1. Dua after iftar
It seems obvious, but we often tend to forget this basic sunnah of the Prophet (sa) when we once get a waft of the delicious samosas after a whole days’ fasting. Keeping this dua in our mind will help us focus on the spiritual aspect of iftar in sha Allah.
Marwan ibn Salim al-Muqaffa’ said: “I saw Ibn Umar holding his beard with his hand and cutting what exceeded the handful of it. He (Ibn Umar) said that the Prophet (ﷺ) said when he broke his fast:
ذَهَبَ الظَّمَأُ وَابْتَلَّتِ الْعُرُوقُ وَثَبَتَ الأَجْرُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ
‘Thirst has gone, the arteries are moist, and the reward is sure, if Allah wills.’” (Abu Dawud 2357)
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2. Keeping teeth clean
Oftentimes, Ramadan changes our habits a lot. The morning habit of brushing your teeth is sometimes lost, especially if you tend to swallow a slight bit of toothpaste or miswak whilst brushing. If that is the case, try to change your brushing habit to the time between iftar and suhur.
The Prophet (sa) emphasised cleanliness a lot, especially brushing one’s teeth. He said:
“I have told you repeatedly to use the Siwak. (The Prophet (ﷺ) put emphasis on the use of the Siwak.) (Bukhari 888)
Whenever the Prophet (sa) got up at night, he used to clean his mouth with Siwak.( Bukhari 245)
Also:
“Five things are included in the fitra: trimming the moustache, cutting the nails, shaving the pubic hair, plucking the armpits, and using the siwak (arak stick for cleaning the teeth).” (Al-Adab al-Mufrad 1257)
Allah’s Messenger also said: “If it were not that it would be difficult on my nation, then I would have ordered them to use the Siwak for each prayer.” (Tirmidhi 32)
Related Post: 10 Duas You Can Make During Ramadhan
3. Keeping control of the tongue
It’s perhaps easier to keep control of our hunger and appetite than to keep control of what we say, especially on an empty stomach when naturally our moods are irritable.
Allah’s Messenger (sa) said, “Whoever can guarantee (the chastity of) what is between his two jaw-bones and what is between his two legs (i.e. his tongue and his private parts), I guarantee Paradise for him.” (Bukhari 6474)
At the end of a long hadith recorded by Tirmidhi, the Prophet (sa) concluded by taking hold of his tongue and saying: “Keep this in control.” The narrator asked: “O Messenger of Allah! Shall we really be accounted for what we talk about?” He replied, “May your mother lose you! People will be thrown on their faces into the Hell on account of their tongues.” (Riyad al-Salihin 1522)
Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-‘As reported:
“When we were around the Messenger of Allah (sa), he mentioned the period of commotion (fitnah) saying: When you see the people that their covenants have been impaired, (the fulfilling of) the guarantees becomes rare, and they become thus (interwining his fingers). I then got up and said: ‘What should I do at that time, may Allah make me ransom for you?’
He replied: ‘Keep to your house, control your tongue, accept what you approve, abandon what you disapprove, attend to your own affairs, and leave alone the affairs of the generality.’” (Abi Dawud 4343)
It is especially important to watch out for lying and backbiting whilst fasting. The Prophet said: “Whoever does not give up false statements (i.e. telling lies), and evil deeds, and speaking bad words to others, Allah is not in need of his (fasting) leaving his food and drink.” (Bukhari 6057)
4. Eat with three fingers
The Prophet (sa) used to eat using only three fingers.
“Ibn Ka’b b. Malik reported on the authority of his father that the Messenger of Allah (sa) used to eat (food) with three fingers and he licked his hand before wiping it (with towel).” (Muslim 2032 b)
5. Eat from what is directly in front of you.
‘Umar bin Abu Salamah said: “I was a boy in the care of the Prophet (sa) and my hand used to wander all over the plate.
He said to me: ‘O boy! Say the Name of Allah, eat with your right hand, and eat from what is in front of you.’” (Ibn Majah 3267)
Related: Virtues of the Last Ten Days of Ramadhan
6. Avoiding small-talk after Isha prayer
“The Messenger of Allah did not sleep before the ‘Isha’ nor stay up (talking) after it.” (Ibn Majah 702)
7. Saying the sunnah dua when drinking milk
“Whoever is given milk to drink by Allah, let him say:
اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِيهِ وَزِدْنَا مِنْهُ
Allahumma barik lana fihi wa zidna minhu
(O Allah, bless it for us and give us more of it).
“For I do not know of any food or drink that suffices, apart from milk.” (Abui Dawud 3730)
Note: All hadith references are according to Sunnah.co
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Related Video: Important Sunnahs Which People Avoid During Ramadhan
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