Short answer: the best known hadith about Ramadan is "Whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and hoping for reward, his previous sins are forgiven" (Sahih al-Bukhari 38; Sahih Muslim 760). Below are 21 authentic hadith about the month, the reward of fasting, its manners, suhoor and iftar, the night prayers and Laylat al-Qadr. Each one is from Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim or Jami' at-Tirmidhi, with its number and grading. At the end is a list of popular Ramadan sayings that are weak, so you know which ones not to pass on.
Ramadan itself is named in the Quran, as the month in which the Quran was revealed:
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ هُدًۭى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَٰتٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَٱلْفُرْقَانِ ۚ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ ٱلشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍۢ فَعِدَّةٌۭ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۗ يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ بِكُمُ ٱلْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ ٱلْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا۟ ٱلْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ ﴿١٨٥﴾
Shahru Ramadaanallazeee unzila feehil Qur'aanu hudal linnaasi wa baiyinaatim minal hudaa wal furqaan; faman shahida minkumush shahra falyasumhu wa man kaana mareedan aw 'alaa safarin fa'iddatum min ayyaamin ukhar; yureedul laahu bikumul yusra wa laa yureedu bikumul 'usra wa litukmilul 'iddata wa litukabbirul laaha 'alaa maa hadaakum wa la'allakum tashkuroon
The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.
Quran 2:185 · Sahih International · Read Surah Al-Baqarah
The month itself
إِذَا جَاءَ رَمَضَانُ فُتِّحَتْ أَبْوَابُ الْجَنَّةِ، وَغُلِّقَتْ أَبْوَابُ النَّارِ، وَصُفِّدَتِ الشَّيَاطِينُ
When Ramadan comes, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of the Fire are closed, and the devils are chained.
Sahih Muslim 1079 · narrated by Abu Hurayrah · sahih (also in Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab as-Sawm)
صُومُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ وَأَفْطِرُوا لِرُؤْيَتِهِ، فَإِنْ غُبِّيَ عَلَيْكُمْ فَأَكْمِلُوا عِدَّةَ شَعْبَانَ ثَلَاثِينَ
Fast when you see it (the new moon) and break your fast when you see it. If it is hidden from you, complete the count of Sha'ban as thirty days.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1909 · narrated by Abu Hurayrah · sahih
الصَّلَوَاتُ الْخَمْسُ، وَالْجُمُعَةُ إِلَى الْجُمُعَةِ، وَرَمَضَانُ إِلَى رَمَضَانَ، مُكَفِّرَاتٌ مَا بَيْنَهُنَّ إِذَا اجْتَنَبَ الْكَبَائِرَ
The five prayers, and Friday to Friday, and Ramadan to Ramadan, wipe out what is between them, as long as the major sins are avoided.
Sahih Muslim 233 · narrated by Abu Hurayrah · sahih
The reward of fasting
مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ
Whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and hoping for reward, his previous sins are forgiven.
Sahih al-Bukhari 38; Sahih Muslim 760 · narrated by Abu Hurayrah · sahih
قَالَ اللَّهُ: كُلُّ عَمَلِ ابْنِ آدَمَ لَهُ إِلَّا الصِّيَامَ، فَإِنَّهُ لِي وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ، وَالصِّيَامُ جُنَّةٌ
Allah said: Every deed of the son of Adam is for him except fasting. It is for Me, and I will reward it. Fasting is a shield.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1904; Sahih Muslim 1151 · narrated by Abu Hurayrah · sahih
لِلصَّائِمِ فَرْحَتَانِ يَفْرَحُهُمَا: إِذَا أَفْطَرَ فَرِحَ، وَإِذَا لَقِيَ رَبَّهُ فَرِحَ بِصَوْمِهِ، وَالَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِيَدِهِ لَخُلُوفُ فَمِ الصَّائِمِ أَطْيَبُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْ رِيحِ الْمِسْكِ
The fasting person has two joys: when he breaks his fast he is happy, and when he meets his Lord he is happy because of his fast. By the One in whose hand is Muhammad's soul, the smell from the mouth of a fasting person is better to Allah than the scent of musk.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1904; Sahih Muslim 1151 · narrated by Abu Hurayrah · sahih
إِنَّ فِي الْجَنَّةِ بَابًا يُقَالُ لَهُ الرَّيَّانُ، يَدْخُلُ مِنْهُ الصَّائِمُونَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ، لَا يَدْخُلُ مِنْهُ أَحَدٌ غَيْرُهُمْ
