Details about the pre-dawn meal and breaking of fast

 

Having the pre-dawn meal is a Sunnah

 

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Anas (May Allah be well pleased with him), he says that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  Have the pre-dawn meal (Sehri) as there are blessings in having the pre-dawn meal (blessings mean the following of a Sunnah, reward and the strength to fast).  Bukhari and Muslim have both related this Hadith.

 

There are blessings in the pre-dawn meal

 

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat ‘Irbaaz bin Sariya (May Allah be well pleased with him), he says that once the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) invited him for the pre-dawn meal and said:  You do come for this blessed meal.  This Hadith has been related by Abu Dawood and Nasai.

 

Difference between our fasts and the fasts of the People of the Book

 

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat ‘Amr bin A’as (May Allah be well pleased with him), he says that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  The difference between our fasts and the fasts of the people of the book (the Ahl Ul Kitaab i.e. the Jews and the Christians) is the pre-dawn meal (i.e. we have the pre-dawn meal and fast and they fast without it).  Muslim has related this Hadith.

 

The best pre-dawn meal

 

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be well pleased with him), he says that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  The best pre-dawn meal of a Muslim is dates.  Abu Dawood has related this Hadith.

 

The command of having or desisting from the pre-dawn meal at the time of dawn

 

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be well pleased with him), he says that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  If any of you hears the Adhaan for Fajr (and is still having the pre-dawn meal) and the vessel is still in his (or her) hands, that person should not put it down until his need is fulfilled. This Hadith has been related by Abu Dawood.

 

Explanation:  It is mentioned in this Hadith that if someone is having the pre-dawn meal and hears the Adhaan for Fajr, then that person shouldn’t stop eating but should finish it up.  Baihaqui says in this regard that this command is for those times when one Adhaan would be given before the True Dawn (Subah Sadiq) as mentioned in the Hadith of Muslim:

 

Hadhrat Bilal (May Allah be well pleased with him) would give an Adhaan before the True Dawn so that those offering Tahajjud could end it and those who were sleeping could wake up and prepare for Salaat Ul Fajr.  In this case, it is obvious that at the time of the first Adhaan there would still be time for the pre-dawn meal.  Thus, those who were having their pre-dawn meal could finish it as the fast starts with the True Dawn.  It is similarly mentioned in Kaukab Durriyun.

 

Details about breaking of fast

 

The excellence of being hasty in breaking the fast

 

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Sahl (May Allah be well pleased with him), he says that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  People will be in good as long as they are hasty in breaking their fasts i.e. when they break their fast as soon as the sun sets.  This Hadith has been related by Bukhari and Muslim.

 

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be well pleased with him), he says that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  Almighty Allah says:  The most beloved to me among all My slaves is the slave who are hasty in breaking the fast (as soon as the sun sets).  Tirmidhi has related this Hadith.

 

Delaying the breaking of the fast is a custom of the Jews and the Christians

 

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be well pleased with him), he says that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  Islam will remain dominant as long as people will be hasty in breaking their fasts as Jews and Christians delay breaking the fast.  Abu Dawood and Ibn Majah have related this Hadith.

 

This Hadith says that Jews and Christians delay breaking their fast and Muslims should go against their customs and break their fasts as early as possible.  It is mentioned in Ash‘atul Lama’aat that the honor and majesty of Islam is in opposing the customs of the enemies of Islam and religion itself depends on it.

 

It is a Sunnah to be hasty in breaking the fast and in offering Salaat Ul Maghrib

 

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu ‘Atiya (May Allah shower His mercy on him), he says:  I and Masruq (both) went to Umm Ul Momineen Hadhrat ‘Aisha Siddiqua (May Allah be well pleased with her).  Masruq asked Hadhrat ‘Aisha (May Allah be well pleased with her):  There are 2 Companions of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) who don’t ever back off in good deeds.  One of them makes haste in breaking the fast and if offering Salaat Ul Maghrib and the other (somewhat) delays breaking the fast and offering Salaat Ul Maghrib.  On this, Hadhrat ‘Aisha (May Allah be well pleased with her) asked:  Who is the Companion who makes haste in breaking the fast and offering Salaat Ul Maghrib?  Masruq said:  He is ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud (May Allah be well pleased with him).  Hadhrat ‘Aisha (May Allah be well pleased with her) said:  Yes!  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) also used to make haste in breaking the fast and in offering Salaat Ul Maghrib.  This Hadith has been related by Muslim.

 

When should the fast be broken?

 

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him), he says that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  When darkness can be seen from the east and the day ends (i.e. the sun sets) at the west, then the fasting person should break the fast (as the fast has now ended).  Bukhari and Muslim have both related this Hadith.

 

It is commendable to break the fast with a date

 

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Salman bin A’amir (May Allah be well pleased with him), he says that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  The person among you who desires to break the fast should do so with a date.  As date is a means of blessings and leads to an increase in blessings.  If there are no dates, then one should break the fast with water as water cleans the stomach.  This Hadith has been related by Imam Ahmed, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawood, Ibn Majah and Daarimi.

 

If dates are not available, then the fast should be broken with water

 

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Anas (May Allah be well pleased with him), he says that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would break His fast with fresh dates before Salaat Ul Maghrib.  If there were no fresh dates, He would break the fast with dried dates only and if there were no dry dates either, He would have some sips of water.  Tirmidhi and Abu Dawood have related this Hadith.

 

The reward of providing means to a fasting person for breaking the fast

 

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Zaid bin Khalid (May Allah be well pleased with him), he says that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  The one who provides means to a fasting person for breaking the fast or helps a person who strives in the path of Allah with appropriate means, then the person who helps will receive a similar reward (i.e. the reward of fasting and the reward of striving in the path of Allah Most High respectively).  This Hadith has been related by Baihaqui in Shua’bul Iman and by Mohi Us Sunnah in Sharh Us Sunnah and Mohi Us Sunnah has said that this Hadith is rigorously authenticated (Sahih)

 

Supplication after breaking the fast

 

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with them), he says that when the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would break His fast, He would say:

 

 

Transliteration: Dhahabadh Dhamau Wabtallatil ‘Urooqu Wa Thabatal Ajru Insha Allah.

 

Translation: Thirst has been quenched, tissues have been watered and reward will be gained, Allah-willing.

 

Abu Dawood has related this Hadith.

 

Supplication of breaking the fast

 

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Hadhrat Ma’adh bin Zuhra (May Allah be well pleased with him), he says that when the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would break His fast, He would say:

 

Transliteration: Allahuma Laka Sumtu Wa ‘Ala Rizqika Aftartu.

 

Translation: O Allah!  I have fasted for You and break the fast with the sustenance that You have provided.

 

Abu Dawood has related this Hadith.

 

[Excerpted from Noor Ul Masabeeh, Vol. 1, Part V, Pg. No. 119-125]