Mishkat al-Masabih

Zaid b. Khalid reported God’s messenger as saying, ‘He who gives one who has been fasting something with which to break his fast, or who equips a fighter will have a reward equivalent to his.” Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-iman, and Muhyi as-sunna, who said it is sahih, in Sharh as-sunna.

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.

Mu'adh b. Zuhra told that when the Prophet broke his fast he said, “O God, for Thee I have fasted and with Thy provision I have broken my fast.” Abu Dawud transmitted it in mursal form.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “The religion will continue to prevail as long as people hasten to break the fast, because the Jews and the Christians delay doing so.” Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Masruq and I visited ‘A'isha and said, “Mother of the faithful, there are two of Muhammad’s companions one of whom hastens to break the fast and hastens to pray while the other delays breaking the fast and delays praying. She asked which of them hastened to break the fast and hastened to pray, and when we told her that he was ‘Abdallah b. Mas'ud she said, "Thus did God’s messenger do." The other was Abu Musa. Muslim transmitted it.

Al-‘Irbad b. Sariya told that God’s messenger invited him to a meal shortly before dawn in Ramadan saying, “Come to the blessed morning meal.” Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “How good is the believer’s meal of dates shortly before dawn!” 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.

‘A'isha said, “God’s messenger used to kiss and embrace while he was fasting, but he was the one of you who had most control over his desire.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

She said that God’s messenger would be overtaken by the dawn in Ramadan when he was in a state of sexual defilement, not owing to a dream, and would wash and fast. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

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.)

He said that while they were sitting with the Prophet a man came to him and said, “Messenger of God, I am undone.” He asked him what had happened to him and he replied that he had had intercourse with his wife while he was fasting. God’s messenger then asked him whether he could get a slave to free, but he replied that he could not. He asked if he could fast two consecutive months, but he replied that he could not. He asked if he could provide food for sixty poor people, and when he replied that he could not, he told him to sit down. The Prophet then waited for a time, and meanwhile an ‘araq containing dates was brought to him, an ‘araq being a huge basket.* He asked where the man who had questioned him was, and when he replied, " I am," he said, "Take this and give it as sadaqa." The man replied, “Am I to give it to one who is poorer than I am, messenger of God? I swear by God that there is no poorer family than mine between the two lava plains of Medina," i.e. the two harras. The Prophet thereupon laughed so that his eye-teeth became visible and said, "Give it to your family to eat." *In explaining the word 'araq the tradition calls it a hugh miktal. The miktal was a basket containing fifteen sa's. It is also said to have had double that capacity. (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. Aus are among its transmitters.

Abu Huraira said that a man asked the Prophet whether one who was fasting might embrace his wife and he gave him permission, but when another came to him and asked him he forbade him. The one to whom he gave permission was an old man and the one whom he forbade was a youth. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

He reported God’s messenger as saying, "If one has a sudden attack of vomiting while he is fasting no atonement is required of him, but if he vomits intentionally he must make atonement." Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it. Tirmidhi said this is a gharib tradition which he knew only among the traditions of ‘Isa. b. Yunus, and that Muhammad, i.e. Bukhari, said he did not consider it one which was held in estimation.

Ma'dan b. Talha said Abu Darda’ told him that God’s messenger vomited and broke his fast. He said that he met Thauban in the mosque of Damascus, and when he remarked that Abu Darda’ told him that God’s messenger vomited and broke his fast he said, "He spoke the truth; and I was the one who poured out the water for his ablution." Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi and Darimi transmitted it.

‘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.