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عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يعتكف في كل رمضان عشرة أيام، فلما كان العام الذي قُبِضَ فيه اعتكف عشرين يوماً.

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to confine himself to the mosque to worship Allah for ten days in each Ramadan, particularly the middle ten nights of the month, with the hope that he would observe Laylat al-Qadr [Night of Decree] in those days. When he knew that the Night of Decree was in the last ten nights, he confined himself during those ten nights. The year in which he died, he secluded himself for twenty days to worship Allah Almighty more, and to get even closer to Him.

- رياض الصالحين من كلام سيد المرسلين؛ للإمام أبي زكريا النووي، تحقيق د. ماهر الفحل، دار ابن كثير-دمشق، الطبعة الأولى، 1428ه. - بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين؛ تأليف سليم الهلالي، دار ابن الجوزي، الطبعة الأولى 1418ه. - نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين؛ تأليف د. مصطفى الخِن وغيره، مؤسسة الرسالة-بيروت، الطبعة الرابعة عشر، 1407هـ. - صحيح البخاري –الجامع الصحيح-؛ للإمام أبي عبد الله محمد بن إسماعيل البخاري، عناية محمد زهير الناصر، دار طوق النجاة، الطبعة الأولى، 1422هـ. - شرح رياض الصالحين؛ للشيخ محمد بن صالح العثيمين، مدار الوطن، الرياض، 1426هـ. - فتح الباري شرح صحيح البخاري- أحمد بن علي بن حجر العسقلاني الشافعي-دار المعرفة- بيروت، رقم كتبه وأبوابه وأحاديثه: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي- قام بإخراجه وصححه وأشرف على طبعه: محب الدين الخطيب- عليه تعليقات العلامة: عبد العزيز بن عبد الله بن باز.

عن عبد الله بن عمر رضي الله عنه مرفوعاً: «إنَّ بِلالاً يُؤَذِّن بِلَيلٍ، فَكُلُوا واشرَبُوا حتَّى تَسمَعُوا أَذَان ابنِ أُمِّ مَكتُوم».

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) had two Muezzins: Bilāl ibn Rabāh and ‘Abdullāh ibn Umm Maktūm, who was blind. Bilāl (may Allah be pleased with him) used to make the Adhān for the Fajr prayer before the break of dawn, because this prayer occurs at the time of sleep and people need to get ready for it before its time. Hence, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) notified his Companions that Bilāl (may Allah be pleased with him) would call the Adhān during the night, and ordered them to eat and drink until the break of dawn, when the second Muezzin, ‘Abdullāh ibn Umm Maktūm (may Allah be pleased with him), would call the second Adhān. This was addressed to whoever intended to fast. So, at that point a person should stop eating and drinking, since the time for prayer would start. This is specific to the Fajr prayer, as it is not permissible in any other prayer to call the Adhān before its due time starts. There is a difference in scholarly opinion concerning the first Adhān for the Fajr prayer: Is it sufficient, or is the second Adhān, which indicates the beginning of the prayer time, necessary? The majority of scholars are of the opinion that the first Adhān is permissible, but not sufficient.

تيسير العلام شرح عمدة الأحكام للبسام، حققه وعلق عليه وخرج أحاديثه وصنع فهارسه: محمد صبحي بن حسن حلاق، ط10، مكتبة الصحابة، الإمارات - مكتبة التابعين، القاهرة، 1426هـ. تنبيه الأفهام شرح عمدة لأحكام لابن عثيمين، ط1، مكتبة الصحابة، الإمارات، 1426هـ. الإلمام بشرح عمدة الأحكام لإسماعيل الأنصاري، ط1، دار الفكر، دمشق، 1381هـ. صحيح البخاري، تحقيق: محمد زهير بن ناصر الناصر، ط1، دار طوق النجاة (مصورة عن السلطانية بإضافة ترقيم: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي)، 1422هـ. صحيح مسلم، تحقيق: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي، دار إحياء التراث العربي، بيروت.

