Ramadhaan – A Date with Dr. Zakir
Episode 8
Suhoor and Iftaar
(Duration – 45 minutes)
Yusuf Chambers: Dear brothers and sisters in Islam and humanity Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh, may the peace, mercy and blessings of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala be on all of you. Welcome to the show ‘Ramadhaan – A Date with Dr. Zakir’. I am your host Yusuf Chambers and today we will be discussing the topic ‘Suhoor and Iftaar’
Dr Zakir, Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh.
Dr. Zakir: Walaikum Assalam Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh.
Yusuf Chambers: How are you today?
Dr. Zakir: Fine thank you, Alhumdulillah.
Yusuf Chambers: Alhumdulillah, I’d like to the topic which is an essential one even myself I am not 100% sure of the implications of the terms Suhoor and Iftaar, could you shed some light on these terms for us?
Dr. Zakir: Alhumdulillah, Was Salaatu Was Salaam Aala Rasoolillah Wa Ala Aalihi Wa Ashaabihi Wa Ajma’een, Amma Baad.
A’uzu billahi minash shaytan nir-rajeem, Bismillah hirrahman nirraheem.
Rabbish rahli Şadri Wa Yassir Li ‘Amri Wa Ahlul `Uqdatam Min Lisaani Yafqahu Qawli.
The word ‘Suhoor’ is derived from Arabic word ‘Sahar’ which means the later part of the and its plural is called as ‘Ashaar’ and Arabic word ‘Sahoor’ means a meal which is taken just before the break of dawn. And the Arabic word ‘Suhoor’ is the act of taking the meal Sahoor. So Suhoor is the act and Suhoor is the pre-dawn meal . As far as the Arabic word Iftaar is concerned. The word ‘Iftaar’ is derived from the Arabic word ‘Fatar’ which means to tear or which means to break and the word Fatoor means the meal taken to break the fast. and the Arabic word Iftaar means the act of talking the meal to break the fast.
Yusuf Chambers: I see, But Dr. Zakir what is the significance of taking the Suhoor, the pre-dawn meal.
Dr. Zakir: According to the saying of Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam), its mentioned in
Sahih Bukhari Vol .no. 3 in the Book of Fasting Hadith no. 1923 where our beloved Prophet said that
“Suhoor, the pre-dawn meal in it is blessing”
It’s mentioned in Sahih Muslim Vol. no. 2 in the Book of Fasting Hadith no. 2413 that it’s mentioned that
“The difference between the fasting of the Muslims and the people of the Book, the Ahle Kitaab, the Jews and the Christians is the taking of the Suhoor, the pre dawn meal”
So that is the act that differentiates between the fasting of the Muslims and the people of the Book, the Jews and the Christians.
It’s mentioned in the Silsilah Al Sahihah Vol. no. 3 Hadith no. 1045 our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam )said that
“Blessings are found in three things;
one is the Jamaah i.e. the congregation
The two is At tareed, that’s a sort of a food and
The third is the Suhoor, the pre dawn meal”
A similar message is repeated in Silsilah Al Sahihah Vol. no. 3 Hadith no. 1291 that our beloved Prophet said:
“Blessings are in two things, one is the Suhoor and one is a just measurement i.e. while weighing”
And there are several Ahadith in which our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) he has talked about Suhoor, that in it is blessings, its better for the Muslim Ummah
Its also mentioned in Sahih Al Jaami Vol. no. 1 Hadith no. 3683
“One of the Sahahabs enters the house of the Prophet when he is having his Suhoor and the Prophet says that in the Suhoor is the blessing so do not leave it”
And a similar message is given in Musnad Ahmad (Vol. no. 17 Hadith no. 11086) that
“Suhoor is blessed so do not leave it even if you have a gulp of water because Allah and His Angels they send blessings on the person who has Suhoor”
And similar message has been given in several places including
Sunan Abu Dawud Vol. no. 2 (Book of Fasting) Hadith no. 2337 where
“A person enters when the Prophet is having his Suhoor and the Prophet says that have Suhoor, it is a blessing for you and in the Suhoor is a blessing”
So there are various Ahadith talking about the blessings of Suhoor. So it is a Niyamah. And the reason the Prophet said that have Suhoor so that the people don’t overburden themselves. Because when we fast, they should have the Suhoor so that you know they don’t over burden themselves. And they have the proper fast.
Yusuf Chambers: Okay Thank you very much for that answer Dr. Zakir. Just one little question or it could just be a clarification regarding the historical significance from the Qur’an regarding Suhoor, the pre dawn meal. Before the Qur’an stipulated exactly how it should be taken, how did the Sahabas, the companions of the Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam), started to begin the fast?
