Book on Ramadan: Complete Guide for a Sacred Month Structured and Spiritually Rich
In Brief
This comprehensive guide helps you choose the best book on Ramadan according to your needs. You will learn the essential rules of fasting (what invalidates it, exceptions, Fidya and Kaffara), how to properly organize your dawn and iftar meals according to the Prophet's Tradition, as well as the different night prayers (Tarawih, Qiyam al-Layl, Witr) and why they are spiritually important.
We also offer you a detailed plan for the last ten nights and for seeking the Night of Destiny (Laylat al-Qadr). We explain the financial obligations of Ramadan (Zakat al-Fitr, Fidya, Kaffara) and give you a realistic schedule that you can adapt, in two versions (10 minutes per day or 30 minutes per day). Each section is accompanied by recommendations of good books available at Al-Imen.
رمضان (Ramadan) is much more than a month of fasting: it is a special month to learn discipline, inner purification and draw closer to Allah. A good book about Ramadan is very helpful - it organizes your days, clearly explains the rules of fasting, nourishes your soul and offers you a realistic schedule.
Whether you are a Muslim who wants to better understand صيام (Siyam - fasting), a new Muslim experiencing your first Ramadan, or a parent looking for resources for your children, there is a book suited to your needs.
This guide helps you choose the best book for you based on your objectives: the rules of fasting, good organization, supplications, night prayers, family organization or spirituality.
What are the spiritual objectives and priorities of the sacred month of Ramadan?
Ramadan is very important for Muslims - it is the fourth pillar of Islam. The Quran says: "The month of Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was revealed as a guide for the people" (Surah Al-Baqara, 2:185).
The Prophet Muhammad said that "when the month of Ramadan arrives, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are closed and the demons are chained" (reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim).
To learn more about the history and origins of Ramadan, consult our special page.
The priorities of Ramadan are divided into four important elements. First, صيام (Siyam) - not eating, drinking or having conjugal relations from dawn to sunset - this is the main obligation.
Next, increase worship through Tarawih prayers, قيام الليل (Qiyam al-Layl - waking up at night to pray) and reading the Quran extensively. Third, improve one's behavior: be patient, generous, control your words and emotions.
Finally, help others through Zakat al-Fitr and صدقة (Sadaqah - giving to the poor).
A good book on Ramadan addresses these four dimensions clearly. The best books do not only give the rules: they help you organize your days, understand why to do these practices and stay motivated during the thirty days.
Discover how to benefit from divine blessing (barakah) by preparing well.
What are the essential rules of fiqh of fasting to master?
Here are the essential elements to know on this topic to enrich your practice during Ramadan.
What nullifies the fast and what is permitted
Knowing the rules of fasting (فقه الصيام - fiqh al-siyam) is very important to have a good Ramadan. The fast begins at dawn (الفجر الصادق, al-Fajr al-Sadiq) and ends at sunset (المغرب, al-Maghrib).
Imam al-Nawawi explains what nullifies the fast: eating voluntarily, drinking voluntarily, having conjugal relations, and vomiting voluntarily. But be careful: if you eat or drink forgetfully, your fast remains valid according to this hadith:
"If someone forgets that he is fasting and eats or drinks, let him complete his fast for it is Allah who has nourished and given him drink" (al-Bukhari, Muslim).
The four great schools of Islamic law - حنفية (Hanafite), مالكية (Malikite), شافعية (Shafi'ite) and حنبلية (Hanbalite) - agree on the main rules but not always on particular cases. Using the سواك (Siwak - a stick for cleaning the teeth) is permitted during the fast according to most scholars.
Injections that do not provide nutrition, eye drops and medical inhalers are discussed by scholars. The encyclopedia of fiqh for daily life and modern books on fiqh explain this in detail.
To better understand these rules, read our complete guide to the fiqh of fasting.
What are the exemptions and particular situations of fasting?
The Quran says there are exceptions: travelers and the sick can fast later (fa-'iddatun min ayyamin ukhar - "the same number of days later", Surah Al-Baqara, 2:184).
Pregnant or nursing women who fear for their health or that of their baby also have an exception according to most scholars. Very elderly people who cannot fast must pay the فدية (Fidya - a compensation), but if someone intentionally breaks his fast without good reason, he must make the كفارة (Kaffara - an expiation).
To understand the difference between these three obligations, our article on Zakat al-Fitr, Fidya and Kaffara explains everything clearly.
How to organize Suhoor and Iftar with adab and nutritional balance?
The سحور (Suhoor - eating before dawn) and the إفطار (Iftar - eating after sunset) are not just ordinary meals: they are sacred moments with rules from the Prophet.
The Prophet said: "Eat before dawn, for eating before dawn is a blessing" (al-Bukhari, Muslim). He also said to eat as late as possible before dawn and to break the fast quickly after sunset:
"People are doing well as long as they break their fast quickly" (al-Bukhari, Muslim).