In Paradise there is a gate called ar-Rayyan. Those who fasted will enter through it on the Day of Resurrection, and no one else will enter through it.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1896; Sahih Muslim 1152 · narrated by Sahl ibn Sa'd · sahih
Fasting with good character
مَنْ لَمْ يَدَعْ قَوْلَ الزُّورِ وَالْعَمَلَ بِهِ، فَلَيْسَ لِلَّهِ حَاجَةٌ فِي أَنْ يَدَعَ طَعَامَهُ وَشَرَابَهُ
Whoever does not give up false speech and acting on it, Allah has no need of him giving up his food and drink.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1903 · narrated by Abu Hurayrah · sahih
الصِّيَامُ جُنَّةٌ، فَلَا يَرْفُثْ وَلَا يَجْهَلْ، وَإِنِ امْرُؤٌ قَاتَلَهُ أَوْ شَاتَمَهُ فَلْيَقُلْ: إِنِّي صَائِمٌ، مَرَّتَيْنِ
Fasting is a shield, so let him not speak obscenely or act foolishly. If someone fights him or insults him, let him say twice: I am fasting.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1894 · narrated by Abu Hurayrah · sahih
مَنْ نَسِيَ وَهُوَ صَائِمٌ فَأَكَلَ أَوْ شَرِبَ فَلْيُتِمَّ صَوْمَهُ، فَإِنَّمَا أَطْعَمَهُ اللَّهُ وَسَقَاهُ
Whoever forgets while fasting and eats or drinks, let him complete his fast, for it was Allah who fed him and gave him drink.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1933; Sahih Muslim 1155 · narrated by Abu Hurayrah · sahih
Suhoor and iftar
تَسَحَّرُوا فَإِنَّ فِي السَّحُورِ بَرَكَةً
Eat suhoor, for in suhoor there is blessing.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1923; Sahih Muslim 1095 · narrated by Anas ibn Malik · sahih
لَا يَزَالُ النَّاسُ بِخَيْرٍ مَا عَجَّلُوا الْفِطْرَ
People will remain upon good as long as they hasten to break the fast.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1957; Sahih Muslim 1098 · narrated by Sahl ibn Sa'd · sahih
مَنْ فَطَّرَ صَائِمًا كَانَ لَهُ مِثْلُ أَجْرِهِ، غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ لَا يَنْقُصُ مِنْ أَجْرِ الصَّائِمِ شَيْئًا
Whoever gives a fasting person something to break his fast with will have a reward like his, without anything being taken from the fasting person's reward.
Jami' at-Tirmidhi 807 · narrated by Zayd ibn Khalid al-Juhani · graded hasan sahih by at-Tirmidhi
The nights of Ramadan and Laylat al-Qadr
مَنْ قَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ
Whoever stands (in prayer) in Ramadan out of faith and hoping for reward, his previous sins are forgiven.
Sahih al-Bukhari 37; Sahih Muslim 759 · narrated by Abu Hurayrah · sahih
مَنْ قَامَ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ
Whoever stands (in prayer) on Laylat al-Qadr out of faith and hoping for reward, his previous sins are forgiven.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1901; Sahih Muslim 760 · narrated by Abu Hurayrah · sahih
تَحَرَّوْا لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ فِي الْوِتْرِ مِنَ الْعَشْرِ الْأَوَاخِرِ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ
Seek Laylat al-Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten of Ramadan.
Sahih al-Bukhari 2017 · narrated by Aishah · sahih
كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ إِذَا دَخَلَ الْعَشْرُ شَدَّ مِئْزَرَهُ، وَأَحْيَا لَيْلَهُ، وَأَيْقَظَ أَهْلَهُ
When the last ten nights began, the Prophet ﷺ would tighten his waist wrapper, spend the night in worship and wake his family.
Sahih al-Bukhari 2024; Sahih Muslim 1174 · narrated by Aishah · sahih
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي
Aishah asked what she should say if she knew which night was Laylat al-Qadr. He said: Say, O Allah, You are Pardoning and love to pardon, so pardon me.
Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3513 · narrated by Aishah · graded hasan sahih by at-Tirmidhi
Generosity, Umrah and after Ramadan
كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَجْوَدَ النَّاسِ، وَكَانَ أَجْوَدُ مَا يَكُونُ فِي رَمَضَانَ حِينَ يَلْقَاهُ جِبْرِيلُ
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was the most generous of people, and he was at his most generous in Ramadan when Jibril met him.
Sahih al-Bukhari 6 · narrated by Ibn Abbas · sahih
فَإِذَا جَاءَ رَمَضَانُ فَاعْتَمِرِي، فَإِنَّ عُمْرَةً فِيهِ تَعْدِلُ حَجَّةً
When Ramadan comes, perform Umrah, for an Umrah in it is equal to a Hajj.
Sahih Muslim 1256; also Sahih al-Bukhari 1782 · narrated by Ibn Abbas · sahih
مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ ثُمَّ أَتْبَعَهُ سِتًّا مِنْ شَوَّالٍ كَانَ كَصِيَامِ الدَّهْرِ
Whoever fasts Ramadan and then follows it with six days of Shawwal, it is as if he fasted for a lifetime.
