In the name of Allah, the Most-Merciful, the All-Compassionate "May the Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon You" Praise be to Allaah, we seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allaah from the evil of our own souls and from our bad deeds. Whomsoever Allaah guides will never be led astray, and whomsoever Allaah leaves astray, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allaah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu Fiqh: Sawm or Siyaam (Fasting) Part 7: Breaking the Fast (Iftaar) Compiled by Imran Ayub[1]
1. When does the Fasting person Break his Fast? Allaah, the Most High, says: “…then complete your Sawm (fast) till the nightfall…”[2] Allaahs Messenger (peace be upon him) explained this to mean the approach of the night, the passing away of the daylight and the disappearance of the sun below the horizon.[3] Narrated Umar bin Al-Khattab (may Allaah be pleased with him): Allaahs Apostle (peace be upon him) said, "When night falls from this side and the day vanishes from this side and the sun sets, then the fasting person should break his fast."[4] Narrated Amr ibn Maimoon al – Awdee (may Allaah be pleased with him): The Companions of Muhammad (peace be upon him) were the earliest of people in beginning the Iftaar and the lastest in taking Suhoor.[5] ________________________________ 2. Hastening to Break the Fast A Muslim should break the fast as soon as the sun sets and do not be bothered by the bright redness remaining upon the horizon. In this, he would be following the Sunnah of your Messenger (peace be upon him) and differing from the Jews and Christians since they delay breaking the fast until the stars start to appear.[6] ________________________________ 2.1 Hastening to Break the Fast brings about good. Narrated Sahl bin Sad (may Allaah be pleased with him): Allaahs Apostle said, "The people will remain on the right path as long as they hasten the breaking of the fast."[7] Narrated Aboo Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him): The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “The Deen will not cease to be uppermost as long as the people hasten to break the fast, since the Jews and Christians delay it.”[8] ________________________________ 2.2 Breaking the Fast before praying the Maghrib prayer Narrated Anas (may Allaah be pleased with him): “The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to break his fast with fresh dates before Salaat al – Maghrib. If fresh dates were not available, he would eat dried dates and if dried dates were not available, he would break his fast by drinking a little water.”[9] ________________________________ 2.3 A Warning to Those who Break the Fast Before the Time of Iftaar Although we should hasten to break the fast, breaking the fasting before the correct time is sinful. Even though only a part of the following hadith is relevant here, I thought I would add the full hadeeth so that we can reflect on some of the horrors of some of our actions. Narrated Aboo Umaamah al – Baahilee (may Allaah be pleased with him): Allaahs Messenger (peace be upon him) said, “While I was sleeping, two men (angels) came to me, held my upper arms and took me to a rough mountain. They said," Climb." I said," I cannot climb it." They said, " We will make it easy for you." He (peace be upon him) continued: "We moved on until I saw some people who were suspended by their Achilles' tendons, their cheeks cut and gushing blood. I asked, "Who are those?" The replied, "Those are the ones who break their fast when it is not permissible." 10] ________________________________ 3. With what should one break his fast? Narrated Anas (may Allaah be pleased with him): “The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to break his fast with fresh dates before Salaat al – Maghrib. If fresh dates were not available, he would eat dried dates and if dried dates were not available, he would break his fast by drinking a little water.”[11] Giving something sweet to an empty stomach leads to its acceptance and that the body takes benefit from it, especially a health body which will be strengthened by it. As for water, then the body becomes somewhat dehydrated through fasting and so if it is moistened with water then it can take completed benefit from the food. And know that the dates and water contain various blessings and specially qualities which have an effect upon the hearts and in purifying them, which will be known only to those who follow (the Sunnah).[12] Consider how far our practice is from that of our Prophet (peace be upon him)! In our fast – breaking menu, there are all kinds of fruits and additional items. These items are fried or cooked with a lot of herbs and spices. This may result in causing an upset stomach, which may eventually result in ill health. Instead, we have to adopt a more moderate and comfortable way of breaking our fast by which a rich reward in the Hereafter and a physical advantage in this world will also be achieved.[13] ________________________________ 4. Times of Responding to the Supplication Those believers who strive and control themselves, abstaining from those things restricted, such as food, drink and sexual desire, all day long, to obtain the pleasure of Allaah, will definitely have a special status with Allaah. This responding to his invocation when breaking his fast is more likely to occur.[14]So seize this opportunity and call upon Allaah being sure that it will be answered, and know that Allaah does not respond to a heedless and inattentive heart. Call upon Him with supplications for anything good, and hopefully you will attain the good of this like and the Hereafter.[15] Narrated Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al – Aas (may Allaah be pleased with him): Allaah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said, “Indeed there is for the fasting person, when he breaks his fast, a supplication which is not rejected.”