Ramadan hadith describe a month of fasting, forgiveness, generosity and renewed attention to the Quran. The Prophet, peace be upon him, taught that fasting involves guarding your speech as well as avoiding food and drink, and his example gives special attention to worship in the last ten nights.
What makes Ramadan a special month?
Ramadan’s virtues include the opening of the gates of Paradise and the chaining of the devils, as described in this hadith.
Abu Hurayrah (RadhiAllahu Anhu) reported that the Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said:
“When Ramadan enters, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hellfire are closed and the devils are chained.”
What do hadith say about the reward of fasting?
The hadith about fasting places its reward with Allah, without specifying a fixed amount. It also describes the fasting person’s joy when breaking the fast and when meeting their Lord.
Abu Hurayrah (RadhiAllahu Anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said:
Every action a son of Adam does shall be multiplied—a good action by ten times its value, up to 700 times. Allah says: With the exception of fasting, which belongs to Me, and I reward it accordingly. For, one abandons his desire and food for My sake.
There are two occasions of joy for a fasting person: one when he breaks his fast, and the other when he meets his Lord, and the (bad) breath (of a fasting person) is better in the sight of Allah than the fragrance of musk.
(Al-Bukhari)
Fasting with faith and hope of reward
Fasting Ramadan with sincere faith and hope of Allah’s reward is linked to forgiveness in the following hadith.
Abu Hurayrah (RadhiAllahu Anhu) reported that the Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said:
Whoever observes fasts during the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping to attain Allah’s rewards, then all his past sins will be forgiven.
(Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Forgiveness from Ramadan to Ramadan
Another hadith describes expiation between acts of worship, with the stated condition of avoiding major sins.
Abu Hurayrah (RadhiAllahu Anhu) reported that the Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said:
The five (daily) prayers, and from one Friday prayer to the next, and from Ramadan to Ramadan are expiation for sins committed in between provided one stays away from the major sins.
(Al-Bukhari)
How should a fasting person respond to anger or insults?
A fasting person should avoid obscene speech and raising their voice in anger. The hadith gives a direct response to insults: say that you are fasting.
Abu Hurayrah (RadhiAllahu Anhu) reported that the Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said:
Fasting is a shield; so when one of you is fasting he should neither indulge in obscene language nor should he raise his voice in anger. If someone attacks him or insults him, let him say: “I am fasting!”
(Muslim)
What does hadith say about Umrah in Ramadan?
The hadith below describes the reward of performing Umrah during Ramadan as equal to performing Hajj with the Prophet, peace be upon him.
Umm Saleem (RadhiAllahu Anha) reported that the Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said:
(The performance of) `Umrah during Ramadan is equal (in reward) to performing Hajj with me.
How did the Prophet, peace be upon him, spend Ramadan?
The Prophet, peace be upon him, was especially generous in Ramadan, and Gabriel met him every night to revise the Quran with him. This account brings generosity and Quran revision together.
Ibn ‘Abbas (RadhiAllahu Anhu) narrated:
“The Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) was the most generous of all people, and he used to become more generous in Ramadan when Gabriel met him. Gabriel used to meet him every night during Ramadan to revise the Qur’an with him. Allah’s Messenger then used to be more generous than the fast wind.”
(Al-Bukhari)
For more on these themes, read our guide to acts of worship in Ramadan.
For help with Quran recitation, explore one-to-one Tajweed classes. Parents looking for lessons for their children can also explore Islamic studies for kids.
Why do the last ten nights of Ramadan matter?
The report from A’ishah describes the Prophet, peace be upon him, increasing his worship during Ramadan and devoting himself more in its last ten nights.
`A’ishah (RadhiAllahu Anha) reported:
The Messenger of Allah (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) 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 did in earlier part of the month.
(Muslim)
Our guide to the virtue of the last ten days of Ramadan explores this part of the month in more detail.
Frequently asked questions
Do these hadith discuss more than avoiding food and drink?
Yes. They also address speech, generosity, Quran revision and increased worship. Together, they show how Ramadan touches both acts of worship and everyday conduct.
What condition is stated in the hadith about expiation?
The hadith about the daily prayers, Friday prayers and Ramadan states the condition of staying away from major sins. Keep that condition alongside its promise of expiation when reading or sharing the narration.
Where can I read more hadith in English?
Our guide to Islamic hadith in English offers a starting point for further reading. Keep each narration’s wording and attribution together as you study.