Dr. Zakir: Before the Qur’an gave the exact details of the timings of Suhoor etc. the Sahabas at the time of Prophet before the Quranic verse of Surah Baqarah ch. 2 verse no. 187 was reveled they used to follow what was practiced earlier by the Ahle Kitaab, by the people of the Book. And that you get from various records, even from various Hadith etc. and at that time they were suppose to have the Iftaar immediately after sunset. And once they went to sleep they could not have any meal. Then they had to fast the complete next day and they could only have the meal the next day after sunset. So this was the practice that was followed earlier.
And there is a Hadith which is mentioned in
Sahih Bukhari Bok of Fasting Hadith no. 1915 where it mentions about
A Sahaba by the name of Qais ibn Sirmar Al Ansari and He comes one day to the house at the time of Iftaar after doing a lot of hard work and he tells his wife that I am hungry please can I have some food for Iftaar. So the wife says there is no food in the house, I will go and get it from outside. So when she goes out to get food because this Sahabas Qais, May Allah be pleased with him, he was very tired so before the wife comes back, he goes to sleep, sleep overtakes him. So by the time the wife comes back and she sees her husband sleeping. She says “O what a disappointment! Now he can’t have the meal.” So when he gets up the next day, he could not have the food and he had to fast the whole next day and by the time evening comes, he faints. So they took the matter to the Prophet and told him what has happened and after that the verse of Quran Surah Baqarah ch. no. 2 verse no. 187 was reveled that you can approach your wife and eat and drink until the white thread of dawn is differentiated from the black thread. So then were the rules laid down. That you can eat the full night and then the verse continues, you can fast till the night falls means till the sunset.
So before this verse was reveled the action of the fast was different, they could have only one meal immediately after sunset and once they sleep they could not have again until this verse of Surah Baqarah ch. no. 2 verse no. 187 was reveled and that’s what we follow today.
Yusuf Chambers: Well that’s very comforting to know that we can have the dawn meal. Because I think a lot of people will be suffering other wsre. It’s the mercy of Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) indeed. Dr. Zakir you mentioned a verse just now. Can we just ask you the significance of that verse? “Eat and drink until the white thread of dawn is distinct from the black thread?”
Dr. Zakir: when this verse was reveled for the first time Surah Baqarah ch. no. 2 verse no. 187 it said that
“Eat and drink till the white thread you can differentiate from the black thread”
Moment this verse was reveled the Sahabas understood the meaning as the verse was reveled and its mentioned in
Sahih Al Bukhari Vol. no. 6 Hadith no. 4509 that
“One Sahaba the moment he heard this verse he took two hair strings one black and one white and he kept it beneath his pillow and when he got up for Suhoor he tried to differentiate between the white string from the black string and he could not really understand so he went to the Prophet and asked his what does it mean?”
And another Hadith its mentioned in Sahih Al Bukhari Vol. no. 6 Hadith no. 4510 where it says that
“One Sahaba he took two threads one black thread and one white thread and he tied it in his toes, in the legs and he kept on eating until he can differentiate between these two threads. But when they went to the Prophet and asked what does it mean that until you can differentiate from the black thread then the Prophet made them understand what it actually means is until you can differentiate the white thread of dawn, that means the light of dawn from the black thread of night and then the verse was revealed in complete. And the word ‘of dawn’ was reveled later on. First the verse was until you can differentiate the white thread from the black thread. Then Allah reveals in-between white thread of dawn. So the complete verse then is reveled. So then it was made clear and our beloved Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam), he explained the meaning of true Fajr and he said that first Fajr is known as the false Fajr where you see a vertical white streak of light which is somewhat similar to the tail of a fox but that is known as the false Fajr. And the second Fajr which is the true Fajr is when the redness of light, its spreads horizontal in the sky which you can see the mountains and it reaches the houses and the street so that is the true Fajr, that is the break of dawn when a person should stop eating at that time.”
And this is clarified further in the Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam), its mentioned in a Sahih Hadith of Al Baihaqi (Vol no. 4 Book of Fasting) Hadith no. 8003
“Where the Prophet said the first Fajr does not prohibit you from eating the food and it does not make the Fajr prayer lawful and the second Fajr that’s the true Fajr it makes the eating of food prohibited and it makes the Fajr Salaah lawful”
So major differentiation between the 2 types Fajr and further its mentioned in the Hadith of
Sunan Abu Dawud Vol. no. 2 in the Book of Fasting Hadith no. 2348 where the Prophet said
“Let the people continue eating and drinking and should not stop when they see the white vertical light and they should keep on eating until they see the horizontal redness of Fajr, that’s the true Fajr and its further mentioned in
Sahih Muslim Vol. no. 2 Hadith no. 2407 and 2408
“Hazrat Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, she said that let not the call of Bilal, may Allah be pleased with him, and the whiteness of the first Fajr deceive the people and let them not stop eating that means they should continue eating and here is another Hadith which says that let not the call of Hazrat Bilal deceive you continue eating until you hear the call of Umme Maktoom. So this actually is the complete meaning of the Quranic verse that you can eat until the white thread of dawn becomes distance form the black thread of night.
