It is sunnah to break the fast by eating a date first. If a date is not available, water will suffice. The translation of the dua at the time of Iftaar (boeka) is:

Translation: O Allah I beg You through Your infinite mercy which encompasses all things to forgive me.

It is also sunnah to recite as much of the Quraan as possible, to perform much ibaadah and I’tikaaf especially, during the latter ten days of Ramadaan.

During fasting a Muslim should avoid all unnecessary talk, all backbiting, gossip, lies and swearing in order to reap a greater reward. It is sunnah to give out much sadaqah and food to others, especially to those who fasted. In numerous hadeeth the giving of food to others to break their fast is greatly emphasised, and holds abundant rewards.

It is sunnah for those who fast to avoid kissing any relative. They must also avoid extraction of blood from the body by cupping (koppel) and blood transfusion.

One must refrain from all pleasures and entertainment, e.g. sports, visiting of public parks and gardens, music, singing, the intentional smelling and use of perfumes and unnecessary tasting of food. etc. If it should be necessary for any one to perform ghusl, it should preferably be done before Subh Sadiq (true dawn).

It is sunnah to fast on the following days:

1. The day of Arafaat (9th Zil Haj).

2. The 9th and 10th of Mu-harram.

3. The six days after Ramadaan. (2nd to 7th Shawwaal).

4. The 13th, 14th and 15th of every month of the Muslim calendar except the 13th of Thil Haj. In the month of Thil Haj the 16th could be included for this fast.

5. The 15th of Sha’baan.

6. Every Monday and Thursday of the week.

It is haraam to fast on any of the two Eid days and although it is sunnah to fast the 13th day of every month, one should not fast on the 13th of Thil Haj. This 13th day falls within the days of Tashreeq, which follow Eidhul Adh-haa i.e. the 11th, 12th, 13th of Thil Haj. It is also not permissible to fast on the 30th of Sha-baan if there is any doubt as to whether the crescent had been seen the previous night, or if the testimony of a person who thought that he saw the crescent had not been accepted by the Qadhi. The person who saw the moon will however have to fast, and so also he who thought that he saw the crescent and those who believed his word. They must fast for Ramadaan.

It is also makrooh to fast from the 15th of Sha’baan till Ramadaan. If however a person started on or before 15th with Qadhaa fast and continued through to the end of the month, it is correct.

Whereas if he stopped fasting on the 18th for example, he cannot recommence thereafter till the end of the month. Nevertheless, those people who normally fast every Monday and Thursday, may continue to do so even in Sha’baan. It should however, be noted that these people should not fast when Monday or Thursday fall on one of the Eids or during the days of Tashreeq. Without any cause sanctioned by shariah (e.g. Qadhaa or sunnah) it is makrooh to fast on a Friday alone, or a Saturday alone, or a Sunday alone. If one so wishes, one may fast Friday and Saturday or Friday, Saturday and Sunday. However if a person habitually fasts on a certain date of the month and this date now happens to fall on any of these three days, fasting on that day is not makrooh.

To enter the musjid with the aim of I’tikaaf (i.e. remaining there for some time) is sunnah at all times. I’tikaaf entails entering the musjid to seclude oneself therein — away from being occupied with all worldly affairs, with the niyyah of I’tikaaf. A person may remain for any length of time, with or without wudhu, making thikr or remaining silent. It stands to reason that the more thikr a person makes and the longer he remains in the musjid, the more will be his reward. The best time for this I’tikaaf is during the month of Ramadaan, especially during the last ten days. This is sunnah Mu’akkadah.

The translation of the dua for I’tikaaf:

Translation: I intend to seclude myself in I’tikaaf for the sake of Allah.

The person who desires to perform I’tikaaf must be free from hadathul akbar, i.e. one must not require a ghusl as is necessary for haydh, nifaas, janaabat and ih-tilaam. One must also be mukallaf and of sound mind.

When he enters the musjid he must recite the niyyah for I’tikaaf for a period longer than one tasbeeh, which is the shortest period.

The correct and best form of I’tikaaf is to enter the musjid on the afternoon of the 19th Ramadaan before Maghrib and remain there till the moment that the crescent is sighted for Eid. One should only leave the musjid for the shortest possible time in order to visit the toilet, to perform compulsory ghusl, and attend Jumu-ah if Jumu-ah is performed in another musjid. The reward for I’tikaaf is indeed great.

The giving of fitrah is fardh upon every free Muslim male, female or child. It is not fardh upon a slave or bondsmaid. Their fitrah is the duty of their master. It is the duty of the husband to give out the sadaqatul-fitr on behalf of his wife and all small children whose maintenance is his duty. However, if any non-mukallaf child has his own estate it should come from there, otherwise it is the duty of the parents or guardian.

Fitrah becomes compulsory upon a person if he owns enough food or the value in money thereof for the day of Eid for himself and those whom he must support viz. wife, children, parents etc. If he possesses less than what is needed to feed himself and his dependants on Eid day (and night) saudaqatul-fitr is not compulsory.

If a man is poor while his wife is well off, fitrah is not compulsory for her on behalf of herself, as for her it is a sunnah only.