Sahih Muslim 1164 · narrated by Abu Ayyub al-Ansari · sahih
Weak hadith often shared in Ramadan
These are widely forwarded in Ramadan messages, but hadith scholars graded their chains weak or worse. Their meanings may be partly true from other evidence, but they should not be quoted as the Prophet's ﷺ words without saying so.
| The saying | Where it is found | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| "The first ten days of Ramadan are mercy, the middle ten forgiveness, and the last ten freedom from the Fire." | Ibn Khuzaymah, from Salman al-Farisi (part of a long sermon) | Weak; some graded it munkar. See the three ashras. |
| "Fast and you will be healthy." | At-Tabarani, al-Awsat | Weak |
| "The sleep of the fasting person is worship." | Al-Bayhaqi, Shu'ab al-Iman | Weak, some said very weak |
| "Whoever breaks a fast of Ramadan without an excuse, a lifetime of fasting will not make up for it." | Jami' at-Tirmidhi 723; mentioned without a chain by al-Bukhari | Weak (the chain has an unknown narrator) |
| "O Allah, bless us in Rajab and Sha'ban and let us reach Ramadan." | Musnad Ahmad, through Za'idah ibn Abi ar-Ruqad | Weak; it is fine to make this dua without attributing it |
| "Allahumma laka sumtu wa ala rizqika aftartu" as the iftar dua | Sunan Abi Dawud 2358 | Weak (mursal). The sound iftar dua is in dua for breaking the fast. |
Putting these hadith into practice
- Fast with intention and hope ("faith and hoping for reward"): remind yourself each morning why you are fasting. Read the rules of fasting and what breaks your fast.
- Eat suhoor, even a date and water, and break your fast promptly at sunset. Get the exact times from the Ramadan calendar for your city.
- Guard your tongue: the fast is meant to change your speech, not only your eating.
- Pray at night: taraweeh with the congregation or alone. See how to pray taraweeh.
- Give: feed people at iftar and give charity, as the Prophet ﷺ was most generous in Ramadan.
- Strive in the last ten nights and say the dua of Laylat al-Qadr. See Laylatul Qadr.
FAQ
What is the most famous hadith about Ramadan?
"Whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and hoping for reward, his previous sins are forgiven" (Sahih al-Bukhari 38; Sahih Muslim 760). Two companion hadith promise the same for standing in prayer in Ramadan and on Laylat al-Qadr.
Are the devils really chained in Ramadan?
Yes, the hadith is in Sahih Muslim 1079 and Sahih al-Bukhari. Scholars explain that people still sin in Ramadan because of their own desires and habits, and because, in some explanations, it is the strongest devils that are chained.
Is the hadith about mercy, forgiveness and freedom from the Fire authentic?
No. The saying that the first ten days are mercy, the middle forgiveness and the last freedom from the Fire comes from a long report in Ibn Khuzaymah whose chain is weak. All of Ramadan is a time of mercy and forgiveness, and the hadith of being freed from the Fire every night has other chains.
What did the Prophet ﷺ do in the last ten nights of Ramadan?
He worshipped more than at any other time: he tightened his waist wrapper, stayed up at night and woke his family (Sahih al-Bukhari 2024). He also made i'tikaf in the mosque in the last ten nights.
What is the hadith about feeding a fasting person?
"Whoever gives a fasting person something to break his fast with will have a reward like his, without anything being taken from the fasting person's reward" (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 807, graded hasan sahih).
Which hadith says Umrah in Ramadan equals Hajj?
Sahih Muslim 1256 and Sahih al-Bukhari 1782, from Ibn Abbas. Scholars explain that it equals Hajj in reward, but does not replace the obligation of Hajj.
The rulings on this page are pending review by the scholars on our team.
Sources
- Quran 2:185, translation by Sahih International.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 6, 37, 38, 1894, 1896, 1901, 1903, 1904, 1909, 1923, 1933, 1957, 2017, 2024 and 1782.
- Sahih Muslim 233, 759, 760, 1079, 1095, 1098, 1151, 1152, 1155, 1164, 1174 and 1256.
- Jami' at-Tirmidhi 807 and 3513, graded hasan sahih by at-Tirmidhi; 723 (weak).
- Sunan Abi Dawud 2358 (mursal).
- On the weak reports: Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah, Kitab as-Siyam; at-Tabarani, al-Mu'jam al-Awsat; al-Bayhaqi, Shu'ab al-Iman; Musnad Ahmad. Gradings follow the hadith critics, including al-Albani's notes on these works.
Quran: Arabic from the Tanzil Uthmani text, English translation by Sahih International. Hadith gradings are those of the hadith scholars named; where a hadith number is not given, the collection and narrator are cited instead.