For Suhoor, modern scholars and Muslim nutritionists recommend foods that digest slowly: dates, oats, eggs, whole grain bread and plenty of water. Iftar always begins with dates and water, this is the tradition of the Prophet, before eating the main meal.
When breaking the fast, we say this supplication - ذَهَبَ الظَّمَأُ وَابْتَلَّتِ الْعُرُوقُ وَثَبَتَ الْأَجْرُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ ("The thirst has gone, the throat is moistened and the reward is confirmed if Allah wills") - which reminds us that this moment is spiritual.
Also discover how to praise Allah at every beautiful moment. Our guide on health during Ramadan gives you balanced menus and ideas for drinking well.
What are the essential practices of Ramadan prayers: Tarawih, Qiyam and Witr?
Night prayers are very precious during Ramadan. The تراويح (Tarawih) is a supplementary prayer performed after the evening prayer throughout the entire month. The Prophet said:
"Whoever prays during the nights of Ramadan with faith and hoping for the reward of Allah, all his previous sins will be forgiven" (al-Bukhari, Muslim). The Caliph 'Umar ibn al-Khattab ensured that people pray together at the mosque behind a single imam.
To better understand this, read our guide on the meaning and guide to Tarawih.
The قيام الليل (Qiyam al-Layl - praying at night) becomes more important during the last ten nights, when seeking ليلة القدر (Laylat al-Qadr - The Night of Destiny). The وتر (Witr) prayer concludes the night prayers and must be in an odd number.
Scholars disagree on the number of prayer units (rak'at) for Tarawih - eight according to some who cite the hadith of 'Aisha, twenty according to others who follow what the Companions did - but what matters most is consistency and concentration (خشوع, Khushu').
Our article on Tarawih and Qiyam gives you three different routines depending on your available time.
How to optimize the last ten nights to seek the Night of Destiny (Laylat al-Qadr)?
ليلة القدر (Laylat al-Qadr - the Night of Destiny) is described in the Quran as "better than a thousand months" (Surah Al-Qadr, 97:3). The Prophet taught us to seek it among the odd nights at the end of Ramadan.
It was on this night that the Quran began to be revealed, and the angels descend upon it in great numbers. The Prophet taught this supplication to his wife 'Aisha for this night: اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي ("O Allah, You are the Pardoner and You love to pardon, so pardon me", reported by al-Tirmidhi).
To make the most of these special nights, the scholars say to combine prayer, Quran recitation, personal supplications and giving to the poor. The اعتكاف (I'tikaf - staying in the mosque to pray) during the last ten days is a practice of the Prophet that we should follow.
For a night-by-night plan, read our guide on Laylat al-Qadr and the last ten nights.
What are the financial obligations of Ramadan: Zakat al-Fitr, Fidya and Kaffara?
Ramadan has different financial obligations that all Muslims must know about. The زكاة الفطر (Zakat al-Fitr) is a mandatory charity that each Muslim - man, woman or child - must give before the Eid prayer.
The Prophet said that it is "a purification for the one who has fasted: it purifies him from idle words and insults, and it feeds the poor" (Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah). Its amount is approximately one صاع (Sa' - about 2.5 to 3 kg) of food that is eaten in one's country.
Our complete guide on Zakat al-Maal also explains the zakat one must give on one's wealth.
The فدية (Fidya) is for people who can never fast (very elderly people, permanently ill). The كفارة (Kaffara) is a penalty for the one who deliberately breaks their fast without good reason: they must fast for sixty consecutive days or, if they cannot, feed sixty poor people.
Do not confuse these three - our article on Zakat al-Fitr, Fidya and Kaffara tells you what to do for each case.
How to organize your Ramadan schedule realistically and in a structured way?
A good Ramadan needs a schedule that matches your real life. Specialists say to identify the "essential elements" - the five prayers, the pre-dawn meal, the evening meal, the Tarawih - then add other things if you can.
The Prophet said: "The deed that Allah loves most is the one done regularly, even if small" (al-Bukhari, Muslim). Also don't forget to add tasbih to your routine to make your Ramadan even better.
Here is an adaptable framework in two versions:
10 minutes per day version: Read one page of the Quran after each obligatory prayer (five pages per day, you will finish the Quran in 30 days). Add a short supplication before the pre-dawn and evening meals.
Pray Witr alone at home if you cannot attend Tarawih at the mosque.
30 minutes per day version: In addition to the short program, add Tarawih prayer (at the mosque or at home), five minutes of supplications after the dawn prayer, and five minutes of personal supplications before the evening meal.
During the last ten nights, follow a more intensive program with Qiyam al-Layl (longer night prayers).
For schedules adapted to different people (working, caring for children, students), check our guide to organize your Ramadan.
