Sunnahs of the Prophet (SAW) during Ramadan.

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A) Having Suhoor.

Having Suhoor is the Sunnah of Prophet (SAW). Many of us skip this Sunnah by eating before sleeping and waking up later to pray Fajr.

Irbadh (RA) narrates that Prophet (SAW) said while calling a person to suhoor:

“Come towards the meal of Barakah” (Abu Daud)

Do not skip Suhoor this Ramadan for it’s a Sunnah and there is Barakah in it. Having something sweet in Suhoor is also a Sunnah.

Abu Huraira (RA) narrates that Prophet (SAW) said that the best suhoor is Khajoor.

B) Increase in Worship.

We strive to get more & more Taqwa in the month of Ramadan - attaining Taqwa is to stop everything that is disliked by Allah (SWT).

Prophet (SAW) used to increase the amount of all kinds of worship in Ramadan:

Dhikr, Salah, Nafl, recitation of the Qur'an, staying up the night to worship.

Make it a goal to increase in worship to maximize the Thawab (reward) this Ramadan.

C) Decrease Sleep in Ramadan.

During the month of Ramadan, Prophet (SAW) used to decrease the number of hours he slept and used to spend that time in worship. Decreasing the sleep is also a way to train our Nafs.

Aisha (RA) narrated that Prophet (SAW) slept less during the earlier days of Ramadan (as compared to non-ramadan), and in the last ten days of Ramadan he’d almost stop sleeping.

D) Decrease in Food Consumption.

There is a relationship between our outside actions and inward feelings. If we eat more in Ramadan than we do everyday then the entire purpose of training our nafs and fasting is defeated.

Eating too much food makes us feel lethargic & diverts our focus from other activities.

Going into a food coma after Iftar & not wanting to do anything after is not purpose of Iftar.

During Ramadan, Prophet (SAW) used to be so busy in worship that he wouldn't get time for food.

Aisha (RA) narrated that Prophet (SAW) would eat his night meal at the time of Suhoor during the last ten days of Ramadan.

E) Waking up Family for Worship during Nights of Ramadan.

Do Qiyam-al-Layl during Ramadan and encourage your family members and loved ones to stay up the night in worship as well.

Aisha (RA) narrates that when the last ten days of Ramadan started Prophet (SAW) would get busy in worship for complete nights and would also wake his family up for worship and would separate himself from his wives. (Muslim)

F) Complete Recitation of the Holy Qur'an.

Finish at least one Qur'an in Ramadan and recite it properly - recite it the way Prophet (SAW) did.

Reciting the Arabic has its own reward and blessings and learning the translation and Tafsir has its own.

Abu Huraira (RA) narrates that every year (in Ramadan) Jibreel would read out Qur'an to Prophet (SAW) once, and the year when the Prophet (SAW) passed away, Jibreel read it out to Prophet (SAW) twice. (Bukhari)

There is a special connection between Qur'an and Ramadan so read as much Qur'an as you can.

G) Taking Shower.

Even taking a shower can become 'Ibadah if you make the intention of following the Sunnah of our Prophet (SAW).

A companion narrated that I saw Prophet (SAW) pouring water on himself due to intense heat. (Abu Daud)

H) Using Miswak.

Using Miswak while fasting is a Sunnah and should be practiced. Miswak doesn't break the fast.

Rabeea (RA) narrates that I saw Prophet (SAW) do miswak while fasting many times.

I) Encouraging Children to Fast.

Muawwaz (RA) narrates that we used to make children fast; when we would go to the mosque we’d arrange a toy fro them made of wool and even if they cried, we’d give them food at iftar time. (Muslim).

The goal behind this practice was to introduce children close to maturity to the concept of fasting so that when the time comes, they are mentally prepared.

J) Sunnah of Iftar.

It’s a Sunnah not to delay the Iftaar:

Qutba bin Qatadah narrates that Prophet (SAW) would break his fast as soon as the sunset. (Ahmad)

It’s a Sunnah to conclude fast with fresh dates, dry dates or water:

Anas (RA) narrates that if there were no fresh dates then the Prophet (SAW) would break his fast with dry dates & if there were no dry dates then he’d break his fast with few sips of water. (Tirmidhi)

K) Searching for the Night of Qadr.

Make special arrangements & schedule changes to permit yourself to search for the night of Qadr in the last ashore.

Aisha (RA) narrates:

“Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) used to practice Itikaf in the last ten nights of Ramadan and used to say,

“Look for the Night of Qadr in the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan.” (Bukhari)

L) Practice Itikaaf.

Prophet (SAW) use to practice Itikaf (spiritual retreat) to search for the night of Qadr.

Itikaf is when you seclude yourself form others in order to focus on worshiping Allah (SWT).

Prophet (SAW) did Itikaaf persistently throughout his life.

Nowadays, people take it lightly and do not understand its significance.

If a person is able to do Itikaaf, then it’s highly recommended that he does so in the last 10 days of Ramadan.

Let’s strive to follow as many Sunnahs as we can this Ramadan. In'Shaa'Allah