The Sunnahs of Ramadan Beyond Fasting

The obligatory fast of Ramadan — abstaining from food, drink and marital relations from dawn to sunset — is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Yet the Prophet ﷺ filled Ramadan with a richness that goes far beyond the fast itself. These additional acts, the sunnahs of Ramadan, separate a Ramadan that merely passes from one that truly transforms.

1. Suhoor: the Pre-Dawn Meal

Suhoor is the meal eaten before the Fajr adhan, and the Prophet ﷺ emphasised it strongly. Anas ibn Malik (RA) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said: "Have suhoor, for in suhoor there is barakah." (Bukhari, Muslim). Even a few sips of water count. Delaying suhoor as close to the Fajr adhan as possible is the sunnah, giving the body strength for the fast and the soul a chance for remembrance at the best hour of the night.

2. Hastening the Breaking of the Fast (Ta'jeel al-Iftar)

The Prophet ﷺ instructed us to break the fast promptly at Maghrib, without delay. Sahl ibn Sa'd (RA) narrated: "The people will continue to be on good as long as they hasten to break the fast." (Bukhari, Muslim). The Prophet ﷺ would break his fast before praying Maghrib, with fresh dates or water if dates were unavailable, and then say:

3. Increasing Quran Recitation

Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was revealed, and the Prophet ﷺ would review the entire Quran with Jibreel (AS) each Ramadan, and twice in his final year — as narrated by Ibn Abbas (RA) in Bukhari and Muslim. Even a portion recited with reflection and understanding is better than rushing through the text.

4. Tarawih: the Night Prayer of Ramadan

Tarawih is a sunnah the Prophet ﷺ strongly encouraged but did not make obligatory. Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever stands in prayer in Ramadan out of faith and hoping for reward, his previous sins will be forgiven." (Bukhari, Muslim). The Prophet ﷺ led it in congregation for several nights but then stopped out of concern that it might become obligatory on the ummah. Scholars differ on the number of rak'ahs — both 8 and 20 have authentic scholarly support.

5. Seeking Laylatul Qadr in the Last Ten Nights

Laylatul Qadr (the Night of Power) is better than a thousand months of worship (Quran 97:3). The Prophet ﷺ said: "Seek it in the odd-numbered nights of the last ten nights of Ramadan." (Bukhari, Muslim). Aisha (RA) asked what to say on that night, and the Prophet ﷺ taught her: Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbu al-'afwa fa'fu 'anni — "O Allah, You are Pardoning, You love to pardon, so pardon me." (Tirmidhi)

6. I'tikaf: Spiritual Seclusion in the Mosque

The Prophet ﷺ performed i'tikaf during the last ten nights of Ramadan every year until he died, and his wives continued the practice after him (Bukhari, Muslim). The one in i'tikaf withdraws from daily life to devote the last ten nights entirely to worship, Quran and dua — especially the search for Laylatul Qadr. Even a few hours of i'tikaf carry great merit.

7. Increased Charity and Zakat al-Fitr

Ibn Abbas (RA) described the Prophet ﷺ as the most generous of people, and that his generosity reached its peak in Ramadan, "like the wind that brings mercy." (Bukhari). Zakat al-Fitr — the obligatory charity at the end of Ramadan — is due from every Muslim before the Eid prayer. The Prophet ﷺ ordained it as a purification for the fasting person and food for the poor. (Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah)

Putting It All Together

Ramadan refines the habits built throughout the year. Voluntary fasting on Mondays and Thursdays is an excellent way to maintain the Ramadan spirit year-round — see our guide to fasting Mondays and Thursdays. The last third of the night — the prime time for tahajjud and dua — also belongs in your post-Ramadan routine: read our guide on making the most of the last third of the night.