One of The Notable Signs of Virtue and Islam’s Preeminence Through Suhur and Iftar

In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Abu Dharr, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said, “My Ummah will continue in goodness so long as they hasten to break their fast and delay the pre-fasting meal”. [Sahih Al-Jami 7224]

Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said, “The religion will not cease to prevail as long as people hasten to break the fast because the Jews and the Christians (i.e. those amongst them who deviated from the path of their Prophets) delay it”. (1)

Shaikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy upon him, said, “This is a text regarding (the fact that) triumph of the religion is attained through hastening to break the fast and it is for the purpose of opposing the Jews and Christians [i.e. those amongst them who deviated, innovated in religion and opposed their prophets]. And when it is the case that opposing them is a reason behind the triumph of the religion, then the purpose of sending the Messengers is so that the religion ordained by Allah prevails over all others. Therefore, being in opposition to (the deviated people) is one of the greatest goals behind the advent of the Messengers”. (2)

Sahl Ibn Sa’d, may Allah be pleased with him, said that Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him, said, “The people will not cease to be upon good as long as they hasten to break the fast”. (3)

Imam An-Nawawi, may Allah have mercy upon him, said, “In this is an urge to hasten (to break the fast) after the setting of the sun is ascertained. And what this means is that the affair of the Ummah will not ceased being consistent and that they will (remain upon) good if they preserve this Prophetic tradition. If they delay breaking the fast, then this is a sign of corruption”. (4)

They will not cease to be upon good if they do this by acting upon the Sunnah and limit themselves to its prescribed legislated boundaries, and not being over-stringent (through what their) intellects (suggest to them) and changing its principles. The people of the scripture [i.e. those amongst them who deviated] delayed breaking the fast until the stars appeared. (5)

[1] Sahin Abee Dawud 2353. Maktabah Al-M’aarif. 1st Edition

[2] Iqtidaa As-Siraat Al-Mustaqeem 1/209

[3] Saheeh Muslim 1098]

[4] Sharh Saheeh Muslim. 7/180-181. Publisher: Daar Al-Kutub Al-Ilmiyyah. 1st Edition 1421AH (2000)].

[5] Fath Al-Baaree Sharh Sahih Al-Bukhaari 4/253. Publisher: Darus Salam. 1st Edition 1421AH (2000)]