Yusuf Chambers: Thank you very much for your answer. Dr. Zakir is there any specific time for taking the Suhoor mentioned in the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) ?
Dr. Zakir: As far as the Suhoor is concerned.. Suhoor is the pre dawn meal it can be taken any time from midnight up to just before the break of dawn.
And as the Quran says which is mentioned earlier in Surah Baqarah ch. no. 2 verse no. 187
“Eat and drink until the white thread of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread”
So you can have the Suhoor anytime from midnight up to the break of dawn. But according to the Sunnah of the Prophet it is preferable to delay the Suhoor as late as possible and just before the break of dawn, that is preferable. And there are various Hadith mentioned about that.
There is a Hadith which is mentioned in Musannaf Ibn (Abi) Shaibah (Vol no. 2) Hadith no. 9057
“Where a man tells Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, that he had the Suhoor till he doubted it was the break of dawn. The moment he hands a doubt, it was the break of dawn he stopped.”
So Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, he said that keep on having the meal until the doubt is clarified that the dawn has been broken”
Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him, said its mentioned in
Sahih Bukhari Vol. no. 3 in the Book of Fasting Hadith no. 1921
“Zaid bin Thabit, may Allah be pleased with him, he said that after he had Suhoor with the Prophet, he went for Salaah and then he asked the Prophet what is the time difference between the Suhoor and the Adhaan. So The Prophet replied it is equal to the time required to recite 50 verses of the Qur’an”
Further it’s mentioned in Sahih Bukhari Vol. no. 3 in the Book of Fasting Hadith no. 1918 and Hadith no. 1919 where Hazrat Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, she said that
“The Prophet said that when you hear the Adhaan, when you hear Bilal, may Allah be pleased with her, pronounce the call for prayer, pronounce the Adhaan, please don’t get deceived by it, continue eating and drinking until you hear the Adhaan of Ibn Umm-e-Maktoom for he does not pronounce the Adhaan until it is dawn”
That means you can eat till dawn. That’s the time for Suhoor. But there are various Hadith talking about the Sunnah of delaying the Suhoor.
Its mentioned in Sahih Al Jaami Vol. no. 1 Hadith no. 2835 where our beloved Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam), said that
“You should hasten in breaking the fast and delay in having the Suhoor.”
It’s further mentioned in a Sahih Hadith of Al Baihaqi (Book of Fasting) Hadith no. 8127 that
“The Sahabas, they were the first to break their fast and they were the last to do their Suhoor”
Further it’s mentioned in a Sahih Hadith of
Al Baihaqi (Book of Fasting) Hadith no. 8125 in which Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) , said that
“We Prophets have been commanded that we should be the first to break the fast and the last to take the Suhoor and place our right hand over the left when we offer Salaah”
So based on these Ahadith it shows that Suhoor can be had from anytime between midnight to the break of dawn but it is preferable delaying the Suhoor.
Yusuf Chambers: Dr. Zakir is it allowed for one to eat and drink even when the Mu’adhin pronounces the call to pray for Fajr. Is it allowed to eat and drink some people…I am not sure whether it is correct or not but some people believe eat and drink all the way up to the Fajr Adhaan and be on it.
Dr. Zakir: I am aware that there are some Muslims who believe that you can eat and drink until the Fajr Adhaan ends. And there are some people who when they can hear various Adhaan of different Mosques from their house they wait till they hear the end of the last Adhaan. So if they can hear 5-6 Adhaan they wait till the last Adhaan ends, till that time they can eat and drink. Infact this is not proved from any of the Hadith of the Prophet. And anyone who innovates a new thing in the Deen, it has to be rejected.
It’s mentioned in the Hadith of Sahih Al Bukhari Vol. no. 3 Hadith no. 2697 that
“Anyone who innovates a new thing in the Deen, it has to be rejected”
In fact it’s clearly mentioned in Surah Baqarah ch. no. 2 verse no. 187 that
“Eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread”
That means the moment the dawn breaks, the moment you hear the Adhaan you have to stop eating. And as I quoted earlier it’s a Hadith of
Sahih Bukhari Vol. no. 3 in the Book of Fasting Hadith no. 1918 an Hadith no. 1919 where Hazrat Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, she said that
“When you hear the Adhaan of Bilal, may Allah be pleased with her, continue eating and drinking until you hear the Adhaan of Ibn Umm-e-Maktoom for when he gives the Adhaan, it is the time for Fajr that dawn break out.”