عَنْ مُعَاذَةَ قَالَتْ: سَأَلْتُ عَائِشَةَ، فَقُلْتُ: مَا بَالُ الْحَائِضِ تَقْضِي الصَّوْمَ، وَلَا تَقْضِي الصَّلَاةَ؟ فَقَالَتْ: أَحَرُورِيَّةٌ أَنْتِ؟ قُلْتُ: لَسْتُ بِحَرُورِيَّةٍ، وَلَكِنِّي أَسْأَلُ. قَالَتْ: كَانَ يُصِيبُنَا ذَلِكَ، فَنُؤْمَرُ بِقَضَاءِ الصَّوْمِ، وَلَا نُؤْمَرُ بِقَضَاءِ الصَّلَاةِ.

Mu‘ādhah al-‘Adawiyyah asked the Mother of the believers, ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her): Why does the menstruating woman make up for her missed fasts but does not make up for the missed prayers? She answered her: Are you from the Harūriyyah Kharijites, those who ask excessive questions out of obstinacy and extremism? I said: I am not a Harūriyyah woman, but I am just asking. She said: We used to menstruate during the time of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), and we were commanded to make up for the missed fasts, but not the missed prayers.

• Denouncing everyone who asks questions out of obstinacy and argumentation.
• Al-Harūriyyah is attributed to a town near Kufa called Harūrā’—a sect of the Kharijites. The comparison to them is due to their extremism in religious matters, their excessive questioning, and their obstinate adherence to it.
• The teacher's clarification for those who seek knowledge and guidance.
• Responding with the exact text (of the Qur’an or Hadīth) is preferable, because ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) did not address the specific meaning the questioner asked about; this is because replying with the original text leaves no room for objection.
• Submission to the ruling of Allah and His Messenger (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), even if the servant does not understand the wisdom behind it.
• An-Nawawi said: The meaning of ‘Ā’ishah's statement is that a group of the Kharijites were making it obligatory for menstruating women to make up for the prayers missed during their menstrual period, which contradicts the consensus of Muslims. This questioning that ‘Ā’ishah engaged in was a questioning of disapproval, meaning: This is the way of the Harūriyyah, and what a bad way it is!

صحيح البخاري (1/ 71) (321). صحيح مسلم (1/ 265) (335). الإلمام بشرح عمدة الأحكام، لإسماعيل الأنصاري (1/ 68). تيسير العلام شرح عمدة الأحكام، لعبد الله البسام (ص81).

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «قَالَ اللَّهُ: كُلُّ عَمَلِ ابْنِ آدَمَ لَهُ، إِلَّا الصِّيَامَ، فَإِنَّهُ لِي وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ، وَالصِّيَامُ جُنَّةٌ، وَإِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ صَوْمِ أَحَدِكُمْ فَلاَ يَرْفُثْ وَلاَ يَصْخَبْ، فَإِنْ سَابَّهُ أَحَدٌ أَوْ قَاتَلَهُ، فَلْيَقُلْ إِنِّي امْرُؤٌ صَائِمٌ، وَالَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِيَدِهِ، لَخُلُوفُ فَمِ الصَّائِمِ أَطْيَبُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْ رِيحِ المِسْكِ، لِلصَّائِمِ فَرْحَتَانِ يَفْرَحُهُمَا: إِذَا أَفْطَرَ فَرِحَ، وَإِذَا لَقِيَ رَبَّهُ فَرِحَ بِصَوْمِهِ».

