Fasting

1. The Virtue of Fasting-
Abu Hurairah Radiyallahu Anh narrated that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "Allah the Exalted and Glorious said: 'All acts of worship a man does, belong to him, except fasting which is for Me, and I will reward for it.' Fasting is a shield. When anyone of you is fasting, he should not engage in sexual activities nor raise the voice; or if anyone reviles him or quarrels with him, he should say: 'I am fasting.' By Him, in Whose Hand is the life of Muhammad, the breath of a fasting person is sweeter to Allah on the Day of Resurrection than the fragrance of musk. The one who fasts has two occasions of joy, one when he breaks the fast, he is glad with the breaking of fast, and one when he meets his Rubb, he is glad with his fast. (Bukhari 1904) (Source: Summarized Sahih Muslim, Volume 1, Hadith 571)

2. The Excellence of the Month of Ramadan:
Abu Hurairah Radiyallahu Anh narrate that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "When the month of Ramadan comes, the gates of Jannah are opened and the gates of Hell are closed, and the stans are chained." (Bukhari 1899). (Source: Summarized Sahih Muslim, Volume 1, Hadith 572)

3. One should not fast a day or two days ahead of Ramadan:
Abu Hurairah Radiyallahu Anh narrated that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "Do not fast a day or two days ahead of Ramadan except for a person who is in the habit of observing a particular day's fast, he may fast." (Bukhari 1914). (Source: Summarized Sahih Muslim, Volume 1, Hadith 573)

4. The Sahur for Keeping Fast:
Anas Radiyallahu Anh narrated that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "Take the Sahur (meal before dawn) for there is a blessing in it." (Bukhari 1923). (Source: Summarized Sahih Muslim, Volume 1, Hadith 580)

5. Delaying the Sahur:
Zaid bin Thabit Radiyallahu Anh narrated: We took the Sahur meal with the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), we then stood up for prayer. I said: "How much time was there between the two acts." He said: "A time of reciting fifty Verses." (Bukhari 1921). (Source: Summarized Sahih Muslim, Volume 1, Hadith 581)

6. The Timing of Fast Begins at the True Dawn:
Samurah bin Jundab Radiyallahu Anh narrated that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "The Adhan of Bilal should not stop you from eating, nor the whiteness in the horizon. You should stop eating when whiteness spreads like this (horizontally)." Hammad motioned his hands to show the horizontal position of the streaks of light. (Source: Summarized Sahih Muslim, Volume 1, Hadith 582)

7. Observing Fast while One is Junub:
'Aishah and Umm Salamah Radiyallahu Anhuma, the wives of the Prophet (PBUH) said: "At times the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) would wake up during Ramadan when he was Junub, not because of a wet dream but on account of intercourse. He would still observe fast." (Bukhari 1931). (Source: Summarized Sahih Muslim, Volume 1, Hadith 585)

8. "Aisha Radiyallahu Anha narrated that a man came to the Prophet (PBUH) asking for a Fatwa (religious verdict). While she was listening from behind the door, he said: "O Messenger of Allah, (the time) of prayer overtakes me while I am Junub; should I observe fast (in such a state)?" The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "This too happens to me, and I still fast." He said: "O Messenger of Allah! you are not like us. Allah has forgiven your past and future sins." He (The Messenger PBUH) said: "By Allah, I hope to be most God-fearing of you, and most knowledgeable of what should be avoided." (Source: Summarized Sahih Muslim, Volume 1, Hadith 586)

9. There is No Harm in Eating and Drinking Forgetfully:
Abu Hurairah Radiyallahu Anh narrated that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: He who eats and drinks forgetting that he is fasting, let him continue observing fasting, for it is Allah Who gave him to eat and drink." (Bukhari 1933). (Source: Summarized Sahih Muslim, Volume 1, Hadith 587)

