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The Sunnah of Fasting
Reference: qsep.com
Suhoor (the pre-dawn meal) is the name for the food taken at late night before
Fajr. Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) ordered taking the meal of suhoor saying, "The
distinction between our fasting and the fasting of the People of Book is the
taking of the pre-dawn meal (suhoor)." [Saheeh Muslim (1096)]
The Excellence of Suhoor is that it is a blessing from Allah. A companion
of Allah's Messenger said, "I entered upon the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi
wa-sallam) and he was taking the
suhoor and he said to me, 'It is a blessing which Allah has given to you, so do
not leave it." [(Saheeh) Ahmad (5/270) and An-Nisa'ee (4/145).]
The Prophet (sallallahu
alaihi wa-sallam) also said, "Take Suhoor as there is a blessing in it." [Saheeh al-Bukharee (vol.
3, no. 146) and Saheeh Muslim (2412)]
Even drinking a cup of water instead of a
meal for Suhoor has blessings, for, it implies obeying the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu
alaihi wa-sallam) and following his Sunnah. Furthermore, Suhoor adds to the physical health, and
provides the essential nutrition and strength to sustain the body during the
long tiring hours of the day. [See, Fatawa as-Siyam, p.40]
The best form of Suhoor is dates as understood from the following Hadeeth
of the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam), "How excellent are dates as the believer's suhoor." [(saheeh)
Abu Dawood (2/303), Ibn Hibban (223), al-Baihaqee (4/237)]
Delaying Suhoor is a Sunnah: The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said, "The people will remain
on the right path as long as they hasten the Iftar (breaking of the, fast) and
delay taking Suhoor." [Abu-Dawood, at-Tirmidhee, Ibn-Majah and others]
Hastening in Iftar (breaking the fast) as soon as the sun sets (as
explained earlier) is from the Sunnah. Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alaihi
wa-sallam) said, "My Ummah
(nation) will not cease to be upon my Sunnah as long as they do not await the
stars when breaking the fast." [Saheeh al-Bukharee (4/173) and Saheeh Muslim
(1093)]
and he (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) also said, "The Deen will not cease to be uppermost as long as
the people hasten to break the fast, since the Jews and the Christians delay
it." [(hasan) Abu Dawood (2/305) and Ibn Hibban (224)]
Breaking the fast before praying Salaat al-Maghrib. "The Prophet (sallallahu
alaihi wa-sallam) used
to break his fast before offering the (Maghrib) prayer." [(saheeh) At-Tirmidhee]
Recommended foods for Iftar. The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) used to break his fast before
offering the (Maghrib) prayer with some fresh dates, if he didn't get any, then
dried dates, and failing that too, he (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) would drink a few mouthfuls of water.
[(saheeh) Saheeh Muslim, Musnad Ahmad (3/163), Abu Dawood 2/306]
Breaking the fast with salt in not established in the Sunnah
The virtues of Dua at the Time of Iftar. The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu
alaihi wa-sallam) said
extolling the time of Iftar for supplication, "Indeed, the fasting person has at
the time of breaking the fast, a supplication that is not rejected." [Ibn Majah
and al-Hakim] One should supplicate to Allah hoping that it will be answered,
and knowing that Allah does not respond to a heedless and inattentive heart.
Dua of Iftar:
ذَهَبَ الظَّمَأُ وَابْتَلَّتِ الْعُرُوقُ وَثَبُتَ الْأَجْرُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ
Translation: "The thirst has gone and the veins are quenched and the
reward is confirmed, if Allah wills." [Abu-Dawood, al-Baihaqi, al-Hakim, Ibn
Al-Sunni and An-Nisaee, ad-Daraqutni with hasan isnad]
Reference: qsep.com
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