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed that Allah Almighty says in the Qudsi Hadīth: Every righteous deed offered by the son of Adam is multiplied by ten up to seven hundred times, except for fasting, which is for Me, as it does not involve ostentation, and I give reward for it. So, none but Me knows how great its reward is and how many times it is multiplied. Then he said: (Fasting is a shield), protection, shelter, and a fortified fort against the Fire because it is all about abstaining from desires and committing sins, and the Fire is surrounded with desires. (When it is the day when any of you is fasting, let him not engage in obscenity) at all through sexual intercourse and foreplay or through any obscene speech. (And let him not speak in a loud voice) by quarreling and shouting. (If anyone insults him or fights with him) in Ramadan, let him say: I am a fasting person; perhaps this will deter him. However, if he insists on real fighting, he should expel him with the least violent means first. Then the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) swore by the One in Whose Hand that his soul is that the foul breath of the fasting person resulting from fasting is more pleasant than the smell of musk in the sight of Allah on the Day of Judgment and is a means of receiving a greater reward than that of the musk, which is recommended to be used on Fridays and during the Dhikr (remembrance of Allah) sessions. The fasting person will have two occasions to rejoice: when breaking his fast, he rejoices at breaking his fast that eliminates his hunger and thirst; and he rejoices at completing his fast and accomplishing his act of worship, at the alleviation from his act of worship to his Lord, and at the strength it provides him with for his future fasting. (And when he meets his Lord, he rejoices at his fast), i.e., at its recompense and reward.

• The merit of fasting is that it protects the one who observes it from desires in this worldly life and from the punishment of the Fire in the Hereafter.
• Abandoning obscene speech and idle talk, enduring people's offense patiently, and responding to their abuse with patience and kindness are among the manners of fasting.
• When a fasting person or a worshipper rejoices for completing and finishing his act of worship, this does not diminish his reward in the Hereafter.
• Ultimate happiness is achieved by meeting Allah Almighty when the patient and those who used to observe fast will be given their reward without measure.
• Informing people of an act of obedience, in case of necessity and benefit, is not deemed ostentation when one says: "I am fasting."
• The person whose fasting is perfect is he whose limbs abstain from sins, whose tongue abstains from lying, obscene speech, and words of falsehood, and whose stomach abstains from food and drink.
• Emphasis on the prohibition of noise, quarreling, and shouting during the fast, as the non-fasting person is also prohibited from such things.
• This Hadīth is part of what the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) narrates from his Lord, and it is called Qudsi or Divine Hadīth. Its wording and meaning are from Allah, yet it does not have the unique characteristics of the Qur'an, including reciting it as a form of worship, getting purified for it, presenting it as a challenge, its miraculousness, etc.

صحيح البخاري (3/ 26) (1904). صحيح مسلم (2/ 807) (1151). بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، لسليم الهلالي (2/ 357). نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين، لمجموعة من الباحثين (2/ 866). كنوز رياض الصالحين، لمجموعة من الباحثين (15/ 5). شرح رياض الصالحين، لابن عثيمين (5/ 265).

عَنْ ‌سَهْلٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «إِنَّ فِي الْجَنَّةِ بَابًا يُقَالُ لَهُ الرَّيَّانُ، يَدْخُلُ مِنْهُ الصَّائِمُونَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ، لَا يَدْخُلُ مِنْهُ أَحَدٌ غَيْرُهُمْ، يُقَالُ: أَيْنَ الصَّائِمُونَ، فَيَقُومُونَ لَا يَدْخُلُ مِنْهُ أَحَدٌ غَيْرُهُمْ، فَإِذَا دَخَلُوا أُغْلِقَ، فَلَمْ يَدْخُلْ مِنْهُ أَحَدٌ».

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed that one of the gates of Paradise is called Ar-Rayyān, through which those who fast will enter on the Day of Judgment. No one else will enter through it. A call will be made: Where are those who fast? They will rise and enter, and no one else will be allowed to pass through it. Once the last of them has entered, it will be closed, and no one will enter through it thereafter.

• An-Nawawi said: This Hadīth denotes the merit of fasting and the honor bestowed upon those who fast.
• Allah has designated a special gate among the eight gates of Paradise for those who fast, which will be closed after they enter.
• Clarifying the fact that Paradise has gates.
• As-Sindi said: His statement (where are those who fast) refers to those who frequently observe fasting, like the just person and the oppressor; it is said for those who are accustomed to this, not for someone who does so only once.
• (Ar-Rayyān) means "the one that quenches thirst," because those who fast often experience thirst, especially during the long, hot days of the summer. So as a reward for them, this gate is called by something unique to them, the Gate of Ar-Rayyān. It is also said that Ar-Rayyān is derived from the form "fa‘lān", indicating abundance in quenching, the opposite of thirst. It was named to reward those who endure thirst and hunger during fasting.

