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In
Exploring Ramadan Part – I and Part –II, we had seen the concept of
moon in the Islamic Calendar, virtues of Ramadan and importance of
Tarawih, the special night prayer that is offered in congregation
during Ramadan nights. In Exploring Ramadan Part –III, Maulana Izhar
Bashir Madani, the young graduate from Islamic University of Madiah
and the exuberant Head of the Student’s Section at Jamia Mohammadia
Mansoora in Malegaon describes the virtues of Suhur (pre-dawn meal),
Saum (fast) and dos and don’ts while fasting.
The Excerpts:
Saum i.e. the fast
begins with Suhur – the pre-dawn meal and ends with Iftaar
– the food taken at the dusk. Taking Suhur is Sunnah and
though it is not mandatory, Prophet Mohammad (peace and blessings be
upon him) had advised the Ummah to take the pre-dawn meal i.e.
Suhur to begin the fast. Describing the virtues of Suhur
the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Take
Suhur as there is a blessing in it.
(Sahih Al Bukhari,
Narrated by Anas bin Malik)
The Prophet (peace and
blessings be upon him) also termed it as the difference between the
fast of the Muslims and of those from other faiths. As he said:
The
difference between our fasting and that of the people of the Book is
eating shortly before dawn.
(Sahih Muslim, Narrated by
Amr ibn al-'As)
At another place the
Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said:
I used
to take the "Suhur" meal with my family and hasten so as to
catch the Fajr (Morning Prayer) with Allah's Apostle.
(Sahih Al Bukhari Narrated
Sahl bin Sad)
There is no special
Dua for Suhur. One can very well begin Suhur by
reciting Bismillah and end it with any Dua that is normally recited
after taking lunch, dinner or any other food. Likewise, you don’t
need to verbally intend to begin your fast. Niyyat or
intention has to be in heart and except Hajj and Umrah there is no
other prayer for which verbal intention is required.
The best time for
Suhur is just before Azan-e-Fajr. Those who take this pre-dawn
meal very early or those who take it very late, both are wrong. In
following tradition Zaid bin Thabit described the suitable time for
Suhur:
We took
the 'Suhur' (the meal taken before dawn while fasting is
observed) with the Prophet and then stood up for the (morning)
prayer. I asked him how long the interval between the two (Suhur
and prayer) was. He replied, 'The interval between the two was just
sufficient to recite fifty to Sixth 'Ayat.'
(Sahih Al Bukhari,
Narrated by Anas)
Once finished with
Suhur now we are fasting and while fasting we are under the
continuous divine blessings. The Almighty Allah has promised unique
reward for the fasting people. He Himself says:
Fasting
is Mine and it is I who give reward for it. [A man] gives up his
sexual passion, his food and his drink for my sake. Fasting is like
a shield, and he who fasts has two joys: a joy when he breaks his
fast and a joy when he meets his Lord. The change in the breath of
the mouth of him who fasts is better in Allah's estimation than the
smell of musk.
(Hadith Qudsi)
And the Prophet said:
Fasting
is a shield (or a screen or a shelter). So, the person observing
fasting should avoid sexual relation with his wife and should not
behave foolishly and impudently, and if somebody fights with him or
abuses him, he should tell him twice, 'I am fasting."
The
Prophet added, "By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, the smell coming
out from the mouth of a fasting person is better in the sight of
Allah than the smell of musk. (Allah says about the fasting person),
'He has left his food, drink and desires for My sake. The fast is
for Me. So I will reward (the fasting person) for it and the reward
of good deeds is multiplied ten times.
(Sahih Al Bukhari,
Narrated by Abu Huraira)
Dos and Don’ts while fasting
While fasting what one
should do and what one shouldn’t? A fasting person should do every
good work and should refrain from every evil. If a fasting person
doesn’t refrain from evil and foul talk, his fast would be
unacceptable. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Whoever
does not give up false statements (i.e. telling lies), and evil
deeds, and speaking bad words to others, Allah is not in need of his
(fasting) leaving his food and drink.
(Sahih Al Bukhari,
Narrated by Abu Huraira)
While fasting if anyone
eats or takes any food by mistake then there is no harm on him. As
soon as he realizes his mistake he should stop and continue with his
fast. The Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said:
If
somebody eats or drinks forgetfully then he should complete his
fast, for what he has eaten or drunk, has been given to him by Allah
(Sahih Al Bukhari,
Narrated by Abu Huraira)
At another occasion the
Prophet said:
Neither
vomiting, nor emission, nor cupping breaks the fast of the one who
is fasting.
(Abu Dawood, Narrated by a
man from the Companions)
Saum i.e. the fast
ends with Iftaar at the time of sunset. As the sun sets, one
should immediately complete the fast without waiting further. The
Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) was used to end his fats
with dates. It is better if one follows the Prophet (peace and
blessing be upon him) and ends the fast using dates. But it is not
mandatory. One can take water, milk or whatever food easily
available to end the fast. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon
him) 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.
(Abu Dawood Narrated by
Salman ibn Amir)
Like Suhur, there
is no special Dua for Iftaar also and one should end
the fast reciting Bismillah. The time for Suhur and Iftaar
both are very important. These are the times one Allah the Almighty
listens to one’s prayers. Let us pray to Allah that He bestow on us
the power to utilize these precious days to seek forgiveness from
Him.
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