The Book of Virtues

كتاب الفضائل

Chapter 32: Excellence of Standing in Prayer at Night

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "When one of you gets up at night to perform (Tahajjud) prayer, let him start Salat with two short Rak'ah."[Muslim].

'Umar bin Al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "If anyone falls asleep and therefore fails to observe his Hizb (share) or part of it, if he observes it between the Fajr and the Zuhr prayers, it will be recorded for him as though he had observed it during the night."[Muslim].

Chapter 34: The Superiority of Lailat-ul-Qadr (the Night of Decree)

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

The Prophet (ﷺ) 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].

'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to strive more in worship during Ramadan than he strove in any other time of the year; and he would devote himself more (in the worship of Allah) in the last ten nights of Ramadan than he strove in earlier part of the month.[Muslim].

'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported

I asked: "O Messenger of Allah! If I realize Lailat-ul-Qadr (Night of Decree), what should I supplicate in it?" He (ﷺ) replied, "You should supplicate: Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun, tuhibbul-'afwa, fa'fu 'anni (O Allah, You are Most Forgiving, and You love forgiveness; so forgive me)."[At-Tirmidhi].

Chapter 32: Excellence of Standing in Prayer at Night

Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was asked: "Which Salat is the best?" He replied, " The best Salat is that in which Qiyam (the duration of standing) is longer."[Muslim].

'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "When one of you dozes off while performing Salat, he should lie down till his drowsiness has gone away from him. When one of you performs Salat while dozing, he may abuse himself instead of seeking pardon (as a result of drowsiness)."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Chapter 34: The Superiority of Lailat-ul-Qadr (the Night of Decree)

'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) 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].

'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported

When the last ten nights (of Ramadan) would begin, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would keep awake at night (for prayer and devotion), awaken his family and prepare himself to be more diligent in worship.[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Chapter 35: The Excellence of using Miswak (Tooth-Stick)

'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "There are ten demands of pure nature: trimming the moustache, letting the beard grow, using Miswak (tooth-stick), snuffing up water into the nose (in ablution), paring the nails, washing the bases of the finger joints; plucking the underarm hair, removing of the pubic hair and removing impurities with water from the affected part after a call of nature."The subnarrator said: I forgot the tenth but it might possibly be the rinsing of the mouth (in ablution).[Muslim].

Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Trim the moustaches and let the beard grow."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Chapter 36: The Excellence and Obligation of the Payment of Zakat

Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "(The structure of) Islam is built on five (pillars): Testification of 'La ilaha illallah' (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah), that Muhammad (ﷺ) is his slave and Messenger, the establishment of Salat, the payment of Zakat, the pilgrimage to the House of Allah (Ka'bah), and Saum during the month of Ramadan."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Ibn 'Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) reported

The Prophet (ﷺ) appointed Mu'adh (May Allah be pleased with him) as governor of Yemen, and at the time of his departure, he instructed him thus: "First of all, call the people to testify 'La ilaha illallah' (there is no true god except Allah) and that I (Muhammad) am the Messenger of Allah, and if they accept this (declaration of Faith), then tell them that Allah has enjoined upon them five Salat during the day and night; and if they obey you, tell them that Allah has made the payment of Zakat obligatory upon them. It should be collected from their rich and distributed among their poor."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Chapter 37: The Excellence of Observing Saum (Fasts) during Ramadan

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "He who spends a pair in the way of Allah will be called from the gates of Jannah: 'O slave of Allah! This gate is better for you' and one who is constant in Salat (prayer), will be called from the Gate of Salat; and whoever is eager in fighting in the Cause of Allah, will be called from the Gate of Jihad; and who is regular in observing Saum will be called from Ar-Raiyan Gate. The one who is generous in charity will be called from the Gate of Charity." Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) said: "O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)! May my mother and father be sacrificed for you! Those who are called from these gates will stand in need of nothing. Will anybody be called from all of those gates?" He replied, "Yes, and I hope that you will be one of them."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Chapter 38: The Excellence of Spending out Charity during Ramadan

Ibn 'Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was the most generous of the men; and he was the most generous during the month of Ramadan when Jibril visited him every night and recited the Qur'an to him. During this period, the generosity of Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) waxed faster than the rain bearing wind.[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Chapter 39: The Prohibition of Observing Saum (Fasting) after the Middle of Sha'ban

Ibn 'Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Do not observe Saum (fasting) before the advent of Ramadan. Observe Saum at sighting of the crescent of Ramadan and terminate it at sighting the crescent (of Shawwal). If the sky is overcast, complete (the month as) thirty (days)."[At- Tirmidhi].

'Ammar bin Yasir (May Allah be pleased with them) reported

He who observes the fast on a doubtful day, has in fact disobeyed Abul-Qasim, (i.e., Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)).[Abu Dawud and At- Tirmidhi].

Chapter 41: Merit of Suhur (Predawn meal in Ramadan) and the Excellence of Delaying having it till before Dawn

Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had two Mu'adhdhin: Bilal and Ibn Umm Maktum (May Allah be pleased with them). The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Bilal proclaims Adhan [call to Salat (prayer)] at fag end of night, so eat and drink till Ibn Umm Maktum pronounces Adhan." Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) added: And the gap between their Adhan was not more than the time spent in one's getting down and the other's climbing (the minaret).[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

'Amr bin Al-'As (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "The difference between our observance of Saum (fasting) and that of the people of the Scriptures is Suhur (predawn meal in Ramadan)."[Muslim].

Chapter 42: The Superiority of Hastening to Break the Fast, and the supplication to say upon Breaking it

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 (ﷺ) 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 (ﷺ) used to do so."[Muslim].