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The etiquette of Iftaar & Suhoor
Hastening the breaking of the fast
'Amrun Ibn Maimoon Al-Awdee said: "The companions of the Messenger 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)." [Abdur Razaak in the Mussanaf]
Sahl Ibn Sa'd (RA) said that Rasoolillah (SAW) said: "The people will continue to be in good condition as long as they hasten to break the fast." [Bukhaaree and Muslim]
Abu Hurairah (RA) said that Rasoolillah (SAW) said: "The Deen will be uppermost/manifest as long as the people hasten to break their fast because the Jews and the Christians delay (it)." [Abu Dawood and Ibn Hibbaan]
It is reported that "Rasoolillah (SAW) used to break his fast before the Maghrib Salaah." [Ahmad and Abu Dawood]
What is recommended to eat to break the fast?
Rasoolillah (SAW) used to incite the breaking of the fast with dates and if he did not find any, he would then break it with water.
Anas Ibn Maalik said: "The prophet (SAW) used to break his fast with fresh dates before he prayed. If he did not find fresh dates then he would use dried dates. If he did not find that also he drank a few sips of water. [Ahmad and Abu Dawood]
What should be said at the time of breaking the fast?
The fasting person should know that Allah (SWT) listens to his supplication and answers it.
Abu Hurairah said Rasoolillah (SAW) said: "The supplications of three groups of people's are not rejected; the Du'aa (Supplication) of the fasting person when he is breaking his fast, the Du'aa of the just Imam and the Du'aa of the oppressed." [Tirmidhee, Ibn Majah and Ibn Hibbaan]
So the fasting person should make use of the time when he is breaking his fast to ask Allah (SWT) for all those things that would make his life easy in this world and the next. However, although any Du'aa can be made at that time the Messenger (SAW) also used to make a specific one which we should make sure we supplicate with, along with whatever other supplication we desire.
The Messenger of Allah (SAW) when he broke his fast. used to say: "The thirst has gone and the veins have recovered and the blessing is established if Allah wills" (dhahaba dhamaa'a wabtallat al-urooq wa thabatal ajr inshaa'allaah) [Ahmad, Al-Baihaqee]
Feeding a fasting person
It is imperative for the believer to always try to do righteous deeds. From among these righteous deeds is the feeding of the fasting person because of the numerous rewards for this act.
The Prophet (SAW) said: "Whoever gives someone something to break the fast with, he would have The same blessings as the fasting person and this would not reduce the blessings of the fasting person in any way " [Ahmad and Tirmidhee]
If someone is invited to break his fast then he should respond to the invitation. If he refuses then he has disobeyed the Messenger (SAW).
It is also recommended for the person invited to supplicate for his host after finishing eating his food as was the practice of the Messenger (SAW). The Messenger (SAW) used to make the following supplications:
"May the righteous eat your food may the angels send Salaah unto you and may the fasting person break their fast with you." [Ahmad, An-Nasaaee]
"O Allah! Feed the one who fed me and give drink to him who gave me to drink" [Muslim]
"O Allah! Forgive them and have Mercy on them and bless whatever you provide for then" [Muslim]
Benefits of Dates
Rasoolillah (SAW) is reported to have said: "If anyone of you is fasting, let him break his fast with dates. In case he does not have them, then with water. Verily water is a purifier."
The Prophet used to break his fast by eating some dates before offering Maghrib prayer, and if ripe dates were not available, he used to substitute them with some dried grapes. When they too were not available, he used to have a few sips of water, according to some reports. Modern science has proved that dates are part of a healthy diet. They contain sugar, fat and proteins, as well as important vitamins. Hence the great importance attached to them by the Prophet.
Dates are also rich in natural fibres. Modern medicine has shown that they are effective in preventing abdominal cancer. They also surpass other fruits in the sheer variety of their constituents. They contain oil, calcium, sulphur, iron, potassium, phosphorous, manganese, copper and magnesium. In other words, one date is a minimum of a balanced and healthy diet. Arabs usually combine dates with milk and yogurt or bread, butter and fish. This combination indeed makes a self-sufficient and tasty diet for both mind and body. Dates and date palms have been mentioned in the Holy Qur'an 20 times, thus showing their importance. The Prophet likened a good Muslim to the date palm, saying, "Among trees, there is a tree like a Muslim. Its leaves do not fall."
Experiments have also shown that dates contain some stimulants that strengthen the muscles of the uterus in the last months of pregnancy. This helps the dilation of the uterus at the time of delivery on one hand and reduces the bleeding after delivery on the other. Dieticians consider dates as the best food for women in confinement and those who are breast-feeding. This is because dates contain elements that assist in alleviating depression in mothers and enriching the breast-milk with all the elements needed to make the child healthy and resistant to disease. The Prophet (SAW) has emphasized the importance of dates and their effectiveness in the growth of the fetus. He has also recommended they be given to women. Modern dietary institute now recommend dates to be given to children suffering from a nervous nature or hyperactivity. The Prophet (SAW) has also recommended dates as a medicine for heart troubles, according to some reports. Modern science has also proved the effectiveness of date, in preventing diseases of the respiratory system.
Ayeshah, (R.A.) wife of Prophet (SAW), used to prescribe dates for those suffering from giddiness. It is now well known that a fall in the level of the sugar in the blood and low blood pressure are among the causes of giddiness. She was also reported to have used dates combined with cucumber to treat her over-slim condition! She said, "they've tried to fatten me giving me everything. But I did not become fat. Then they fattened me with cucumber and ripe dates and I gained!" Ayeshah was quite correct, as we now know that one kilogram of dates contains nearly 3,000 calories which alone are sufficient to supply the minimum daily requirements of an active man for one full day.
