It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Prayer is an expiation until the next prayer, Friday is an expiation until the next Friday, and the month of Ramadan is an expiation until the next month, except for three sins. We realized that a new situation had arisen, except associating partners with Allah, breaking a covenant, and abandoning the Sunnah. Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Breaking a covenant is that you make a pact with someone, but then you start fighting him with the sword, and abandoning the Sunnah means separating from the congregation.