The Sunnah v. what people do

It is reported that ‘Abdullâh b. Al-Hasan used to often sit with Rabî’ah. One day they were revising and studying various practices from the Sunnah when a man in the gathering said, “[But] this is not what is practiced [by the people].” ‘Abdullah said, “So if the ignorant become so numerous that they become the rulers and judges, will they then be a proof over the Sunnah?” Rabî’ah said, “I bear witness that these are the words of the sons of the Prophets.”

Al-Khatîb Al-Baghdâdî, Al-Faqîh wa Al-Mutafaqqih article 384

Do you have to make up fasts consecutively? [Fiqh of Fasting]

Ibn ‘Abbâs and Abû Hurayrah – Allâh be pleased with them – said, “There is no harm in making up [fasts of] Ramadân separately from one another.”

‘Abd Al-Razzâq, Al-Musannaf 4:243; Ibn Abî Shaybah, Al-Musannaf article 9114; Al-Dâraqutnî, Al-Sunan 2:193.

Abû ‘Ubaydah b. Al-Jarrâh – Allâh be pleased with him – said, when asked about making up missed fasts of Ramadân separately, “Allâh did not legislate upon you the breaking of the fast, and then cause hardship on you when making it up, so count the days [you excusably missed] and fast them as you wish.”

Ibn Abî Shaybah, op. cit. article 9133.

Anas b. Mâlik – Allâh be pleased with him – said, “If you wish, make up [missed fasts of] Ramadân consecutively, or if you wish, make them up separately.”

Ibid. article 9115.

Breaking the fast as soon as the sun sets [Sunnah of Fasting]

Sa’îd b. Al-Musayyib reports from his father, “I was once sitting with ‘Umar when a group of people arrived from Al-Shâm. ‘Umar enquired about them and how they were; he asked, ‘Do the people of Al-Shâm hasten to break the fast.’ He said, ‘Yes.’ [‘Umar] said, ‘They will not cease to remain upon good as long as they do this, and do not wait for the stars [to come out] as the people of Irâq do.’”

‘Abd Al-Razzâq Al-San’ânî, Al-Musannaf 4:225.

‘Amr b. Maymûn Al-Awdî reports, “The Companions of Muhammad – Allâh’s peace and blessings be upon him – used to be the quickest to break the fast and the slowest in taking the pre-dawn meal.”

Ibid. p226.

Ibn Al-Musayyib also reports that ‘Umar wrote to the commanders of the various regions, ‘Do not be of the procrastinators when breaking the fast, and nor of those who wait for the stars before they start praying [al-maghrib].’

Ibid. p225.

Mûsâ b. Anas reports that Anas [ibn Mâlik] used to have his slave-girl go to the top of his house, instructing her, ‘When the horizon becomes even (evenly lit, marking sunset), tell me.’

Ibn Abî Shaybah, Al-Musannaf 2:430.

Abû Al-Tiyâh Al-Daba’î reports that “he used to break fast with Ibn ‘Abbâs during Ramadân. When evening approached he would send a girl from his household to the roof [to look out], and when the sun set he would make the call to prayer (adhân). He would eat with us, and when he had finished, the call for the commencement of prayer {iqâmah) would be given, and he would pray, and we would pray with him.”

Ibid. p429.

Taking the pre-dawn meal as late as possible [Sunnah of Fasting]

Sâlim b. ‘Ubayd reports, “I used to stay in the house of Abû Bakr. One night, he prayed for as long as Allâh willed him to. He then said [to me], ‘Go and see if al-fajr has started,’ so I went, returned and said, ‘Whiteness has risen in the sky.’ So he prayed for as long as Allâh willed, then said [again], ‘Go and see if al-fajr has started.’ I went out, returned and said, ‘[The light] is spreading out and becoming reddish,’ to which he said, ‘Now bring me my drink (i.e. my pre-dawn meal, al-suhûr).’”

Al-Dâraqutnî, Al-Sunan 2:166. Al-Dâraqutnî grades its chain of transmission sahîh.

When to Bath

A man once asked ‘Alî – Allâh be pleased with him – about taking a full bath (ghusl). He replied, “Wash every day if you want.” The man said, “No, what I mean is the ghusl.” ‘Ali replied, “Al-Jumu’ah (Friday), the Day of ‘Arafah, the Day of Al-Nahr (sacrificial slaughter, ‘Eid al-Adhâ) and the Day of Al-Fitr (the ‘Eid following Ramadân).”

Al-Bayhaqî, Al-Sunan Al-Kubrâ, hadîth #6343. In Irwâ Al-Ghalîl, under hadîth #146, Shaykh Al-Albânî graded its chain of transmission sahîh and said this is the best evidence for the recommendation to bath on the two ‘Eid celebrations.

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