From ‘Umar ibn al Khattaab  radi Allaahu ‘anhu who said.
The Messenger of Allaah sall Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said:

“When the night approaches from here,
and the day goes away from here,
then let the fasting person break his fast.”

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The Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al ‘Uthaymeen rahimahullaah commented:

The Ameer ul Mu’mineen (Chief of the Believers) ‘Umar ibn al Khattaab radi Allaahu ‘anhu informs that the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam clarified the signs of the time at which the fasting person breaks his fast.

And they are three signs which are inseparable from each other:
•         The approach of the night from the east
•         The departure of the day from the west
•         The setting of the sun.

And the foundation of these signs is the setting of the sun because with it enters the night, which Allaah the Most High has made the limit for completion of the fast.

However the night appearing clearly from the east and the departing of the day from the west are (also) a proof for it, and follow on from it.

(taken from Sh Uthaymeen’s explanation of ‘Umdat-ul-Ahkaam
translated by Nasser ibn Najam)

From ‘Aaishah  radi Allaahu ‘anhaa who said:

There were some fasts from Ramadaan which I had to make up, so I was not able to make them until Sha’baan[1].

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The Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al ‘Uthaymeen rahimahullaah commented:

‘Aaishah radi Allaahu ‘anhaa informs that there were some fasts from Ramadaan which were upon her; she had refrained from fasting (during those days) due to an excuse, by way of her menstrual periods or other than that.

So she delayed them until Sha’baan, then she fasted them before the next Ramadaan.

And she clarified her excuse for that – that she was unable to make them up easily and conveniently until Sha’baan, when it became essential to make them up.

[1] The month before Ramadaan the following year

(taken from Sh Uthaymeen’s explanation of ‘Umdat-ul-Ahkaam
translated by Nasser ibn Najam)

From Sahl ibn Sa’d as Saa’idee radi Allaahu ‘anhu who said that the Messenger of Allaah sall Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said:

“The people will not cease to be upon goodness as long as they hasten to break the fast.”

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The Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al ‘Uthaymeen rahimahullaah commented:

All goodness is contained in following the Islamic Legislation and in restricting oneself to it, without going to excess or falling short.

And in this hadeeth, Sahl ibn Sa’d radi Allaahu ‘anhu informs that the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam told (us) that the people will continue upon goodness and righteousness in their religion if they restrict themselves to (staying within) the Islamically legislated limits for their fasting and their breaking the fast.

So be prompt with breaking the fast after the setting of the sun – which is the (legislated) limit for the fasting – just as Allaah, the Most High, said:

Then complete your fasting till the nightfall…
Soorah al Baqarah (2) aayah 187

And the night enters with the setting of the sun.

(taken from Sh Uthaymeen’s explanation of ‘Umdat-ul-Ahkaam
translated by Nasser ibn Najam)

From Aboo Hurayrah radi Allaahu ‘anhu who said:

While we were sitting with the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam a man came to him and said:

O Messenger of Allaah, I am destroyed!

He said, “What has destroyed you?”

He said, “I had sexual intercourse with my wife whilst I was fasting.”

(And in one version):

“I had sexual intercourse with my wife in the (daytime) in Ramadaan.”

So the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said, “Do you find that you have (the price) of a slave, so that you could set him free?”

He said, “No.”

He said, “Are you able to fast two consecutive months?”

He said, “No.”

He said, “Do you find (enough) to feed sixty miskeen people (those who do not have enough for themselves nor their family)?”

He said, “No.”

So the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam remained for a time – and while we were like that, he was brought a basket containing dates.

He said, “Where is the person who was asking?”

He said, “It was me.” 

He said, “Take this and give it in charity.”

So he said, “To someone who is greater in need than me, O Messenger of Allaah? For, by Allaah, there is not between the two lava plains (of al Madeenah) a household that is more in need than my household!” 

So the Messenger of Allaah sall Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam laughed until his canine teeth became visible, then he said, “Feed it to your family.”