That means the moment you hear the Adhaan you have to stop eating. The moment you hear the Adhaan you stop eating. But there is a concession given by our beloved Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) its mentioned in a Sahih Hadith of
Sunan Abu Dawud Vol. no. 2 in the Book of Fasting Hadith no. 2343 where the beloved Prophet said that
“When you hear the Adhaan and if you have drinking vessel in your hand, you are allowed to satisfy yourself from that vessel.”
That means our beloved Prophet has given a concession that while you are eating or drinking something is in your hand, you can complete it. But that doesn’t mean that if you have a big sandwich in your hand that you complete it. If you have a bite left of that sandwich in your hand and then you had it, its fine. Or when you are drinking a glass of weather and there is something left in it, you can have it. That doesn’t mean you can go out of your way and touch your hand and pick up another glass of water and keep on having, you have a big burger or sandwich and you keep on eating for a few minutes after the Adhaan started. And it’s a misconception that you can eat till the end of the Adhaan, there is no Hadith saying that. Because you start the Adhaan, the moment the Fajr prayer time starts or moment it’s the break of dawn, the Adhaan has to be given. The moment you hear the Adhaan, you have to stop eating.
Yusuf Chambers: Dr. Zakir, when is the correct and the best time to break the fast?
Dr. Zakir: The best time to break the fast is as soon as the night falls.
As the Quran says in Surah Baqarah ch. no. 2 verse no. 187 that
“Eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread. And keep the fast until night falls”
The moment you see the sunset, that is the best time that you should break the fast. And there is a Hadith of Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) mentioned in
Sahih Bukhari Vol. no. 3 in the Book of Fasting Hadith no. 1954 where the beloved Prophet said:
“When you see the nightfall from the side and the day vanishes from this side and the disk of the sun sets, you have to break your fast” Another Hadith mentioned by Abu Saeed, may Allah be pleased with him, of
Sahih Bukhari Vol. no. 3 Book of Fasting ch. no. 45 He said
“We broke the fast moment we saw that the sun had set.”
And our beloved Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) , as I mentioned earlier, its mentioned in Sahih Jaami Vol. no. 1 Hadith no. 2835 that Our beloved Prophet, said that
“You should hasten in breaking your fast and you should delay in your Suhoor”
It’s mentioned in Sahih Hadith of Sahih Hadith of Al Baihaqi (Book of Fasting) Hadith no. 8127 that
“The Sahabas, the companions of the Prophet, they were the first to break their fast and they were the last to have their Suhoor.”
It’s also mentioned in Al Baihaqi (Book of Fasting) Hadith no. 8125 that Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) said that
“We Prophets have been commanded that we have to hasten in breaking our fast and delay our Suhoor and keep the right hand over the left while offering Salaah”
There are various other Hadith which specifically mentions that we have to hasten the breaking of the fast.
Its mentioned in Sahih Bukhari Vol. no. 3 in the Book of Fasting Hadith no. 1957 that our beloved Prophet said that
“My people will be on the right path till they time they hasten in breaking the fast.”
Its further mentioned in Sahih Ibn Hibbaan Vol. no. 8 Hadith no. 3510 where the beloved Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) said that
“My people will be on the Sunnah till the time they do not wait for the stars to break the fast”
Our beloved Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) , also said its mentioned in Sahih Ibn Hibbaan (Vol no. 8 Book of Fasting) Hadith no. 3509 that our beloved Prophet said that
“My religion will be seen till the time my people they hasten in breaking the fast and not do like the Jews and Christians who delay their fast. So based on all this Sahih Ahadith we have to realize that we have to break the fast as early as possible, it is the best immediately after the sun sets”
Yusuf Chambers: Dr. Zakir, in difference to what you said there are some people who delay the breaking of the fast and the Magrib prayer on the premise that they don’t believe the sun is completely set and on the basis that they believe its always better to be on the safer side, is this the correct logic?
Dr. Zakir: There are a large number of Muslims who, they want to be safe and they delay their breaking of the fast, even though the sun has set they say that lets wait for about 3 or 4 minutes you know then we’ll break because they want to be careful because there is a Hadith of our beloved Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) , its mentioned in
Sahih Al Targheeb (Vol no. 1 Book of Fasting) Hadith no. 991 where the Prophet, he speaks about his dream that
“He had a dream and he is taken up and there he hears the sound of people howling and he asks that who are these people. These are the people in hell fire then he is taken to another corner and he sees that people are hung from the hamstring and the corner of their mouths are torn and there is blood dripping so he asks that who are these people? So the reply is these are the people who broke their fast early.”
