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AS-Suhoor (THE PRE-DAWN MEAL OF RAMADAAN)
The Wisdom of Suhoor
Allah (SWT) made fasting obligatory upon us as He (SWT) had made it obligatory on the people of the Book before us. He (SWT) said , (which means): {O you who believe Fasting is prescribed upon you as it was prescribed upon those before you so that perhaps you may attain Taqwaa.} [Al-Baqarah 2 : 183]
In the first period of Islam, the duration and regulations of fasting were in accordance with what was legislated by Allah upon the People of the Book. They were not allowed to eat, drink or engage in ** intercourse after they slept. That is once one sleeps, he could not eat nor do any of the above until the night of the following day, this implied that they took no Suhoor (Pre-dawn meal).
However, when the above ruling was abrogated, the Messenger (SAW) commanded the Muslims to take the Suhoor (Pre-dawn meal) as a means of being different in our fasting from the fasting of the People of the Book. 'Amr Ibn al-Aas reported that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: "The distinguishing feature between our fast and the fast of the People of the Book is in the eating at the time just before dawn." [Muslim]
The Suhoor is Barakah (blessed)
Salmaan (RA) said that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: Blessings are found in three things, the Group (Al-Jama'ah), Ath-thareed (a type of food) and As-Suhoor (the Pre-dawn meal)." [At-Tabaraanee, Abu Na'eem]
Abu Hurairah (RA) said that Rasoolillah (SAW) said: "Verily Allah placed Barakah (blessing) in the Suhoor (pre-dawn meal) and in perfect measurement (weighing)."[Ash-Shairazee]
'Abdullah Ibn Haarith said that one of the Sahabah (companion) said: 'I entered the house of the Messenger (SAW) whilst he was taking the Suhoor (pre-dawn meal), and he (SAW) said: "Indeed it (the Suhoor) is blessing that Allah has given to you so do not leave it out." [An-Nasaaee and Ahmad]
The reality that there are great blessings in the Suhoor (Pre-dawn meal) is very apparent because there is in it:
- (a) the following of the Sunnah,
(b) it makes the fast easier upon the person who is fasting,
(c) it increases the desire in the person to want to continue to fast because of the ease upon the fasting person and
(d) there is also in it the principle of being different from the People of the Book because they are prohibited from taking the Suhoor (pre-dawn meal).
For this reason the Messenger of Allah (SAW) called it the blessed meal.
Allah (SWT) and the Angels send Salaah upon the people who take the Suhoor (pre-dawn meal)
The greatest blessing of the Suhoor (pre-dawn meal) may be that Allah (SWT) engulfs those who partake in it with His Forgiveness, showers His Mercy on them, while His angels ask of Him to forgive and pardon them.
Abu Sa'eed al-Khudree said that the Messenger (SAW) said: "Eating the Suhoor is blessed. Do not neglect it even if you take a gulp of water, because Allah and His angels invoke blessings upon those who partake in the pre-dawn meal." [Ahmad]. It is very important that the Muslim does not allow this great blessing from his Merciful Lord to escape him.
What is the best thing the Muslim can eat for Suhoor
The Messenger (SAW) said: "The best Suhoor for the believer is dates." [Abu Dawood, Al-Baihaqee and Ibn Hibbaan]
Delaying the Suhoor
It is recommended to delay the Suhoor (pre-dawn meal) till just before dawn. Zaid ibn Thaabit said: "We ate the Suhoor with the Messenger (SAW), then we got up to offer the Salaah (prayer - in this case the Fajr prayer). I asked "What was the time between the Adhaan (call to prayer) and the Suhoor?" He said: "(The time it would take) to recite fifty verses." [Bukhaaree and Muslim]
It must be known that it is allowed to eat, drink and have ** relationship with one's spouse as long as one doubts and is uncertain that the dawn has started. Allah (SWT) and His Messenger (SAW) have made clear the criterion for establishing the Fajr, and this is what one is required to go by.
The Ruling for Suhoor
The Messenger of Allah (SAW) commanded that whoever wants to fast must take the Suhoor (pre-dawn meal). He (SAW) said: "Whoever wishes to fast, then let him eat something for Suhoor." [Ibn Abi Shaibah, Ahmad and others]
And he (SAW) also said: "Take the Suhoor because in the Suhoor is Barakah (blessings)."[Bukhaaree and Muslim]
Then he (SAW) also prohibited the Muslims from neglecting it. He (SAW) said: "What differentiates our fast from the fast of the People of the Book is the Suhoor meal." [Ibn Abi Shaibah, Ahmad]
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