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The Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al ‘Uthaymeen rahimahullaah commented:

Aboo Hurayrah radi Allaahu ‘anhu narrates that they were sitting with the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, as was their habit of sitting with him in order to learn from him and be companionable with him.

So whilst they were like this, a man came, who recognised that he was destroyed due to the sin he had committed, wanting redemption from that.

So he said, “O Messenger of Allaah, I am destroyed.”  And then he sall Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam asked him about the reason for (thinking) that. So the man replied that he had had sexual intercourse with his wife during the daytime in Ramadaan whilst fasting.

So the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam did not deal with him harshly because he (the man) had come in repentance, seeking redemption for that which he had fallen into.

So the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam guided him to that which contained redemption, asking him whether he had the (funds) to free a slave, so that it would be an expiation for him. The man replied in the negative.

So he asked him whether he was able to fast two consecutive months, with no day off from fasting coming into them.

He replied in the negative.

So he moved him onto the third and last option, asking him whether he was able to feed sixty miskeen people. He replied in the negative as well.

Then the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam remained until a man from the Ansaar brought a basket containing dates. So the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said to the man who had asked, ““Take this and give it in charity.”  Meaning – as an expiation for that which was upon him.

However due to the state of need which this man was in and his knowledge of the generosity of the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam and his love of making ease for his nation, he entertained some hope; so he (the man) said, “To someone who is more in need than me?” And he swore an oath that there was no household between the two lava plains of al Madeenah who was more in need than his household.

So the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam laughed, marvelling at the situation of this man who had come in fear, seeking redemption. So when this occurred for him, he changed to being one who wished for something, desiring a gift. So he gave permission to him, due to the fine and noble manners which Allaah had instilled in him, that he (the man) should feed his family, because fulfilling a need comes before expiation.

(taken from Sh Uthaymeen’s explanation of ‘Umdat-ul-Ahkaam
translated by Nasser ibn Najam)

From ‘Aaishah radi Allaahu ‘anhaa that Hamzah ibn ‘Amr al Aslamee radi Allaahu ‘anhu said to the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alahi wa sallam:

Should I fast upon the journey?

And he was a person who was plentiful in fasting.

So he said, “If you wish, then fast. And if you wish, then abstain from fasting.”

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The Shaykh ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Abdir Rahmaan aale Bassaam rahimahullaah (who died in 2003 CE) commented:

The Companions radi Allaahu ‘anhum knew that the Merciful Legislator did not give the concession to refrain from fasting upon a journey except as a mercy to them and out of compassion for them.

So Hamzah al Aslamee had steadfastness and strength upon fasting and he was one who loved al khayr (goodness), and was plentiful in fasting radi Allaahu ‘anhu . So he asked the Messenger of Allaahsall Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, “Should I fast upon the journey?”

So the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam gave him the choice between fasting and refraining from fasting, saying, “If you wish to, then fast. And if you wish, then abstain from fasting.”

(taken from Sh Uthaymeen’s explanation of ‘Umdat-ul-Ahkaam
translated by Nasser ibn Najam)

From Aboo Hurayrah radi Allaahu ‘anhu that the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alahi wa sallam said:

Whoever forgets whilst fasting and so he eats or drinks, then let him complete his fast; for it was only Allaah who fed him and gave him drink.

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The Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al ‘Uthaymeen rahimahullaah commented:

Aboo Hurayrah radi Allaahu ‘anhu informed from the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam that he commanded the fasting person who forgets, and so eats and drinks, that he should complete his fast and continue with it, because it does not become deficient through that, in that it occurred without his choosing that.

So it is as if Allaah, the Most High, was the One who fed him and gave him drink.

And this ruling with regards to the fasting person is one example of a tremendous general principle contained in His statement, He the Most High:
O our Lord, do not take us to account if we forget or fall into error…
Soorah al Baqarah (2) aayah 286

So Allaah, the Most High, said:
Indeed I have granted it.

(taken from Sh Uthaymeen’s explanation of ‘Umdat-ul-Ahkaam
translated by Nasser ibn Najam)