So based on this Hadith that if a person breaks the fast early he will be hung from the hamstring and his mouth will be torn and there will be dripping of blood. People go out of their way to take a precaution and they delay by 4 or 5 minutes. Now this is against the Sunnah. Breaking early is wrong but delaying it is also wrong. Because as I mentioned earlier its clrearly mentioned in the Quran in
Surah Baqarah ch. no. 2 verse no. 187 that
“Keep the fast until night falls”
And as I mentioned earlier in my earlier answer it’s mentioned in
Sahih Bukhari Vol. no. 3 in the Book of Fasting Hadith no. 1954 where the beloved Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) said that
“When nightfalls from this side and the day vanish from this side and when the sun sets, you break your fast.”
And there are various other Hadith which I quoted earlier including
Sahih Bukhari Vol. no. 3 in the Book of Fasting Hadith no. 1957, our beloved Prophet said that
“My people will be on the straight path till they time they hasten in breaking the fast”
Its also mentioned in Sahih Ibn Hibbaan Vol. no. 8 Hadith no. 3510 that the beloved Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) , said that
“My people will be on the Sunnah till the time they don’t wait to see the stars to break the fast”
And its also mentioned in Sahih Ibn Hibbaan Vol no. 8 (Book of Fasting) Hadith no. 3509 that our beloved Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) , said that
“My religion will be seen till the time my people hasten in breaking the fast and not do like the Ahle Kitaab, the Jews and Christians”
So here there are various Ahadith talking about you should hasten in breaking the fast. But natural it should be after the sun has set. We cannot break the fast before the sun sets. But the moment it’s confirmed that the sun has set with your own eyes or nowadays there are watches that you can easily time yourself. So there is not need for waiting for 5 minutes and taking a precaution. If you do that that’s what the Prophet said that my Ummah will be on the straight path. So to be on the Sunnah, on the right track, the moment the sun sets you should break the fast immediately.
Yusuf Chambers: I think it very clear, isn’t it? The answer is very clear. Alhumdulillah, like so many things in the Deen, Very clear. What did the Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) prefer to eat breaking his fast?
Dr. Zakir: Its mentioned in a Hadith of Sunan Abu Dawud in the Book of Fating Hadith no. 2349
“Its mentioned that Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) when he used to break his fast he used to have fresh dates, its known as ‘Rutub’, fresh dates.”
And if did not find fresh dates, he used to have dried dates. And if that wasn’t available he used to have water. So the best is to have fresh date, that’s the Sunnah of the Prophet. If you can’t find fresh dates then you can have dried dates. If you can’t find dried dates then have water. If you can’t find water than any food that’s available you can break your fast. and if you can’t find any food or if you are midway traveling then at least you break the fast with the intention.
You intend in your heart that you have broken the fast and as soon as you find food, you can have it.
Yusuf Chambers: SubhanAllah. Hopefully we won’t be in that situation these days. One never knows. Doctor, what’s the best thing to announce whilst breaking the fast? The dua or the prayer or any announcement which is specific for breaking the fast?
Dr. Zakir: Many Muslims they say many duas before they put the food in their mouth and all these duas that is there of breaking the fast, most of the them they are there are Da’if or they are unauthentic or Ma’udhu. The authentic Dua while breaking the fast is of
Sunan Abu Dawud Book of Fasting Hadith no. 2350 in which the Prophet recited its mentioned
“Zahabaz Zama’u wab tal latil uruqoo wa sabbatal ajr InshaAllah” which means that
“The thirst has been quenched, the veins are moistened and the reward is certain if Allah wills.”
Now though this dua is authentic some of them say this dua before they put the food in their mouth. Before they break the fast which by meaning itself it doesn’t make sense. This dua is supposed to be said after you put the food in your mouth. The right thing is before you put the food in the mouth, you have to say Bismillah. That was the practice of our beloved Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam), and after he ate the dates and water or he ate food and he had water then this dua makes sense.
“Zahabaz Zama’u wab tal latil uruqoo wa sabbatal ajr InshaAllah” which means My thirst has been quenched. Only when you have water your thirst can be quenched. So how can you say this dua before you break the fast? only after you break the fast and you have dates and you have the fruits or you have the food and then you had water then you say that my thirst has been quenched and my veins are moistened the reward is certain InshaAllah.