Hastening the breaking of the fast
'Amrun Ibn Maimoon Al-Awdee said: "The companions of the Messenger 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)." [Abdur Razaak in the Mussanaf]
Sahl Ibn Sa'd (RA) said that Rasoolillah (SAW) said: "The people will continue to be in good condition as long as they hasten to break the fast." [Bukhaaree and Muslim]
Abu Hurairah (RA) said that Rasoolillah (SAW) said: "The Deen will be uppermost/manifest as long as the people hasten to break their fast because the Jews and the Christians delay (it)." [Abu Dawood and Ibn Hibbaan]
It is reported that "Rasoolillah (SAW) used to break his fast before the Maghrib Salaah." [Ahmad and Abu Dawood]
What is recommended to eat to break the fast?
Rasoolillah (SAW) used to incite the breaking of the fast with dates and if he did not find any, he would then break it with water.
Anas Ibn Maalik said: "The prophet (SAW) used to break his fast with fresh dates before he prayed. If he did not find fresh dates then he would use dried dates. If he did not find that also he drank a few sips of water. [Ahmad and Abu Dawood]
What should be said at the time of breaking the fast?
The fasting person should know that Allah (SWT) listens to his supplication and answers it.
Abu Hurairah said Rasoolillah (SAW) said: "The supplications of three groups of people's are not rejected; the Du'aa (Supplication) of the fasting person when he is breaking his fast, the Du'aa of the just Imam and the Du'aa of the oppressed." [Tirmidhee, Ibn Majah and Ibn Hibbaan]
So the fasting person should make use of the time when he is breaking his fast to ask Allah (SWT) for all those things that would make his life easy in this world and the next. However, although any Du'aa can be made at that time the Messenger (SAW) also used to make a specific one which we should make sure we supplicate with, along with whatever other supplication we desire.
The Messenger of Allah (SAW) when he broke his fast. used to say: "The thirst has gone and the veins have recovered and the blessing is established if Allah wills" (dhahaba dhamaa'a wabtallat al-urooq wa thabatal ajr inshaa'allaah) [Ahmad, Al-Baihaqee]
Feeding a fasting person
It is imperative for the believer to always try to do righteous deeds. From among these righteous deeds is the feeding of the fasting person because of the numerous rewards for this act.
The Prophet (SAW) said: "Whoever gives someone something to break the fast with, he would have The same blessings as the fasting person and this would not reduce the blessings of the fasting person in any way " [Ahmad and Tirmidhee]
If someone is invited to break his fast then he should respond to the invitation. If he refuses then he has disobeyed the Messenger (SAW).
It is also recommended for the person invited to supplicate for his host after finishing eating his food as was the practice of the Messenger (SAW). The Messenger (SAW) used to make the following supplications:
"May the righteous eat your food may the angels send Salaah unto you and may the fasting person break their fast with you." [Ahmad, An-Nasaaee]
"O Allah! Feed the one who fed me and give drink to him who gave me to drink" [Muslim]
"O Allah! Forgive them and have Mercy on them and bless whatever you provide for then" [Muslim]
Benefits of Dates
Rasoolillah (SAW) is reported to have said: "If anyone of you is fasting, let him break his fast with dates. In case he does not have them, then with water. Verily water is a purifier."
The Prophet used to break his fast by eating some dates before offering Maghrib prayer, and if ripe dates were not available, he used to substitute them with some dried grapes. When they too were not available, he used to have a few sips of water, according to some reports. Modern science has proved that dates are part of a healthy diet. They contain sugar, fat and proteins, as well as important vitamins. Hence the great importance attached to them by the Prophet.
Dates are also rich in natural fibres. Modern medicine has shown that they are effective in preventing abdominal cancer. They also surpass other fruits in the sheer variety of their constituents. They contain oil, calcium, sulphur, iron, potassium, phosphorous, manganese, copper and magnesium. In other words, one date is a minimum of a balanced and healthy diet. Arabs usually combine dates with milk and yogurt or bread, butter and fish. This combination indeed makes a self-sufficient and tasty diet for both mind and body. Dates and date palms have been mentioned in the Holy Qur'an 20 times, thus showing their importance. The Prophet likened a good Muslim to the date palm, saying, "Among trees, there is a tree like a Muslim. Its leaves do not fall."
Experiments have also shown that dates contain some stimulants that strengthen the muscles of the uterus in the last months of pregnancy. This helps the dilation of the uterus at the time of delivery on one hand and reduces the bleeding after delivery on the other. Dieticians consider dates as the best food for women in confinement and those who are breast-feeding. This is because dates contain elements that assist in alleviating depression in mothers and enriching the breast-milk with all the elements needed to make the child healthy and resistant to disease. The Prophet (SAW) has emphasized the importance of dates and their effectiveness in the growth of the fetus. He has also recommended they be given to women. Modern dietary institute now recommend dates to be given to children suffering from a nervous nature or hyperactivity. The Prophet (SAW) has also recommended dates as a medicine for heart troubles, according to some reports. Modern science has also proved the effectiveness of date, in preventing diseases of the respiratory system.
Ayeshah, (R.A.) wife of Prophet (SAW), used to prescribe dates for those suffering from giddiness. It is now well known that a fall in the level of the sugar in the blood and low blood pressure are among the causes of giddiness. She was also reported to have used dates combined with cucumber to treat her over-slim condition! She said, "they've tried to fatten me giving me everything. But I did not become fat. Then they fattened me with cucumber and ripe dates and I gained!" Ayeshah was quite correct, as we now know that one kilogram of dates contains nearly 3,000 calories which alone are sufficient to supply the minimum daily requirements of an active man for one full day.
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