Abu Dawud

Benefits and Issues:
➊ From the blessed practice of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), remembrances of Allah and supplications are transmitted for all the small and large matters of a person's life. By making them a part of one's practice, a servant becomes the embodiment of (ٱذْكُرُ‌وا۟ ٱللَّهَ ذِكْرً‌ۭا كَثِيرً‌‌ۭا) (Al-Ahzab: 41) "Remember Allah with much remembrance." Therefore, one should avoid self-invented supplications. The supplications for breaking the fast have been mentioned in this chapter. If, at this time of acceptance, a person presents all his needs before Allah, it is a great fortune.

➋ The act of Abdullah ibn Umar (radi Allahu anhu) of trimming the beard beyond a fistful is not supported by the statement or action of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). This is his personal action, which is not a proof in comparison to the hadith of the Messenger. The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) not only commanded (i‘fa’ al-lihyah — letting the beard grow) but also commanded opposition to the Magians. At that time, the Magians used to keep their beards short; shaving was not commonly practiced among them, as most of the hadith scholars have stated. The author of Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi writes regarding this issue that some people deduce from the reports of Ibn Umar and Abu Hurayrah (radi Allahu anhum) that the beard beyond a fistful should be cut, but this deduction is weak and feeble because the marfu‘ (attributed to the Prophet) hadiths transmitted from the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) negate this. In them, the command is to leave the beard unrestricted. Therefore, it is not correct to take these reports and statements as evidence in opposition to explicit and marfu‘ hadiths. Thus, the safe way is that of those who say that, acting upon the apparent hadiths, the beard should be left completely, and to take anything from its length or breadth is a blameworthy act. (Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi: 4/11)

➌ The supplication transmitted here for breaking the fast is authentic. In comparison, the famous supplication (Allahumma laka sumtu...) is weak in its chain, as will be mentioned ahead.