Salman al-Farisi told of God’s messenger saying in a sermon which he delivered to them on the last day of Sha'ban, “A great month, a blessed month, a month containing a night which is better than a thousand months has approached you people. God has appointed the observance of fasting during it as an obligatory duty, and the passing of its night in prayer as a voluntary practice. If someone draws near to God during it with some good act he will be like one who fulfils an obligatory duty in another month, and he who fulfills an obligatory duty in it will be like one who fulfills seventy obligatory duties in another month. It is the month of endurance, and the reward of endurance is paradise. It is the month of sharing with others, and a month in which the believer’s provision is increased. If someone gives one who has been fasting something with which to break his fast it will provide forgiveness of his sins and save him from hell, and he will have a reward equal to his without his reward being diminished in any respect.” Some of them remarked to God’s messenger that they did not all have the means to give one who had been fasting something with which to break his fast, and he replied, “God gives this reward to him who gives one who has been fasting some milk mixed with water, or a date, or a drink of water with which to break his fast, and anyone who gives a full meal to one who has been fasting will be given a drink from any tank by God and will not thirst till he enters paradise. It is a month whose beginning is mercy, whose middle is forgiveness, and whose end is freedom from hell. If anyone makes things easy for his slave during it, God will forgive him and free him from hell.”

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “Fast when you see it and break your fast when you see it, and if the weather is cloudy treat Sha‘ban as having thirty days.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Bakra reported God’s messenger as saying, “The months of festival, Ramadan and Dhul-hijja, are not defective.”* *The most probable meaning is that, even if these months have only twenty-nine days, they are not on that account to be considered deficient in comparison with a month which has thirty days.(Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘Amr b. al-‘As reported God’s messenger as saying, “The difference between our fasting and that of the People of the Book is eating shortly before dawn.” Muslim transmitted it.

Sahl reported God’s messenger as saying, “The people will continue to prosper as long as they hasten the breaking of the fast.”* *This refers to each day during Ramadan, and recommends that the fast should be broken as early as that may lawfully be done. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘Umar reported God’s messenger as saying, “When the night approaches on this side and the day retreats on that side and the sun sets, he who fasts has reached the time to break it.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira said that God’s messenger forbade uninterrupted fasting, and when a man said, “You fast uninterruptedly, messenger of God,” he replied, “Which of you is like me? During the night my Lord gives me food and drink.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “When any of you hears the summons to prayer while he has a vessel in his hand he should not lay it down till he finishes his drink.”* *This is interpreted as referring to the dawn prayer during Ramadan.Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Salman b. ‘Amir reported God’s messenger as saying, “When one of you breaks his fast he should do so with dates for they provide blessing; but if he cannot get any he should break his fast with water for it is purifying.” Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it, but only Tirmidhi included “for they provide blessing.”

Ibn ‘Umar told that the Prophet said when he broke his fast, “Thirst has gone, the arteries are moist, and the reward is sure, if God wills.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “If one does not abandon falsehood and action in accordance with it, God had no need that he should abandon his food and his drink.” Bukhari transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas said that the Prophet had himself cupped when he was wearing the ihram and also when he was fasting. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone forgets when he is fasting and eats or drinks he should complete his fast, for it is only God who has fed him and given him drink.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘A'isha said that the Prophet used to kiss her and suck her tongue when he was fasting. Abu Dawud transmitted it.**Saum, 34. This is said by some to be weak because Muhammad b. Dinar and Sa'd b. Ausare among its transmitters.

‘Amir b. Rabi'a said he had seen the Prophet more often than he could count using a toothstick while he was fasting. Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Anas told of a man coming to the Prophet and saying, “I have a complaint in my eyes, so may I apply collyrium while I am fasting?” He replied, “Yes.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying its isnad is not strong and Abu ‘Atika the transmitter is declared to be weak.

One of the Prophet’s companions said he had seen the Prophet in al-'Arj* pouring water over his head while he was fasting; either because of thirst or because of the heat. *A wadi in the neighbourhood of at-Ta’if.Malik and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

He reported God’s messenger as saying, “Many a one who fasts gets nothing from his fasting but thirst, and many a one who praysduring the night gets nothing from his night prayers but wakefulness.”Darimi transmitted it. The tradition of Laqit b. Sabira has been mentioned in the chapter on how to perform ablution. [in another part of the Mishkat]

‘A'isha said that Hamza b. ‘Amr al-Aslami who was greatly devoted to fasting asked the Prophet whether he should fast when on a journey, and received the reply, “Fast if you like, or break your fast if you like.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)