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Sahur (Meal before dawn)
Muslims eat a light meal before dawn, in preparation of the fast for the next day. This pre-dawn meal is called Sahur.
Allah (God) has Commanded Muslims to have Sahur (Meal before dawn).
… وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الْأَسْوَدِ مِنَ الْفَجْرِ … |
| …and eat and drink until the white thread of dawn appear to you distinct from its black thread… |
| Surah (Chapter) al-Baqarah (The Cow) 2:187 |
The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم used to take Sahur (Meal before dawn) and sometimes took the predawn meal with his Sahabah (Companions).
| Narrated Anas: Zayd bin Thabit رضي الله عنه said, "We took the Sahur with the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم . Then he stood for the prayer." I asked, "What was the interval between the Sahur and the Adhan?" He replied, "The interval was sufficient to recite fifty verses of the Qur-an." ( Bukhari, Muslim) |
The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم preferred to take Sahur (Meal before dawn) in the late hours of the night.
Anas رضي الله عنه reported Allah's صلى الله عليه وسلم as saying: “Take meal a little before dawn, for there is a blessing in taking meal at that time”. (Muslim)
Ibn Mas'ud رضي الله عنه reported Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم as saying The Adhan of Bilal رضي الله عنه should not restrain anyone among you from eating Sahur (meal before dawn) for he announces Adhan (or he calls) at (the fag end of) the night to make him turn who stands for prayer among you, and to awaken those who are sleeping among you. And he said: The dawn is not like it, as one says (and he lifted his hand) till he (dispersed his fingers) and said: It is like this. (Muslim) |
Besides providing sustenance during fasting, taking Sahur (Meal before dawn) also becomes a source of blessings of Allah (God).
| Narrated Anas bin Malik رضي الله عنه : The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "Take Sahur as there is a blessing in it."(Bukhari) |
Sahur (Meal before dawn) does not have to be a big meal necessarily. One should eat something as Sahur (Meal before dawn) as it is mentioned in the Qur-an and is also a Sunnah (Tradition of
Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم).
The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم preferred to eat dates for his Sahur (Meal before dawn).
The Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said: "The best Sahur for the believer is dates."
Abu Dawud, Baihaqi, Ibn Hibban |
It is recommended to delay the Sahur (Meal before dawn) until just before the dawn.
| (Prayer - in this case the Fajr prayer). I asked "What was the time between the Adhan (Call to Prayer) and the Sahur?" He said: "(The time it would take) to recite fifty verses." (
Bukhari, Muslim) |
Sahur (Meal before dawn) could be taken till the signs of morning begin to appear on the horizon. Also, married couples can continue their intimate relationship till the time of Sahur (Meal before dawn).
Detailed timetables for the timings of Sahur (Meal before dawn) are published locally, worldwide by Masajid (Mosques), Islamic Centers, Madaris (Seminaries), local businesses or individuals of the area. Usually, most charts show the end of Sahur (Meal before dawn) when it is completely dark and there are no visible signs of dawn. The chart makers usually put more than the required safety margin in their charts.
If someone wakes up after the time for Sahur (Meal before dawn) is over, do the Niyah (Intention) for the fast at that time.
The Jews and the Christians also used to fast in the times of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم. Sahabah (Companions) asked him whether there was any difference between the fasting of Muslims and that of the Jews and the Christians. Emphasizing on its importance, the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم used to say that Sahur (Meal before dawn) was the only difference between the fasting of Muslims and that of the people from other faiths.
| ‘Amr bin al-‘As رضي الله عنه narrated that Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم said “Only difference between our fasting and the fasting of other people of the Book (Christians and Jews) is that we eat Sahur (Meal before dawn) and they do not”. (Tirmidhi) |
Here is a little peace of advice for those who, for the sake of convenience (not to disrupt their sleep) try to skip Sahur (Meal before dawn).
The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم prohibited us to ignore Sahur (Meal before dawn). He advised Muslims to have a sip of water if nothing else is available to eat.
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri رضي الله عنه said that the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said: "Eating the Sahur 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) |
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