A Day in the Life of the Prophet Muhammad During Ramadan
Many Muslims may wonder about the life of the Prophet ﷺ during Ramadan, how he fasted, how he ate Suhoor, how he broke his fast, and how he spent his day.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ would intend to fast every day and have Suhoor with one of his wives. He would eat only a small amount, sometimes dates or a little food along with water. Occasionally, he would have Suhoor with some of his companions. In an authentic narration, he had Suhoor with Zayd ibn Haritha (رضي الله عنه). After Suhoor, he would perform Fajr prayer, with only the time it takes to recite fifty verses of the Qur’an between his Suhoor and prayer. After Suhoor, he would pray two light Rak‘ahs of Sunnah before Fajr, wait in his home until Bilal sought his permission to give the call to prayer, and then he would lead the Fajr prayer.
After Fajr, the Prophet ﷺ would sit in the mosque remembering Allah until sunrise. He would wait for about twenty minutes or more, then perform two Rak‘ahs of prayer. He informed his companions that whoever does this receives the reward of performing Hajj and Umrah in full.
At home, he would assist his wives in their household tasks. He would also engage with them lovingly, even during Ramadan. He sometimes kissed his wives while fasting, a practice unique to him ﷺ.
Before Maghrib, he would recite evening supplications and make Du‘a. When the Maghrib Adhan was called, he would ask his wives for food to break his fast. He would break his fast before performing Maghrib prayer, typically with fresh dates, and if unavailable, with dried dates. If he had no dates, he would take a few sips of water. Anas ibn Malik (رضي الله عنه) reported:
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to break his fast with fresh dates before praying; if there were no fresh dates, then with dried dates; if there were no dried dates, then he would take a few sips of water".
After breaking his fast, the Prophet ﷺ would lead the Maghrib prayer at the mosque. Upon returning home, he would pray the Sunnah of Maghrib and spend time with his wives. When the Adhan for Isha was called, he would pray the Sunnah before Isha at home, then lead the Isha prayer in the mosque.
He prayed Tarawih with the companions three times in the mosque but stopped out of concern that it might become an obligation upon them. Instead, he continued praying at home. When asked about his night prayer, Aisha (رضي الله عنها) said:
"The Prophet ﷺ never prayed more than eleven Rak‘ahs in Ramadan or outside of it. He would pray four, and do not ask how beautiful and lengthy they were. Then he would pray four, and do not ask how beautiful and lengthy they were. Then he would pray three".
After prayer, he would sleep before Witr. Aisha once asked him, "O Messenger of Allah, do you sleep before praying Witr?" He replied, "O Aisha, my eyes sleep, but my heart does not" . Unlike his followers, he was not required to pray Witr before sleeping.
The Prophet ﷺ would sometimes engage in marital intimacy at night, then sleep until Fajr Adhan, wake up in a state of ritual impurity, perform Ghusl, and go to Fajr prayer. Through this, he taught his followers that fasting is observed during the day, not the night, and that lawful marital relations remain permissible after sunset.
During Ramadan, he dedicated himself to reciting the Qur’an, praying, remembering Allah, giving charity, and fasting. He ate very little and sometimes fasted continuously for two or three days without breaking his fast, saying:
"I spend the night with my Lord, and He provides me with food and drink".
One of the key aspects of his Ramadan was patience with hunger, teaching his Ummah that Ramadan is a month of worship, not indulgence. Unlike modern trends of excessive feasting, the Prophet ﷺ emphasized that Ramadan is a time for devotion.
In the last ten nights, he would wake up his family for extra worship and seclusion in the mosque for I‘tikaf. During the final year of his life, he performed I‘tikaf for twenty days. He also urged his companions to seek Laylatul Qadr, saying:
"Seek Laylatul Qadr in the last ten nights of Ramadan" .
Aisha (رضي الله عنها) once asked, "O Messenger of Allah, if I find Laylatul Qadr, what should I say?" He replied:
"Say: O Allah, You are Most Forgiving and You love to forgive, so forgive me" .
The Prophet ﷺ was exceptionally generous in Ramadan. His companions described his charity as "a fast-blowing wind," meaning he gave continuously without hesitation, helping the poor and needy.
One of his greatest teachings was guiding his household in worship. He did not focus only on their physical well-being but ensured their spiritual growth as well. The Qur’an instructs:
"O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones". (Surah At-Tahrim: 6)
Thus, the Prophet ﷺ set an example for Muslim families, teaching that Ramadan is not just about food, but about worship, patience, generosity, and devotion to Allah.