And there are various other Hadiths of our beloved Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam). So as far as the dua immediately before breaking the fast say Bismillah and after breaking when your thirst is quenched you have to read this dua. But there are other Ahadith it’s mentioned in
Ibn Maajah Vol. no. 3 Hadith no. 1752 that the beloved Prophet said that
“The dua of three people are never unanswered, means they are always answered that is the dua, the supplication of a just ruler and an Imam, the dua of a person who fasts until he breaks his fast and the dua of an oppressed”
The same message is repeated in Ibn Maajah Vol. no 3 Hadith no. 1753 that
“A person who fasts his dua is accepted when he breaks his fast.”
So before breaking the fast you can do any dua, you can pray to Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala in your own language, in Arabic
“Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil 'akhirati hasanatan waqina 'adhaban-nar”
Any dua you can ask from Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala, you can ask for forgiveness. Ask for supplication, whatever you feel you can ask this is the best time before breaking the fast.
Yusuf Chambers: Thank you very much Dr. Zakir. Now we are furnished with the information, we can go out there and break our fast and more appropriately, InshaAllah. Dr. Zakir, now we’ve completed the interview stage on Suhoor and Iftaar once again we have many questions from the audience and I think it’s time we answer some of them, don’t you?
Dr. Zakir: InshaAllah.
Yusuf Chambers: The first question from the audience, he asks, he or she could be different duas are recited at the beginning of the fast during the Suhoor which is the most authentic?
Dr. Zakir: As far as reciting any dua, I do not know of any Sahih Hadith in which the Prophet has recited any dua at the Suhoor time or any of the Sahabas has mentioned any dua, I don’t know of any. In fact the Prophet said, it’s mentioned in the
Hadith of Tirmidhi in the Book of Fasting Hadith no. 730 Our beloved Prophet said that
“Anyone who has not intended to fast before dawn there is no fast for him”
The Prophet also said Hadith of Sunan Nasai in the Book of Fasting Hadith no. 2331 our beloved Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) said
“There is no fast for a person who has not intended to fast the night before”
That means intention is compulsory for fasting. It should be done before the break of dawn or as the Hadith says that the night before means anytime before the break of dawn you can intend. But when you intend you need not say it loudly, its not required because you intend in the heart. So the main thing is you intend in your heart that you’re gonna fast and that’s sufficient. When you want to pray you intend, you do Niyah for praying and you pray. You don’t have to say it loudly. So same way you don’t have to say that I intend to fast but many people, many of the Muslims have invented words in Arabic or in different languages that I intend to fast tomorrow etc, etc. which we don’t find in any of the Sahih Hadith and neither do we find in the sayings of the Prophet or of the Sahabas. So the best is to intend in your heart that’s it. And there is no particular dua for Suhoor.
Yusuf Chambers: Okay, that’s very enlightening answer. Hope that answers the question of the participant in the audience. Next question from our audience, if a person has the intention of waking for the Suhoor and unfortunately he or she doesn’t manage to wake up is his or her fast still accepted?
Dr. Zakir: If a person before sleeping has an intention of fasting tomorrow and he has the intention to wake up for Suhoor but could not get up for Suhoor because he overslept etc. Having Suhoor is not Fard, it’s a Sunnah. Our beloved Prophet said in
Sahih Bukhari Vol. no. 3 Book of Fasting Hadith no. 1923, he said that
“In the Suhoor is a blessing”
It’s a Sunnah, recommended Sunnah but if person sleeps it’s not a Fard because he had the intention of getting up, he had the intention to fast, his fast will be accepted.
Yusuf Chambers: JazakAllah Khair, Dr. Zakir. Next question somebody wants to know did the Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) recommend any particular food for the dawn meal?
Dr. Zakir: Its mentioned in a Sahih Hadith of Sunan Abu Dawud in the Book of Fasting Hadith no. 2338 the beloved Prophet said
“The believers’ meal the best is dates for Suhoor and for the predawn meal, for the Suhoor the best is the dates.”
The Prophet also said that it’s mentioned in Musnad Ahamad (Vol. no 17) Hadith no. 11086 that
“Have Suhoor even if it’s a gulp of water.”
So the best is dates and other things and you should also have water so these are the things which Prophet has recommended for Suhoor.
Yusuf Chambers: Dates must have some amazing scientific qualities. We need a programme in itself just to discuss that. Dr. Zakir next question, question 4, there is a Hadith which mentions that if a person eats or drinks forgetfully then Allah has provided him with food and drink. Last Ramadhaan while I was fasting my husband requested me a glass of water not realizing that he was fasting, I severed him with a glass of water and he drank. Should I have reminded him that he was fasting or consider it a provision from Allah?
