Volume 3, Book 31, Number 123:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah’s Apostle said, “When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of the heaven are opened and
the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained.”
Volume 3, Book 31, Number 139:
Narrated Al-Bara:
It was the custom among the companions of Muhammad that if any of them was fasting and the
food was presented (for breaking his fast), but he slept before eating, he would not eat that night and
the following day till sunset.
Qais bin Sirma-al-Ansari was fasting and came to his wife at the time of Iftar (breaking one’s fast)
and asked her whether she had anything to eat. She replied, “No, but I would go and bring some for
you.” He used to do hard work during the day, so he was overwhelmed by sleep and slept. When his
wife came and saw him, she said, “Disappointment for you.” When it was midday on the following
day, he fainted and the Prophet was informed about the whole matter and the following verses were
revealed: “You are permitted To go to your wives (for sexual relation) At the night of fasting.” So, they
were overjoyed by it. And then Allah also revealed: “And eat and drink Until the white thread Of
dawn appears to you Distinct from the black thread (of the night).” (2.187)
Volume 3, Book 31, Number 124:
Narrated Ibn Umar:
I heard Allah’s Apostle saying, “When you see the crescent (of the month of Ramadan), start fast –
ing, and when you see the crescent (of the month of Shawwal), stop fasting; and if the sky is overcast
(and you can’t see It) then regard the crescent (month) of Ramadan (as of 30 days)”.
Volume 3, Book 31, Number 140:
Narrated ‘Adi bin Hatim:
When the above verses were revealed: ‘Until the white thread appears to you, distinct from the
black thread,’ I took two (hair) strings, one black and the other white, and kept them under my pil –
low and went on looking at them throughout the night but could not make anything out of it. So, the
next morning I went to Allah’s Apostle and told him the whole story. He explained to me, “That verse
means the darkness of the night and the whiteness of the dawn.”
Volume 3, Book 31, Number 125:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet said, “Whoever established prayers on the night of Qadr out of sincere faith and hop –
ing for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven; and whoever fasts in the
month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous
sins will be forgiven.”
Volume 3, Book 31, Number 115:
Narrated Talha bin ‘Ubaid-Ullah:
A bedouin with unkempt hair came to Allah’s Apostle and said, “O Allah’s Apostle! Inform me what
Allah has made compulsory for me as regards the prayers.” He replied: “You have to offer perfectly
the five compulsory prayers in a day and night (24 hours), unless you want to pray Nawafil.” The
bedouin further asked, “Inform me what Allah has made compulsory for me as regards fasting.” He
replied, “You have to fast during the whole month of Ramadan, unless you want to fast more as
Nawafil.” The bedouin further asked, “Tell me how much Zakat Allah has enjoined on me.” Thus, Al –
lah’s Apostle informed him about all the rules (i.e. fundamentals) of Islam. The bedouin then said, “By
Him Who has honored you, I will neither perform any Nawafil nor will I decrease what Allah has
enjoined on me. Allah’s Apostle said, “If he is saying the truth, he will succeed (or he will be granted
Paradise).”
Volume 3, Book 31, Number 116:
Narrated Ibn ‘Umar:
The Prophet observed the fast on the 10th of Muharram (‘Ashura), and ordered (Muslims) to fast
on that day, but when the fasting of the month of Ramadan was prescribed, the fasting of the
‘Ashura’ was abandoned. ‘Abdullah did not use to fast on that day unless it coincided with his routine
fasting by chance.
Volume 3, Book 31, Number 117:
Narrated ‘Aisha:
(The tribe of) Quraish used to fast on the day of Ashura’ in the Pre-lslamic period, and then Allah’s
Apostle ordered (Muslims) to fast on it till the fasting in the month of Ramadan was prescribed;
whereupon the Prophet said, “He who wants to fast (on ‘Ashura’) may fast, and he who does not want
to fast may not fast.”