Fitrah is that food which is given to the poor at the time of Eid. It must consist of the staple foodstuff (grain or flour) that is consumed in any particular area. Furthermore, as far as the quality of the food that must be given is concerned, one may give a better quality food but not a lower quality. (In South Africa the staple food even changes from province to province). In the Cape for example the staple food may be considered to be either rice or flour, because although rice is normally eaten at one meal, bread may be consumed at two meals. Hence here rice and bread flour may be given as fitrah.

NOTE: According to Imaam Shafi’ee rahmatullahi alaih the actual food should be given and not the monetary equivalent as is commonly done nowadays. That was taken from Imaam Abu Haneefa rahmatullahi alaih who allows money to be given in place of the foodstuffs. Their fitrah is exactly half of the Shafi’ee fitrah. Seeing that rice and bread flour are readily available these days, there is no reason why we Shafi’ees cannot return to the original view of Imaam Shafi’ee rahmatullahi alaih.

It is permissible to give fitrah from the beginning of the month of Ramadaan. It is advisable to give it from the moment the sun has set on the eve of Eid until the time for the Salaatul-Eid. However, it is sunnah to give the fitrah on Eid morning before Eid salaah. Fitrah should in any case be given before the salaah because it is haraam to delay the giving of fitrah until after the day of Eid without any good reason. If anyone had not given fitrah by the end of the day of Eid, it is necessary that he should perform Qadhaa as soon as possible. (I.e. paying fitrah afterwards.)

If a person passes away before sunset on the eve of Eid i.e. before Maghrib, or if a child is born after sunset, fitrah in both cases will not be necessary, because the one died before fitrah became waajib while the other was born after it became waajib. Fitrah will however be waajib if the former died after sunset and the latter was born before Maghrib.

The people to whom fitrah should be given are the same as those to whom zakaah should be given. This will be dealt with under Zakaah.

The salaah of both Eids is sunnah Mu-akkadah and each consists of two raka-ahs.

The translation of the niyyah for salaatu-Eidul-Fitr is:

And the translation of the niyyah for Eidul-Adh-haa is:

This salaah is slightly different from other salaahs. In the first rakaat after the takbeeratul-Ih'-raam and the Duaa'-ul-istiftaah takbeer should be recited seven times, with which the hands should also be lifted up to the ears at each takbeer. Thereafter the Imaam should recite the Qiraat in salaah (faatihah and surah) aloud.

In the second rakaat, apart from the takbeer which is recited on rising from the sujood, an additional five takbeers should be recited, again lifting the hands. Thereafter the Imaam again recites the Qiraat in salaah (faatihah and surah aloud). It is sunnah to lift the hands up to the ears at every takbeer and each time between the takbeers very softly say:

Sub-ha nallahi wal hamdu-lillahi wa la-ilaaha illailahu wallahu akbar.

Translation: Allah is pure of all faults, and all praise be to Allah, and none is worthy of worship except Allah, and Allah is the Greatest.

Furthermore, it is also sunnah to recite surah Quaf or surah A’laa in the first raka-ah and surah Qamar (Iqtarabatis Saa'atu) or Hal Ataaka in the second raka-ah.

It is also sunnah for the Imaam to recite two khutbahs after the salaah. At the commencement of the first khutbah nine takbeers and at the commencement of the second khutbah seven takbeers should be recited.

In the khutbah of Eidul fitr, the Imaam should explain the regulations regarding the duty of giving out the Sadaqatul Fitr and in the khutbah of Eidul Ad-haa the regulations regarding Qurbani should be explained.

It is sunnah on both Eids, that whilst at home, in the musjid or at the market place, takbeer be recited sporadically from Maghrib of the previous evening up to the salaah of Eid. For Ad-haa the takbeer should begin at Fajr on the 9th Zil Haj, the day of Arafaat (the day before Eid) and continue up to Asr salaah on the 13th day, whereas at Eidul Fitr it starts at Magrib on the day the crescent is sighted for Eid, ending at Asr salaah on the day of Eid.

The correct time for Eid salaah is from the moment the sun had risen until midday. The sunnah time will be to wait till the sun had risen into the sky the height of a spear above the horizon (+2 metres). Eid salaah performed earlier than this time would be makrooh.

Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, La-ilaha iilallahu wallahu akbar, Allahu akbar Wa lillahil hamd.

bukratan wa a'seelaa. La ilaha iilallahu wa laa na-budo illaa i-yaahu, mukhliseena lahud-deen. Wa low karihal mush-rikoon.

Translation: Allah is the Greatest, much praise be to Him. and Glory be to Him morning and night. There is none other worthy of worship except Allah alone, and none do we worship except Him, being sincere unto Him even though the idolators may be averse.

Ghusl for both Eids and also to put on one's best clothes for the celebration of Eid is sunnah. It is also sunnah to trim the hair and to use sweet-smelling ittar (not perfume).

As for that person who is offering Qurbani, it is sunnah not to cut hair and pare the nails from the moment the crescent is sighted for Zul-Hijja until after the salaah of Adh-haa. Salaah for Adh-haa should be made as early as possible and it is also sunnah not to eat before salaah. But in Fitr one should delay the salaah and eat or drink something before salaah.