The Reward for Fasting Six Days in the Month of Shawwal

Abu Ayyub (Radhiallaho anha) reported:

The Messenger of Allah (Sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam) said,

"He who observes As-Saum (the fasts) in the month of Ramadan, and also observes As-Saum for six days in the month of Shawwal, it is as if he has observed As-Saum for the whole year.''

[Muslim]

Commentary:
According to the formula that there is at least ten-fold reward for every virtue, the Saum of one month (Ramadan) are equivalent to Saum of ten months. If one also observes six days of Saum of Shawwal, they will be equal to Saum of two months. Thus, one becomes eligible for the reward of one full years' Saum. He who makes it a permanent feature is like one who observes Saum throughout his life. He will be considered by Allah as one who observes Saum permanently. Although voluntary in nature, they are highly important. One can observe these six-day Saum at a stretch or with intervals, but their observance one after the other at the beginning of the month is better. Similarly, if a person has missed some Saum of Ramadan due to illness, travelling etc., he should first make up the shortfall and then observe the voluntary six-day Saum of Shawwal.

Riyad-us-Saliheen – Hadith No : 1254

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Seek Lailat-ul-Qadr (Night of Decree) in the odd nights out of the last ten nights of Ramadan

`Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:

The Messenger of Allah (Sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam) used to observe I`tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan and say,

"Seek Lailat-ul-Qadr (Night of Decree) in the odd nights out of the last ten nights of Ramadan.''

[Al-Bukhari]

Commentary:
We learn from this Hadith that Lailat-ul-Qadr occurs in any of the five odd nights - 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th and 29th - of the last ten nights of Ramadan. Its exact date has not been revealed for the reason that people keep themselves awake for prayer for a larger number of nights. Had its date been fixed, people would have kept awake for prayer only on that night. There is a general belief among the scholars that it is fixed, on the 27th night of Ramadan. But this is not correct. Ahadith do not confirm this view.

Riyad-us-Saliheen – Hadith No : 1192

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Lailat-ul-Qadr (Night of Decree)

Abu Hurairah (Radhiallaho anha) reported:

The Prophet (Sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam) said,

"Whosoever performs Qiyam during Lailat-ul-Qadr (Night of Decree), with Faith and being hopeful of Allah's reward, will have his former sins forgiven.''

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Commentary:
Qiyam here means what keeps one awake to one's capacity and for worship and makes one perform Nawafil, impels one to beg pardon for sins from Allah, urges one to praise Him. Specially, if a person performs `Isha prayer and Fajr prayer in congregation, he will hopefully attain all those distinctions which are mentioned in this Hadith.

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Safeguarding As-Saum (The Fast)

Abu Hurairah (Radhiallaho anha) reported:

The Messenger of Allah (Sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam) said,

"When any one of you is observing Saum (fasting) on a day, he should neither indulge in obscene language nor should he raise the voice; and if anyone reviles him or tries to quarrel with him he should say: `I am observing fast.'''

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Superiority of Hastening to Break the Fast and to perform Maghrib prayer

Abu Atiyyah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

Masruq and I visited `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) and said:

"O Mother of the Believers! There are two Companions of Muhammad (PBUH) and neither of them holds back from doing good acts; but one of them hastens to break Saum (fasting) and hastens to perform the Maghrib prayer, while the other delays breaking Saum and delays performing Salat (prayer).''

She asked, "Who is the one who hastens to break Saum and perform the Maghrib prayer?''

Masruq said, "It is `Abdullah (meaning `Abdullah bin Mas`ud).''

She said, "The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) used to do so.''

[Muslim]

Commentary:
This Hadith points out the practice of the Prophet (PBUH) of breaking the Saum and performing the Maghrib prayer in the early moments of the prescribed time.

Riyad-us-Saliheen – Hadith No : 1234

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