Dr. Zakir: The questioner has rightly mentioned that the beloved Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) its mentioned in
Sahih Bukhari Vol. no. 3 in the Book of Fasting Hadith no. 1933, the beloved Prophet said that
“If a person unintentionally or out of forgetfulness while fasting has something to eat or drink, he should complete his fast and what he has eaten and what he drank, he should think it’s from Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala.”
So but a person who has unintentionally or out of forgetfulness, it is totally valid he should complete the fast but here the husband has forgotten, the wife knew it very well. What the wife should have done was she should have reminded the husband because the Qur’an says in
Surah Ale Imran ch. 3 verse no. 110
“ta/muroona bialmaAAroofi watanhawna AAani almunkar”
“Enjoin what is good and forbid what is bad and believe in Allah.”
So here it was the duty of the wife to remind the husband that he was fasting. And Quran says that
“wataAAawanoo AAala albirri waalttaqwa”
that
“You have to help each other in good deed, goodness and righteousness.”
So here it was the duty of the wife because she knew that the husband was fasting. If she did not know and she gave it she will be forgiven but because knowing very well that the husband was fasting she purposefully gave it to him. I feel what she had done is wrong. It’s a sin. But as far as the husband is concerned he asked for water not knowing that he was fasting, his fast would be accepted, it would be completed and that’s a provision from Allah. But she should have reminded him. So she is at fault, the husband is not at fault.
Yusuf Chambers: JazakAllah Khair for the answer Dr. Zakir. Another question racing through them now. We have got so many questions SubanAllah! how do we calculate the time of Suhoor and Iftaar in countries which have no distinction between night and day?
Dr. Zakir: As far as those countries or those cities which have very long days or short days or very long nights or short nights as long as there is clear distinction between day and night where they can come to know the sunset and sun rise. In these countries they have to observe the same rules of fasting right from dawn up to sunset. And after sunset up to the time of dawn they can eat and drink and approach your wife, but in those countries or those places where there is no distinction between the day and night. You can’t come to know whether its is sunrise or sunset or where you have day for days together for more than 24 hours or you have night for nights together you know for more than more than 24 hours in these places they should follow the timing of the city or their country which is closest to them which has a clear distinction between day and night.
Yusuf Chambers: Okay that’s very-very clear. If a person is fasting and traveling long distance in a plane and is midway to his destination should he break his fast according to the time of origin or the time of destination as there is a difference between the two of several hours.
Dr. Zakir: This normally happens; and I do keep on traveling in Ramadhaan quite often in planes. And this is common problem and people are not aware of the Shariya or of the ruling. Many of them say O that I will break the fast according to the time of origin some say time of destination and there is big confusion between most of the travelers but the right ruling is that as Allah says in the Quran in
Surah Baqarah ch. no. 2 verse no. 187 that
“Fast until night appears”
And our beloved Prophet said in Sahih Bukhari Vol. no. 3 Book of Fasting Hadith no. 1954
That
“Until the sun sets”
So when a person is traveling in a plane it is very easy, he should just slide the window up and see the sun. The moment the sun sets, he can break his fast. He should not bother what is the time of origin, what is the time at the destination. He should see where he is from the position where he is, the moment if he sees the sun set, complete disk has vanished, he should break the fast.
Similarly for Suhoor, the moment he sees the vertical white streak of dawn, it is the false dawn. The true dawn is when he sees a reddish horizontal ... when he sees that, it’s the time for Suhoor, he should stop eating.
So while a person is in a plane its very easy to... you don’t have to ask anyone, just slide the window up.. if its not from his side he can go to the other side and see the sun and decide whether the time is there for Suhoor or for Iftaar.
Yusuf Chambers: you have made it very .. it sounded very complicated.
Dr. Zakir: Very easy, very easy…
Yusuf Chambers: … situation to be very simple in fact, Alhumdulillah. That’s the purpose of this programme, isn’t it? Alhumdulillah. Another question. Question 7 if a person breaks his fast after sunset on the ground and immediately takes off in a plane and then sees the sun does he have to stop eating and is his fast valid or should he repeat it?
Dr. Zakir: And this situation can happen to a traveler that he is in a place and the time for Iftaar i.e. the sun has set and he has Iftaar and immediately the plane takes off may be 2 minutes after Iftaar. Sun sets at 6 o’ clock and 6 O 2, 2 minutes after the plane takes off and the moment the plane takes off, it goes at a higher altitude and that that time you can see the sun. So what happens does he have to stop eating?