10. The expiation for having sexual intercourse with one's wife in Ramadan:
Abu Hurairah Radiyallahu Anh narrated that a man came to the Prophet (PB UH) and said: O Messenger of Allah, I am destroyed." He (The Messanger PBUH)said: "What has caused your destruction?" He said: "I had an intercourse with my wife during the day in Ramadan." The Messenger (PBUH) asked him: "Can you find a slave to set free? He said : "no." He (The Messenger PUBUH) asked: "Can you observe fast for two consecutive months?" He said: "No". He (The Messenger PUBUH) asked: "Can you provide food to sixty poor people?" He said: "No", and he then sat down. Meanwhile, a basket of dates was brought to the Prophet (PBUH). He said to the man: "Give these dates in charity." He (the man) said: "Is there anyone who is poorer than myself? There is no family between the two sides of Al-Madinah who is in need of this more than mine." The Prophet (PBUH) laughed so much that his molar teeth became visible, and he said: "Go and give it to your family to eat." (Bukhari 1936). (Source: Summarized Sahih Muslim, Volume 1, Hadith 589).

11. "Aishah Radiyallahu Anha narrated that a man came to the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) and said: "I am burnt." The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "Why?" He said: "I had intercourse with my wife during the day in Ramadan." He (Messenger PBUH) said: "Give charity, give charity." He (the person) said: "There is nothing with me to give in charity." Then he oreded him to sit down. (Meanwhile) containers of food were brought. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) gave them to him to give as charity. (Bukhari 6822). (Source: Summarized Sahih Muslim, Volume 1, Hadith 590)

12. Kissing is not Forbidden while Fasting:
'Aishah Radiyallahu Anha said: "The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) used to kiss his wives while fasting and fondle them while fasting, but he had the greatest control over his desires among you." (Bukhari 1927). (Source: Summarized Sahih Muslim, Volume 1, Hadith 591)

13. Breaking fast soon as the sun sets
Sahl bin Sa'd Radiyallahu Anhuma narrated that the Meseenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "The people will continue to be in good state of affairs as long as they hasten the breaking of the fast." (Bukhari 1957). (Source: Summarized Sahih Muslim, Volume 1, Hadith 593)

14. Fasting and breaking fast during travel:
Ibn 'Abbas Radiyallahu Anhuma narrated that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) travelled during the month of Ramadan and kept fasting until he reached 'Usfan. He then ordered a glass of water and he drank that during the day so that people might see it, and did not observe fast until he reached Makkah. Ibn 'Abbas said: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) fasted and broke the fast, so it was optional, who wished to fast, fasted; and who wished to break it, broke it. (Bukhari 1948). (Source: Summarized Sahih Muslim, Volume 1, Hadith 596)

15. Jabir bin 'Abdullah Radiyallahu Anhuma narrated that Allah's Messenger (PBUH) went out for Makkah in Ramadan in the year of the Conquest, until he came to Kura' Al-Ghamim and people kept fasting. He then called for a cup of water which he raised so that people could see, and then he drank. He was told afterwards that some people had continued to observe fast, and he said: Those are the disobedient, those are the disobedient." (Source: Summarized Sahih Muslim, Volume 1, Hadith 597)

16. It is not right to fast while travelling
Jabir bin Abdullah Radiyallahu Anhuma narrated that during the course of a journey, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) saw a man around whom people crowded and provided him with shade. He asked: "What is wrong with him?" They said: "He is fasting." Whereupon the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "It is not righteousness that you fast while travelling." (Bukhari 1946). (Source: Summarized Sahih Muslim, Volume 1, Hadith 598).

17. Observing Fast in other Months
'Abdullah bin Shaqiq Radiyallahu Anhuma reported: I asked 'Aishah (Radiyallahu Anha): "Did the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) observe fast of a full month besideds Ramadan?" She said: "I never knew that he fasted a full month other than Ramadan nor did heglect to observe fast in any month until he died." (Bukhari 1969). (Source: Summarized Sahih Muslim, Volume 1, Hadith 608)

18.Fasting in the Way of Allah
Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri Radiyallahu Anh narrated that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "The slave who observes fast in the way of Allah, Allah will set apart his face from the Fire (of Hell) seventy years. (Bukhari 2840). (Source: Summarized Sahih Muslim, Volume 1, Hadith 609)