Recommended reading to deepen your Ramadan planning
Guide to Optimal Ramadan
A practical and comprehensive guide to organize your Ramadan at its best: spirituality, organization, nutrition and health. Ideal for those who want a structured and ambitious Ramadan with ready-to-use schedules.
27.00 €
View the productWhat specialized reference works do we recommend for different needs?
Here is our selection of books on Ramadan - on the rules, spirituality, how to organize well and family activities. Each book is available at the Al-Imen library, where you will also find our invocations and supplications to Allah, our resources on Islamic law and jurisprudence, and our Qurans.
The Foundations of the Month of Ramadan - Shaykh Al-Outhaymin
30 lessons on the rules of fasting, night prayers, charity and everything a Muslim must know during this sacred month. A reference book written by one of the greatest scholars of our time.
12,00 €
View the product
The Month of Ramadan: The Rites of the Months in Islam - Al-Jîlânî
Discover the deep spiritual dimension of Ramadan through the teachings of Shaykh 'Abd al-Qâdir al-Jîlânî. A book for those who want to go further in their inner experience, beyond the rules.
8,00 €
View the product
30 Days of Meditation for Ramadan - Souad El Mansouri
A notebook to organize your days of Ramadan. You will find: spiritual advice every day, spaces for reflection, tracking of your goals and guided meditations over 30 days.
17,90 €
View the product
Ramadan & the Virtues of Fasting - Imam Al-Ghazali
Imam Al-Ghazali teaches that "fasting is a quarter of Faith". This classic book reveals the hidden meanings of fasting - what it brings us, its spiritual mysteries and how it brings us closer to Allah.
3,50 €
View the productWhat are the frequently asked questions about Ramadan books?
Which book to choose for a first Ramadan or a convert?
For your first Ramadan, choose a practical guide like How to Welcome Ramadan? by Azhari Ahmad Mahmûd (€2.50) or the Guide to Optimal Ramadan (€27) which covers everything.
The most important thing is to start with the basic rules of fasting, prayer times and a small dictionary of Arabic words. Our guide to beginning Ramadan shows you what is a priority. Also read how to do well in the months after Ramadan.
Are there Ramadan books adapted for children?
Yes, there are several books specially made for Muslim children. The Ramadan Activity Workbook by Ilyas El Mzabi (from age 6, €10.90) and the Ramadan Around the World workbook (€10) have games and learning activities.
Check our article on Ramadan for children for other activity ideas.
Which book do you recommend to deepen the fiqh of fasting?
The Foundations of the Month of Ramadan by Shaykh Al-Outhaymin (€12) is a must-have with its 30 lessons on rules, exceptions and real cases. For the Maliki perspective, The Fasting of Ramadan by Diagana Ahmad Hamâhullah (€13) summarizes eight years of research.
These two books explain well what is obligatory, what is recommended and what is forbidden.
How to organize your Qur'an reading schedule during Ramadan?
The Qur'an has 604 pages. To finish it in 30 days, read about 20 pages a day, that's 4 pages after each obligatory prayer. If that's too difficult, try reading half of the Qur'an (10 pages a day) or a quarter (5 pages a day).
Imam al-Nawawi says it is better to read regularly than to read a lot. Our planning guide gives you realistic ideas.
Can you read the Qur'an without ablutions during Ramadan?
According to most scholars, touching a physical copy of the Qur'an (مصحف - Mushaf) requires you to perform your ablutions first, according to the verse that says "only the purified touch it" (Surah Al-Wâqi'a, 56:79).
But you can recite the Qur'an from memory or on a phone without ablutions, according to the most correct opinion. Fasting itself does not require special ablutions, except those you perform for prayers.
What is the book recommended by the Al-Imen editorial team?
Optimal Ramadan Guide
The most comprehensive guide to organizing an excellent Ramadan: spirituality, planning, nutrition and health all in one book.
27,00 €
View productKey Points to Remember
- A good book on Ramadan helps you build your month around four things: fasting, praying, purifying yourself, and helping others.
- Choose your books according to your needs: the rules if you want to understand the how, spirituality to nourish your soul, or organization for good planning.
- Night prayers (Tarawih and Qiyam) and seeking the Night of Destiny are the spiritual heart of Ramadan.
- Prepare your financial obligations (Zakat al-Fitr, Fidya, Kaffara) before Eid celebration so you don't forget anything.
Start preparing from the month of Sha'ban by choosing one or two books that suit you. Visit our Ramadan collection at Al-Imen to find the book that will make your sacred month magnificent.
Articles in this guide
- Fiqh of Fasting
- Ramadan Invocations
- Tarawih and Qiyam
- Laylat al-Qadr
- Zakat al-Fitr, Fidya and Kaffara
- Ramadan for Beginners
- Ramadan and Children
- Ramadan Recipes
- Health and Ramadan
- Common Ramadan Mistakes and Their Solutions
- Ramadan Planning
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