‘A'isha said that God’s messenger used to fast on Mondays and Thursdays. Tirmidhi and Nasa’i transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. Mas'ud said that God’s messenger used to fast the first three days every month, and he would seldom break his fast on a Friday. Tirmidhi and Nasa’i transmitted it, and Abu Dawud transmitted up to “three days every month.”

Muslim al-Qurashi said that he or someone else asked God's messenger about perpetual fasting, and he replied, “You have a duty to your family. Fast during Ramadan and the following month, and every Wednesday and Thursday. You will then have observed a perpetual fast."Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. Busr, on the authority of his sister as-Samma’, reported God’s messenger as saying, “Do not fast on Saturday except during what has been made obligatory for you; and if one of you can get nothing but a grape skin or a piece of wood from a tree, he should chew it.” Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.

‘Amir b. Mas'ud reported God’s messenger as saying, “Fasting in winter is booty gained without trouble.”**Literally, 'the cold booty.' The idea is that in winter one does not suffer from hunger and thirst as in summer.Ahmad and Tirmidhi transmitted it, the latter saying this is a mursal tradition.

Jabir b. Samura said, “God’s messenger used to command us to observe the day of ‘Ashura’ as a fast, urge us to observe it and pay attention to us when it came; but when Ramadan was made obligatory he neither commanded nor forbade us to observe it, nor did he pay attention to us when it came.” Muslim transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas said that it was the custom of God’s messenger not to eat on the middle days* of the month whether travelling or not. *Literally, the days of the white (nights). These are the days following the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth nights of the month, the nights when there is most moonlight.Nasa’i transmitted it.

When Hafsa and I were fasting we were offered food which we liked very much and ate some of it. Hafsa told God’s messenger of this, and he said, “Make up for it by fasting on another day.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, but he mentioned a number of huffaz* who transmitted on the authority of Zuhri on the authority of ‘A'isha in mursal form, omitting to mention ‘Urwa’s authority, and this is sounder. Abu Dawud transmitted it from Zumail the client of ‘Urwa from ‘Urwa from ‘A'isha.*Traditionists who have a reputation for their accurate memory.

Ibn ‘Umar said that some of the Prophet’s companions had a dream that lailat al-qadr was among the last seven nights, so God’s messenger said, “ I see that your dreams agree regarding the last seven nights, so if anyone seeks it he should do so during the last seven nights.”(Bukhari and Muslim.)

She said that when the last ten nights began God’s messenger prepared himself for religious exercises, stayed awake at night and wakened his family. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘Ubada b. as-Samit said that the Prophet came out to inform them about lailat al-qadr, but finding two Muslims disputing together he said, “I came out to inform you about lailat al-qadr, but so and so and so and so had a dispute, and the knowledge of it has been withdrawn. That, however, may perhaps be better for you, so seek it on the ninth, the seventh and the fifth.”**i.e. the twenty-ninth, twenty-seventh, and twenty-fifth.Bukhari transmitted it.

Anas reported God's messenger as saying that when lailat al-qadr comes Gabriel descends with a company of angels who invoke blessings on everyone who is standing or sitting and remembering God who is great and glorious. Then when their festival day comes, i.e. the day when they break their fast, God speaks proudly of them to His angels saying, “My angels, what is the reward of a hired servant who has fully accomplished his work?” They reply, “Our Lord, his reward is that he should be paid his wage in full.” He says, “My angels, my male and female servants have fulfilled what I have made obligatory for them, and then have come out raising their voices in supplication. By my might, glory, honour, high dignity, and exalted station, I will certainly answer them.” Then He says, “Return, for I have forgiven you and changed your evil deeds into good deeds.” He said that they then return having received forgiveness. Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-iman.

‘A'isha said that the Prophet used to engage in private devotions in the mosque during the last ten nights of Ramadan till God took him, and then his wives followed this practice after his death.* *Mirqat says that the Prophet’s wives observed periods of seclusion for devotion, not in the mosque but in their houses.(Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn ‘Umar said that when ‘Umar consulted the Prophet about a vow he had made in the pre-Islamic period to spend a night in devotion in the sacred mosque, he said, “Fulfill your vow.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Anas said that the Prophet was accustomed to engage in private devotion in the mosque during the last ten nights of Ramadan; but one year he omitted it and he engaged in it during twenty nights the next year. Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it from Ubayy b. Ka'b.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s messenger as saying about one who observes a period of private devotion in a mosque, “He turns away from sins and he is rewarded for good deeds like one who does all good deeds.” Ibn Majah transmitted it.

‘A'isha said that when she had some part of the fast of Ramadan to make up she would be able to do so only in Sha'ban. Yahya b. Sa'id said she meant this was due to her being kept from it by her duty to the Prophet. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “It is not allowable for a woman to fast when her husband is present without his permission,* and she may not allow anyone to enter his house without his permission.” *This refers not to Ramadan, but to a supererogatory fast.Muslim transmitted it.

‘A'isha reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone dies when some fast due from him has been unfulfilled, his heir must fast on his behalf.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Malik said he heard that Ibn ‘Umar used to be asked whether one might fast or pray on behalf of another, and reply, “One may neither fast nor pray on behalf of another.” He transmitted it in al-Muwatta’.