. It is also recommended to make extensive supplication on this night.  Aysha (May Allah please with her) reported that she asked Allah’s Messenger (PBH) “O Messenger of Allah! If I knew which night is Laylat ul-Qadr, what should I say during it?” And he instructed her to say: “Allahumma innaka afuwwun thuhibbul afwa fa’fu annee – O Allah! You are forgiving, and you love forgiveness. So forgive me.”  (Reported by Ahmed, Ibn Majah and at Thurmudhi).  Abandoning Worldly Pleasures for the Sake of Worship, it is further recommended to spent more time in worship during the nights on which Laylt ul-Qadr is likely to be.  This calls for abandoning many worldly pleasures in order to secure the time and thoughts solely for worshipping Allah.  

 

Aysha (R) reported: “When the last ten days of fasting started, the Prophet (PBH) would tighten his izar (i.e. he stayed away from his wives and spent the time in the Masjid in order to have more time for worship), spent the whole night awake (in prayer), and wake up his family” (Bukhari & Muslim). And she said: “Allah’s Messenger (PBH) used to exert more (in worship) on the last ten that on other nights” (Muslim). 

In nutshell, the month of Ramadan is a great opportunity for heaping up the rewards from the Almighty. Because, performing this is an obligation in worship and obedience to Allah. Some of us fast but do not give up lying, cursing, fighting, backbiting, etc. and some of us fast but do not give up cheating, stealing, dealing in haram, buying lottery tickets, selling alcohol, fornication, etc. and all kinds of impermissible things. 

'Oh! You who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqoon (the pious)' [al-Baqarah 2:183].

The Prophet (PBH) said: 'Whoever does not give up false speech and acting upon it, and ignorance, Allah has no need of him giving up his food and drink' (Bukhari). Hence we should realize that the purpose of fasting is to not stay away from food and drink; rather the aim behind it is to fear Allah.