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 Sunnah to say out loud, "I intend to fast", "I will fast tomorrow" etc as some people do.
All that is bid’ah.
Why else would you wake up before fajr in Ramadhaan, prepare something to eat, and make sure to finish eating before fajr adhaan unless you’re intending to fast?
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, that is NOT PROVEN from the authentic practice or teachings of the Prophet ﷺ.
There is NO DUAA to be said at suhoor.
Whatever 'duaa' or SPECIFIC WORDS that you may see online or in Ramadhaan calendars, etc. as a “duaa of beginning the fast” is NOT AUTHENTIC.
🍃 Ibn Taymiyah said:
“If it crosses a person’s mind that he is going to fast tomorrow, then he has made the intention.”
(al-Ikhtiyaaraat p. 191)
2. Delay your sahoor as close to dawn as possible.
🍃The Sahaabah said:
“We ate sahoor with the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ 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 1921)
3. You can eat ANY thing but it’s good to eat dates.
🍃The Prophet ﷺ said:
“What a good sahoor for the believer dates are.” (Abu Dawood 2345; saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood)
4. If you’re not hungry at least have some water and that counts as eating suhoor
🍃 The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Suhoor is a blessed meal, so do not omit it, even if one of you only takes a sip of water, for Allaah and His angels send blessings on those who eat suhoor.”
(Ahmad, 11003; hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’ 3683)
5. Eat in moderation
🍃The Prophet ﷺ 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."
(at-Tirmidhi 2380; saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah 2265)
6. 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 ﷺ 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 2350; 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 ﷺ 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 in Sahih al-Jami’ 2032)
🍃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 ﷺ which shows that the du’aa’ may be made after breaking the fast.
It says:
ذَهَبَ الظَّمَأُ وَابْتَلَّتْ الْعُرُوقُ وَثَبَتَ الأَجْرُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ
“Dhahaba al-zamau’a, wa abtallat al-‘urooq wa thabata al-ajr in sha Allaah
‘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.
Shaykh al-Albaani graded it as Dha’eef in Dha’eef Abi Dawud 510.
2. Hasten to break your fast once you’re sure that the sun has set.
🍃The Prophet ﷺ said:
"The people will not cease to be upon good as long as they hasten in breaking the fast." (al-Bukhaari 1957, Muslim 1098)
🍃Amrun Ibn Maimoon Al-Awdee said:
"The companions of the Messenger ﷺ 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 ﷺ 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.”
(al-Tirmidhi 632; hasan by al-Albaani)
🔹4. Pray Maghrib
The Prophet ﷺ would first break the fast and THEN he would pray Maghrib.
🍃Anas radhi Allaahu anhu said:
“He (meaning the Prophet ﷺ) 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 ﷺ said:
"If the food is already presented, eat before the sunset prayer and do not eat your meals in haste." (Muslim 1135)
5. You may eat more if you’re still hungry but do careful not to overeat.
🍃 The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The more people eat their fill in this world, the more hungry they will be on the Day of Resurrection.”
(Ibn Abi’l-Dunya; saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah 342)
And Allaah knows best
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