Etiquette of Suhoor and Iftaar

by Asma bint Shameem

🌷Etiquette of Suhoor

🔹1. Make the intention to fast.

Remember, the intention is an action of the HEART.

We should resolve in our HEART that we are going to fast today.

That is ALL we need.

It is NOT from the Sharee’ah to say out loud, "I intend to fast", "I will fast tomorrow" etc as some people do.

All that is bid’ah.

Also, there is NO SPECIFIC DUAA that’s proven from the Sunnah, to be recited at the time of starting the fast.

Some people say the following:

نـَوَيْتُ صَوْمَ غـَدٍ

وَبِصَوْمِ غَدٍ نَّوَيْتُ

BUT, whatever 'duaa' or SPECIFIC WORDS that you may see online or in Ramadhaan calendars, etc. as a “duaa of beginning the fast” is NOT proven from the authentic Sunnah.

Rather it is BID’AH.

And bid’ah is a HUGE SIN.

🔹2. Delay your sahoor as close to dawn as possible.

🍃The Sahaabah said:

“We ate sahoor with the Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam, then he got up to pray.”

I said: “How much time was there between the adhaan and suhoor?”

He said: “The time it takes to recite fifty verses.” (al-Bukhaari).

🔹3. You can eat ANY thing but it’s good to eat dates.

🍃The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

“What a good sahoor for the believer dates are.” (Abu Dawood- saheeh by al-Albaani)

🔹4. Eat in moderation

🍃The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

"The son of Adam does not fill any vessel worse than his stomach; for the son of Adam a few mouthfuls are sufficient to keep his back straight.

If you must fill it, then, keep one-third for food, one-third for drink and one-third for air." (Tirmidhi, Ibn Maajah. Saheeh by al-Albaani).

🔹5. If you got up late and haven’t had your fill, you may continue to finish what’s in your hand until the adhaan is going on.

🍃The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

“When one if you hears the call and the vessel is in his hand, let him not put it down until he has fulfilled his need of it.” (Abu Dawood- Hasan by al-Albaani)

But this should not be taken as a habit and you should quickly finish what’s in your hand.

🌷Etiquette of Iftaar

🔹1. Just before iftaar time, make duaa:

🍃The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

"Three prayers are NOT REJECTED: the prayer of a parent, the prayer of a fasting person, and the prayer of a traveler." (al-Bayhaqi, saheeh by al-Albaani).

🍃Shaikh ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:

“Duaa should be made BEFORE iftaar (breaking the fast), at Maghrib, because this combines weakness and humility, and because he is still fasting. All of these are means of having one’s duaa’ answered.

After breaking the fast, one is relaxed and happy, and may become negligent.

But there is a hadeeth from the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam which, if it is saheeh, shows that the du’aa’ may be made after breaking the fast.

It says:

" ذهب الظمأ وابتلت العروق وثبت الأجر إن شاء الله "

‘Thirst has gone, the veins are moist, and the reward is assured, if Allaah wills.” (Abu Dawood; hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh Sunan Abi Dawood, 2066). This can only mean AFTER breaking the fast.”

So as the Shaikh said, first we can make our own duaa THEN break our fast THEN say this above duaa.

❗️Note:

The hadeeth with the words

“Allaahumma laka sumtu wa ‘ala rizqika aftartu….

اللهم لك صمت وعلى رزقك أفطرت

This is a da’eef (weak) hadeeth , as stated by various scholars of hadeeth; and so it is better to avoid it and stay with the authentic duaa.

🔹2. Hasten to break your fast once you’re sure that the sun has set.

🍃The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

"The people will not cease to be upon good as long as they hasten in breaking the fast." (al-Bukhaari and Muslim)

🍃Amrun Ibn Maimoon Al-Awdee said:

"The companions of the Messenger Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam were the fastest people to break the fast (at Maghrib) and the last to eat the Suhoor (i.e. they used to try to take it at the last possible moment)." (Mussanaf-Abdur Razaak)

🔹3. Break your fast with dates.

If dates are not available then drink water.

🍃Anas radhi Allaahu anhu said:

“The Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam used to break his fast with fresh dates before praying; if there were no (fresh dates) then with dry dates, and if there were no (dried dates) then he would take a few sips of water.”

(Abu Dawood, al-Tirmidhi- hasan by al-Albaani)

🔹4. Pray Maghrib

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam would first break the fast and THEN he would pray Maghrib.

🍃Anas radhi Allaahu anhu said:

“He (meaning the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam) used not to pray Maghrib unless he breaks his fast, even if it be a sip of water.”

(Ahmad and other- hasan by al-Albaani)

If you’re still hungry after the prayer, you may come back to eat.

But if dinner is ready and served, one may continue with that.

🍃The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

"If the food is already presented, eat before the sunset prayer and do not eat your meals in haste." (al-Bukhaari, Muslim)

However, don’t delay the prayer much.

🍃 Shaikh ibn Baaz said:

“The Sunnah is for the fasting person to hasten to break the fast as soon as he is certain that the sun has set, because of the hadeeths

“The people will continue to be fine so long as they hasten to break the fast” and

“The most beloved of the slaves of Allaah to Allaah are those who are quickest to break the fast.”

The best way for the one who is fasting is to break his fast with a few dates, then delay eating until after Maghrib prayer, so that he may combine the Sunnah of hastening to break the fast and praying Maghrib at the beginning of its time, in congregation, following the example of the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam.

With regard to the hadeeths, “There is no prayer in the presence of food or when resisting the urge to relieve oneself” and “If ‘Isha’ and dinner come at the same time, start with dinner,” and similar reports, what is meant is if a person is offered food or if he comes to eat, then he should start with the food before praying, so that he can pray without his mind being focused on the food and his prayer then will be offered with proper focus and humility.

But he should not ask for food to be brought before praying if that means that he will miss out on offering the prayer at the beginning of its time or praying in congregation.”

(Fataawa Al-Lajnah Al-Daa’imah - Al-Majmoo’ Ah Al-Thaaniyyah, 9/32)

🔹5. You may eat more if you’re still hungry but do careful not to overeat.

And Allaah knows best