[16] ________________________________ 5. What should a person say when breaking the fast? There is a well known invocation related in the hadith in this respect: “Allaahumma laka sumtu wa – ala Rizqika Aftartu” (O Allaah! For You I have observed fasting and with Your provisions do I break my fasting) However, this hadeeth is NOT AUTHENTIC.[17]This shows you that you should not trust everything you find on things like Islamic calendars. As much as we hope that the people printing these would do some research on what they put, it seems like they are more concerned with advertising products then anything else! And to make things worse, some people turn a blind eye to the truth and ignorantly follow the unauthentic hadith over the authentic! The authentic hadith is as follows: “Dhahaba adh – dhamau wab – tallatil – urooqa wa thabatal – ajru in shaa Allaah” (The thirst has gone, the arteries are moist, and the reward is set, Allaah willing)[18] ________________________________ 6. Providing food for the fasting person to break his fast. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever gives food to a fasting person with which to break his fast, will have a reward equal to his, without it detracting in the slightest from the reward of the fasting person.”[19] The rich reward of helping others break their fast can be achieved to one’s best ability, and is not required for a people to over burden themselves in this regard.[20] And It is Only Allaah Who grants success. May Allaah Exalt the mention of His slave and Messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him), and render him, his household and companion safe from Evil. ------------------------------------------------------------ References: × Fasting In Ramadaanby Sheikh Saleem al – Hilaalee and ‘Alee ‘Abdul Hameed, al – Hidaayah Publishers, 1999 × Islamic Studies Book 3, by Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips, IIPH publishers, 2005 × Ramadaan: Rules and Related Issues, by Hafiz Salah – ud – Din Yusuf, Darussalam publishers, 199 × The Fragile Vessels – Rights and Obligations between the Spouses in Islam, by Muhammad Mustafaa al – Jibaaly, al – Kitaab and as – Sunnah Publishing, 2005 ________________________________ [1]From, ‘Fasting in Ramadaan’, p. 56 – 67 and ‘Ramadaan: Rules and Related Issues’, p. 12 – 15 [2]The Noble Qur’an, Soorah Al-Baqarah 2:187 [3]‘Fasting in Ramadaan’, p. 56 [4](Agreed Upon); Saheeh Bukhaari, Volume 3, Book 31, Number 175; Saheeh Muslim, Book 006, Number 2421 [5]‘Abdur – Razzaq, al – Musannaf, Number 7591; Declared Saheehvby Hafidh Ibn Hajaar in al – Fath, 4/199; and al – Haithumee in Majma’ uz – Zawaaid, 3/154; as quoted in ‘Fasting in Ramadaan’, p. 56 [6]‘Fasting in Ramadaan’, p. 57 [7](Agreed Upon); Saheeh Bukhaari, Volume 3, Book 31, Number 178; Saheeh Muslim, Book 006, Number 2417; Sunan Aboo Daawood, Vol. 2, Number 2346 [8]Sunan Aboo Daawood, 2/305; Ibn Hibaan; Its Isnaad is Hasan; as quoted in ‘Fasting in Ramadan’, p. 58 [9]Sunan at – Tirmithee, 3/70; Sunan Aboo Daawood, 2/306; Ahmad, 3/163; Saheeh Ibn Khuzaymah, 3/277, 278; through two chains from Anas, and its isnaad is Saheeh; as quoted in ‘Fasting in Ramadaan’, p. 61; Classed Saheeh by Sheikh al – Albaanee in al-Irwa’, Number 922; as quoted in ‘Ramadaan: Rules and Related Issues’, p. 13 [10]Saheeh Ibn Khuzaymah, Number 1986; Ibn Hibbaan and others. Verified to be Saheeh by Sheikh al – Albaanee in Saheeh ut – Targheeb, Number 991; as quoted in ‘Fasting in Ramadaan’, p. 91 – 92 [11]Sunan at – Tirmithee, 3/70; Sunan Aboo Daawood, 2/306; Ahmad, 3/163; Saheeh Ibn Khuzaymah, 3/277, 278; through two chains from Anas, and its isnaad is Saheeh; as quoted in ‘Fasting in Ramadaan’, p. 61; Classed Saheeh by Sheikh al – Albaanee in al-Irwa’, Number 922; as quoted in ‘Ramadaan: Rules and Related Issues’, p. 13 [12]‘Fasting in Ramadaan’, p. 61 [13]‘Ramadaan: Rules and Related Issues’, p. 13 [14]‘Ramadaan: Rules and Related Issues’, p. 13 - 14 [15]‘Fasting in Ramadaan’, p. 61 [16]Sunan Ibn Maajah, 1/557; al – Haakim, 1/422; Ibn as – Sunnee, Number 128; at – Tayaalisee, Number 299; through two chains of narration from him and al – Boosairee said: 2/81: This isnaad is Saheeh, its narrators are reliable; as quoted in ‘Fasting in Ramadaan’, p. 61. Classed Saheeh by Sheikh al – Albaanee in Saheeh Sunan ibn Maajah, Number 1432; as quoted in ‘Ramadaan: Rules and Related Issues’, p. 14 [17]It is rated as Da’eef by Sheikh al – Albaanee in Irwaa al – Ghaleel, Vol. 4, Number 919; as quoted in ‘Islamic Studies Book 3’, p. 198 [18]Sunan Aboo Daawood, Vol. 2, Number 2350; al – Baihaqee, 4/239; al – Hakakim, 1/422; Ibn Sunnee, an – Nasaa’ee in Amalul – Yawm, 269; Daraqutnee, who declared its isnaad to be Hasan, and it is as he said (as quoted in‘Fasting in Ramadaan’, p. 62); Graded Hasan by Sheikh al – Albaanee in Saheeh Sunan Aboo Daawood, Vol. 2, Number 2066 (as quoted in ‘Islamic Studies Book 3’, p. 198) and in Irwaa al – Ghaleel, Number 920 (as quoted in ‘Ramadaan: Rules and Related Issues’, p. 15). Also Refer to the ‘Fortress of a Muslim’ http://www.islamawareness.net/Dua/Fortress/068.html [19]Sunan at – Tirmithee, Number 804; Ahmad, 5/192; Sunan Ibn Maajah, Number 1746; ibn Hibbaan, Number 895; Imam Tirmithee declared it Saheeh and it is as he said; as quoted ‘Fasting in Ramadaan’, p. 62. [20]‘Ramadaan: Rules and Related Issues’, p. 15 ________________________________ Permission is granted to circulate among private individuals and groups, to post on Internet sites and to publish in full text and subject title in not-for-profit publications. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LoveIslam_LiveIslam/ What Seperates our Group from the rest ? Only Authentic Information about Islam is passed backed by Quran or Hadith's. Plus we only send max 1 mail per day. Join Today and learn more about Islam , Insha'Allah [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