صحيح البخاري (3/ 25) (1896). صحيح مسلم (2/ 808) (1152). بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، لسليم الهلالي (2/ 360). نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين، لمجموعة من الباحثين (2/ 868). شرح رياض الصالحين، لابن عثيمين (5/ 270).

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ أُمِّ المؤْمِنينَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهَا: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَجْتَهِدُ فِي الْعَشْرِ الْأَوَاخِرِ مَا لَا يَجْتَهِدُ فِي غَيْرِهِ.

Upon reaching the last ten nights of Ramadan, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to exert himself in performing acts of worship and acts of obedience. He used to exaggerate in offering various types of good deeds, different forms of acts of benevolence, and acts of worship more than he would offer at any other time, given the greatness and merit of such nights and seeking the Night of Decree.

• Encouraging the frequent practice of benevolence and various forms of acts of obedience generally during the month of Ramadan and particularly during its last ten nights.
• The last ten nights of Ramadan start from the twenty-first night until the end of the month.
• It is recommended to take advantage of the honorable occasions by engaging in acts of obedience.

صحيح مسلم (2/ 832) (1175). كنوز رياض الصالحين، لمجموعة من الباحثين (14/ 463). نزهة المتقين، لمجموعة من الباحثين (2/ 848). بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، لسليم الهلالي (2/ 339).

عن أنس رضي الله عنه قال: كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يُفْطِرُ من الشهر حتى نظن أن لا يصوم منه، ويصوم حتى نظن أن لا يُفْطِرَ منه شيئا، وكان لا تَشَاءُ أن تراه من الليل مُصَلِيًا إلا رأيتَه، ولا نائما إلا رأيتَه.

The meaning of the Hadīth: Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) informs about the condition of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) regarding fasting and praying at night. He said that he used to leave fasting in a certain month until a person would think that he has not fasted any day of that month; for not fasting for many days. Conversely, he used to fast in a certain month so many days that one would think that he has not broken his fast at all in that month; for his consistent fasting for many days. Likewise, he has not committed himself to pray at a certain time at night. Rather, he used to pray at the beginning of the night sometimes, other times in the middle, and other at the last part of it; such that if you wished to see him praying at night, you would be able to. And if you wished to see him sleeping at night, you would be able to as well. Therefore, his deeds were moderate between excess and negligence.

- رياض الصالحين من كلام سيد المرسلين، أبو زكريا محيي الدين النووي، تحقيق ماهر الفحل، دار ابن كثير، دمشق، بيروت، الطبعة: الأولى 1428هـ. - بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، سليم بن عيد الهلالي، دار ابن الجوزي، الدمام، الطبعة: الأولى 1415هـ. - نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين، مجموعة من الباحثين، مؤسسة الرسالة، بيروت، الطبعة: الرابعة عشر 1407هـ. - صحيح البخاري، محمد بن إسماعيل البخاري الجعفي، تحقيق: محمد زهير الناصر، دار طوق النجاة (مصورة عن السلطانية بإضافة ترقيم: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي)، الطبعة: الأولى 1422هـ.

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: «مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ»

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informs that if a person fasts the month of Ramadan out of faith in Allah and out of belief in the obligation of fasting and the abundant reward Allah Almighty has prepared for those who observe fast, seeking thereby Allah's pleasure, without show-off or pursuit of reputation among people, his past sins will be forgiven.

• The Hadīth points out the merit of sincerity and its significance in fasting Ramadan and other righteous deeds.

صحيح البخاري (1/ 16) (38). صحيح مسلم (1/ 523) (760). بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، لسليم الهلالي (2/ 361). نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين، لمصطفى الخِن وغيره (2/ 868). كنوز رياض الصالحين، لمجموعة من الباحثين (15/ 40). شرح رياض الصالحين، لابن عثيمين (5/ 270).