WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT RAMADAN (EPISODE 3)

By Yusuff Ademola Adesina

EPISODE 3: The Etiquette and Sunnah of Fasting



We praise Allaah, we glorify Him and exalt Him for making us witness the beginning of this blessed month. I pray that Allaah accept our acts of worship in this month, forgive us and grant us the goodness of this world and the Aakhirah.

In the previous episode, I have discussed the obligation of fasting Ramadan and some rulings related to it. In this episode, I shall discuss the etiquette and sunnah of sahur and iftar.

The Sunnah of Sahur

1.       Sahur refers to the food taken in the dawn before the Fajr time by a person who intends to fast. 

2.       Sahur is a blessing

Anas Ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: The Prophet (PBUH) said: “Take sahur as there is a blessing in it.” (Sahih Bukhari, Vol.3, Bk 31, No.146)

3.       The best food item for sahur

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: I heard the Prophet (PBUH) saying: “What a good sahur for the believers is a sahur of dates.” (Abu Dawood, The Book of Fasting, Hadith 33)


4.       Duration of Sahur

The Qur’an says: “…And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night]…” (Q2:187) 

The Sunnah of Iftar

1.       Iftar refers to the breakfast taken at sunset.

The Qura’n says: “…And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night] Then complete the fast until the sunset…” (Q2:187)

2.       Don’t delay Iftar

Sahl bin Sa’d narrated: Allah’s messenger (PBUH) said: “The people will remain on the right path as long as they hasten the breaking of the fast.” (Sahih Bukhari, Vol.3, Bk 31, No.178) 

3.      Manners of breaking the fast

a.       Prayer to say before breaking the fast

Ibn Umar narrated that the Prophet (PBUH), when he would break his fast, would say: “<<Dhahaba adh-Dhama’ wa’btallatil-‘urooq wa thabatal-ajru in shaa Allaah>> (Thirst is gone, veins are flowing again, and the reward is certain, in shaa Allaah)” (Sunan Abu Dawood, Bk 14, Hadith 45)

b.      The best food item for breaking the fast

Salman ibn Amir narrated: The Prophet (PBUH) said: “When one of you is fasting, he should break his fast with dates; but if he cannot get any, then (he should break his fast) with water, for water is purifying.” (Sunan Abu Dawood, Bk 14, Hadith 43)


In another transmission, Anas ibn Malik narrated that the Messenger of Allaah(PBUH) used to break his fast before praying with some fresh dates; but if there were no fresh dates, he had a few dry dates, and if there were no dry dates, he took some mouthfuls of water.” (Sunan Abu Dawood, Bk 14, Hadith 44)




Moderate Eating and Generosity 


I mentioned in the introductory part of episode 1 of this series that ‘Cultural Muslims’ have always taken Sahur  period as a time of taking excessive eating and drinking to last them for the day and Iftar period as a time of taking excessive eating to compensate for the hunger suffered in the day. But is this sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH)?

The answer is obviously NO. The moral characters behind fasting the month of Ramadan are to be controlled, moderate, compassionate and generous.

Recall that the Messenger of Allah said that the best sahur for the believers is the sahur of tamar (dates); thus, strive to revive this sunnah and Allah shall reward you.

Do not become excessive in your eating and drinking; eat and drink moderately and give out to the poor, for Allah and His beloved Prophet (PBUH) strongly warned against extravagance.

Allah says:

“… Eat of (each of) its fruit when it yields and give its due (Zakah) on the day of its harvest. And be not excessive. Indeed, He does not like those who commit   excess” (Q6:141)

“… and eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess” (Q7:31)

In addition, the Prophet (PBUH) said:

“A human being fills no worse vessel than his stomach. It is sufficient for a human being to eat a few mouthfuls to keep his spine straight. But if he must (fill it), then one third of food, one third for drink and one third for air” (Narrated by Ibn Miqdam ibn Madikarib, Sunan ibn Majah, Bk 29, Hadith 3474)


Abullah Ibn ‘Abbas narrated: The Prophet (PBUH) was the most generous amongst the people, and he used to be more so in the month of Ramadan when Gabriel visited him, and Gabriel used to meet him on every night of Ramadan till the end of the month. The Prophet used to recite the Holy Qur'an to Gabriel, and when Gabriel met him, he used to be more generous than a fast wind (which causes rain and welfare) (Sahih Bukhari, Vol.3, Bk 31, No.126)



I hope the content of this episode is sufficient enough to revive the sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) related to sahur, iftar and moderate eating. I shall talk about matters related to the night prayer – Taraweeh – in the next episode (In shaa Allaah).    



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