On Itikaf, supererogatory prayers, Zakatul-fitr

Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said “the Prophet (PBUH) never slept in the last ten days of Ramadan. He used to wake the members of his house-hold, male and female and engaged them in supererogatory prayers until the end of the month.” (transmitted by Bukhari)

‘Ittikaf” spending some days in the Mosque in devotion in  Ramadan
This refers to the special seclusion of a person in a mosque in the month of Ramadan in order to engage in an uninterrupted devotion like recitation of the Holy Qur’an, saying supererogatory prayers etc. with the hope of attracting Allah’s favour. It is one of the traditions of the Prophet  (pbuh) which is most encouraged in the last 10 days of Ramadan.
The minimum period for observing Ittikaf is one day while the maximum period is three days according to one narration. However, another narration holds that the minimum period is three days while the maximum period is 10 days to one month. It should be noted that whatever version one holds is correct and worth following.
A tradition said Aisha (May Allah be pleased with her) maintained that the Prophet (pbuh) used to observe 10 days’ Ittikaf in the last 10 days of every Ramadan till the end of his life.

“Zakatul-fitr” distribution of foodstuff to the needy at the end of Ramadan
This is a special act which involves giving out on charity, some food items at the end of the Ramadan fast. It commences three days to the end of Ramadan to the first day of Shawwal which is Idl-fitr day before going for the Id-prayer, because a tradition credited to Abdullah Bn Abbas (May Allah be pleased with both of them) holds that the Prophet (pbuh) established this special charity for us so that it will purify the person who fasts from all evil talks and all other evils.
It is also a source of relief and satisfaction to the needy. Anyone that gives it out before going for the Id-prayer attracts his full reward while one that gives it out after returning from the Id-prayer attracts only the reward of the normal charity. (Transmitted by Abu-Daud).
This special charity is to be given by the leader of a household for all those living under him like his wife/wives, children and his employees.

Prohibited fasts
(i) Fasting on a doubtful day, which is normally the 30th day of Sha’aban is indeed prohibited because there is no certainty as to whether that day is in Sha’aban or Ramadan.
(ii) Fasting on either of the two Id days is also prohibited. The Prophet (pbuh) is reported to have said: “Anyone that fasts on an id day has indeed disobeyed the father of Kasim” (Prophet Muhammad, pbuh, because he had a son Kasim after whom he was named).
(iii) Fasting is also prohibited in the first, second and third days after Id-days.
(iv) Setting aside Friday and fasting in it always is also prohibited.
(v) The observance of supererogatory fast by women without the prior notice of their husbands is also prohibited.
It is obligatory on everyone who is fasting to acknowledge and accept that fasting is an act of worship in Islam through his utterances and actions.
It is equally obligatory on everyone who is fasting to avoid all prohibited utterances and actions and also abstain from seeing and hearing all what is haram and walking to places prohibited by Islam, these are things that anyone fasting must avoid so long as he wants Allah to accept such deeds.

Excerpt from RAMADANIYYAT, translated by DSP Imam Ahmad Adam Kutubi