Imagine pausing your work, your daily routine, your endless scrolling—just to dive deep into the Quran like Imam Malik. Picture waking up in the middle of the night, eyes heavy with sleep, yet standing in prayer like Umar ibn al-Khattab. Think about weeping over the verses of the Quran, truly feeling their weight, just like Ibrahim al-Nakha’i.
Ramadan wasn’t just another month for them—it was the month. A time of recitation, prayer, generosity, seclusion, and sincerity. They forgave, they reflected, they disconnected from distractions to reconnect with Allah.
Their devotion wasn’t just about quantity but quality. It wasn’t about doing more—it was about doing better.
Here’s how they used to spend the blessed month:
Increased Recitation of the Quran
Imam Malik (رحمه الله): When Ramadan arrived, he would stop teaching hadith and fiqh to dedicate himself solely to reciting the Quran. He would read it continuously, except during prayer. (Lataa’if al-Ma’aarif by Ibn Rajab, p. 191)
Ibn Shihab al-Zuhri (رحمه الله): He would say, “Ramadan is for recitation of the Quran and feeding the poor.” (Siyar A’lam al-Nubala’ 4/202)
Night Prayers (Qiyam al-Layl)
Umar ibn al-Khattab (رضي الله عنه): He revived the practice of congregational Tarawih prayer, leading the people in long and heartfelt recitations of the Quran at night. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 2010)
Al-Aswad ibn Yazid (رحمه الله): He would complete the recitation of the Quran every two nights during Ramadan in his night prayers. (Siyar A’lam al-Nubala’ 4/51)
Supplication and Tears of Repentance
Ibrahim al-Nakha’i (رحمه الله): He would weep so much in Ramadan that his beard would be soaked with tears, especially when hearing verses about Allah’s mercy and punishment. (Hilyat al-Awliya 4/222)
Generosity and Charity
Ibn Umar (رضي الله عنه): He was known for his extreme generosity during Ramadan. He would break his fast with orphans, the poor, and travelers and never ate alone. (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 3/165)
Hasan al-Basri (رحمه الله): He would distribute large amounts of food to the poor every night in Ramadan. (Lataa’if al-Ma’aarif, p. 293)
Reducing Distractions and Focusing on Worship
Imam al-Shafi’i (رحمه الله): He would complete the Quran 60 times in Ramadan (twice a day), outside of his prayers. (Tadhkirat al-Huffaz 1/362)
I’tikaf (Seclusion in the Mosque)
Many of the Salaf, including Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (رحمه الله) and Sufyan al-Thawri (رحمه الله), would spend the last ten days of Ramadan in i’tikaf, isolating themselves for worship, reflection, and recitation of the Quran. (Siyar A’lam al-Nubala’ 7/273; Al-Zuhd by Imam Ahmad)
Forgiving Others and Seeking Forgiveness
Salim ibn Abdullah ibn Umar (رحمه الله): He would use Ramadan to repair broken relationships, forgiving others and encouraging people to reconcile with one another. (Siyar A’lam al-Nubala’ 4/410)
Focus on Sincerity
Fudayl ibn Iyad (رحمه الله): He emphasized sincerity in every act of worship during Ramadan, often repeating, “What matters is not how much you do but how sincere you are in doing it.” (Hilyat al-Awliya 8/93)
Avoiding Idle Talk and Wasting Time
Muhammad ibn Wasi’ (رحمه الله): He would say, “Every moment in Ramadan is a treasure. Do not waste it on what does not benefit your Hereafter.” (Siyar A’lam al-Nubala’ 6/120)
Reflection on Death and the Hereafter
Abu Bakr al-Balkhi (رحمه الله): He said, “Rajab is the month of planting seeds, Sha’ban is the month of irrigating them, and Ramadan is the month of harvesting. Whoever does not sow and irrigate in Rajab and Sha’ban will have nothing to harvest in Ramadan.” (Lataa’if al-Ma’aarif, p. 130)