The person who has completed his fast where he was staying, the fast is valid. He does not have to stop eating. The fast of that day is finished, he has completed the fast, he can have Iftaar even when he goes to a higher altitude and he sees the sun, he need not stop eating, his fast is completed. But on the other hand if a person takes off 2 minutes before, at 5:58 or 2 minutes to 6, 2 minutes is balance to break his fast and if he takes off and then sees the sun and he sees the sun for another 5-10 minutes, he should not break his fast. he can’t say okay while at the ground 2 minutes were left so now it is 6 O’ clock, the time is up, I will break my fast because there he can see the sun. So at that time he should continue fasting only after the sun sets may be after 5 minutes or 10 minutes or 15 minutes. That’s the time that he should break his fast. And similarly while traveling in a plane if suppose the pilot is there and the sun can be seen, the pilot should not take the plane down so that you can break the fast early. But if there is a technical problem and he has to change the altitude and come down and if the sun sets for the person in the plane then they can break the fast.
Yusuf Chambers: JazakAllah Khair Dr. Zakir. Next question I can hear two Adhaans from different Mosques and the timing of both the Adhaans differ by a few minutes. When should I break fast? At the first or second Adhaan?
Dr. Zakir: As far as breaking of the fast is concerned that there are two Adhaans and both the times differ. You have to find out that which of the 2 Mu’adhin mentions the Adhaan, pronounces the Adhaan at the right time. Right time is when the sun sets. As our Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) said its mentioned in
Sahih Bukhari in the Book of Fasting Hadith no. 1954 that
“When the night comes from this side and the day vanishes from this side and the sun sets that’s the time you have to break your fast”
So best is that you have to find out which of the 2 Mu’adhin is pronouncing the Adhaan at the right time. Or if there is a doubt, best is, today is the age of science and technology we have a chart which exactly tells us the time when the sunsets and you can match it with your own watch with the time or you can match the Adhaan which of the two Mu’adhin gives the right Adhaan. That’s the right time you should break the fast. You should not say that which ever Mu’adhin gives first, we have to break. If there is a difference try and find out which of the 2 Mu’adhin pronounces the Adhaan at the right time. Or best is you read yourself, you verify your watch, its at the right time, see the timetable and break the fast at the right time.
Yusuf Chambers: Couldn’t happen in the UK because we can’t hear people reciting the Adhaan unfortunately. I wish we could. Question 9. Once we invited a guest for Iftaar, he said it is discouraged to talk while eating in the religion of Islam. Is he correct?
Dr. Zakir: I don’t know of any Hadith of Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam), where he said that you should not talk speak while eating etc. faisal.ags
Infact Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah Nisa ch. 4 verse no. 59 that if there is a difference go back to Allah and His Rasool. There is no text in the Quran which says you should not speak while eating. There is not text in the Hadith where the Prophet commanded that you should not speak while eating. In fact there are Hadith exactly the opposite the Prophet spoke while eating.
For example if you read the Hadith of Sahih Muslim Vol. no. 3 Hadith no. 5093 where the Prophet was served vinegar and he said that
“Vinegar is a good food” while eating.
There are other Hadith in which the Prophet said that
“Do not eat with your left hand for the Satan eats with the left hand.”
Again this is while eating.
Another Hadith of Sahih Bukhari Vol. no. 7 (Book of Foods) Hadith no. 5376
where the beloved Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) said
“There was a boy who was eating with the Prophet and was moving his hand around so the Prophet said ‘eat with your right hand and eat from what is close to you’
So this he said while eating.
So all these Hadith prove that there is no restriction for speaking while eating. So whenever there’s a difference go back to Allah and His Rasool and you’ll get the answer.
Yusuf Chambers: That’s very clear, thank you. Last question. If a person’s earnings are known to be Haraam can we accept his Iftaar invitation?
Dr. Zakir: There is no Hadith saying that you cannot accept an invitation for Iftaar of a person who has unlawful earning. In fact there are Hadith showing that Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) he went to the meal when invited by the Jews and the Qur’an says that the Jews involve themselves in usury and usury is a big Haraam. So based on the Fatwas of various scholars, they say that if such person calls you for Iftaar, it is a blessing for you and a sin for him. He has earned something from wrong means, he will be held responsible, you won’t be responsible for that.
Yusuf Chambers: JazakAllah Khair Dr. Zakir for that final answer. That is, we have reached the end of today’s show been talking of course about Suhoor and Iftaar.
And brothers and sisters now you have got plenty of ammunition to go forth in this Ramadhaan, make sure you start your fast and end your fast in the correct way. I ask Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala to bestow peace and blessings upon all of us during this holy month of Ramadhaan and I would ask you to join us tomorrow same time when we will be discussing the ‘Objectives of Fasting’.
Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh.