VIRTUES OF SUHOOR ( SAHRI )

VIRTUES OF SUHOOR ( SAHRI ) IN THE LIGHT OF AUTHENTIC AHADITHS...A MUST READ....
GEMS OF RAMADAN SERIES
Br Khurram Rehmani....

1. NIYYAH (Intention) FOR SUHOOR (SEHRI) :

Niyyah, (variously spelled niyah, niyya, niyyat or niyat (Arabic: نیّة) is the intention one evokes in one's heart to do an act for the sake of Allah.
Niyyah is spoken from the heart, it does not have to be uttered. Additionally, there is no evidence that the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w or any of his companions ever uttered a niyyah aloud for making( suhur) or breaking (iftaar) for a fast.

The Niyyah (intention) for every action is a must but people have started practising a bid'ah (innovation) in this regard, i.e to speak the niyat out loud for fasting or before praying and etc. this is a cursed bid'ah. the Prophet (s.a.w) never spoke out his intention verbally (either slowly or loudly) for fasting and neither did his companions (sahaba) may allah be pleased with them spoke out their niyat verbally either for salah or fasting. They travelled to great distances, different countries for jihad and to teach different people, yet they (sahabas) never taught any Muslim to speak his niyat verbally for salah or fasting.

Every new action in Islam which is not in accordance to what rasool (s.a.w) taught is rejected and cursed (Bukhari, Muslim and etc - Agreed Upon)
There is an example of a fabricated and innovated dua stated below which is very famous in subcontinent.

Wa bi soamee ghadin nawaitu min shahrin Ramadan.

So point learnt here is that,Niyyah is the intention within your heart.

2. THERE IS NO FAST FOR A PERSON WHO DID NOT INTEND TO FAST BEFORE FAJR

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There is no fast for the person who did not intend to fast from the night before.”

[Ref: Reported by Abu Dawood, no. 2454. A number of the scholars, such as al-Bukhaari, al-Nisaa'i (2334), al-Tirmidhi and others thought it was likely to be mawqoof. See Talkhees al-Hubayr, 2/188]

The intention may be made at any point during the night, even if it is just a moment before Fajr because of the evidence :
It is essential to make the intention to fast the month of Ramadan at night, before Fajr. It is not sufficient to start fasting it that day without the intention. Whoever finds out at the time of Duha that today it is Ramadan and makes the intention of fasting has to refrain from eating until sunset, and he also has to make up that day, because it was :
Narrated by Ibn ‘Umar from Hafsah (may Allaah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever does not have the intention of fasting before Fajr, there is no fast for him.”

[Ref: Narrated by Imam Ahmad, the authors of al-Sunan, Ibn Khuzaymah and Ibn Hibbaan; they classed it as saheeh and marfoo’]
This is with regard to obligatory fasts. With regard to naafil fasts it is permissible to make the intention to fast on the day, if you have not eaten or drunk or had intercourse after Fajr, because it was proven in the hadeeth of ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) entered upon her one day at duha time and said, “Do you have anything (any food)?” She said, “No.” He said, “Then I am fasting.”Narrated by Muslim in his Saheeh.

And Allaah is the Source of strength. May Allaah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions. [Source: Standing Committee for Research and Issuing Fatwas. 10 / 244]

3. DUA BEFORE SUHOOR OR BEFORE STARTING TO FAST

There is no sahih hadeeth which shows us that rasool (s.a.w) prescribed any specific dua for us to begin our fast or suhoor with. One may say whatever he wishes "pre-conditioned" he is aware that so and so method or dua is not a condition or sunnah for eating suhoor. One may simply say Bismillah or Bismillahir rehmanir raheem and eat his suhoor.

4. GETTING UP IN A STATE OF JANAABAH (SEXUAL DEFILEMENT)
As long as a person has intended to fast from the previous night he can fast. what one is supposed to do under this condition is as mentioned below :
Narrated Aaishah and Umm Salamah (may Allaah be pleased with them both): “At times Allaahs Apostle (peace be upon him) used to get up in the morning in the state of Janaabah after having sexual relations with his wives. He would then take a bath and fast.”
[Ref: Saheeh Bukhaari, Volume 3, Book 31, Number 148; Saheeh Muslim, Book 006, Number 2452]

Some people feel guilty if they wake up in janabah (defilement due to sleeping with one's spouse). To those we say there should be no guilt, complete your fast. The Prophet used to be in janabah when dawn came and he would take a bath and fast.

Shaykh Abdul-'Azeez Ibn Baaz was asked if a fasting person has a wet dream on a Ramadhaan morning, does it ruin the fast and does that person have to take a bath? He replied that wet dreams do not ruin the fast because it is not a voluntary act and that a bath is necessary if semen is secreted. It's okay to delay the washing until Thuhr prayer if the wet dream occurred after fajr salah. The same goes for janabah, you can take a bath after dawn if it occurred at night because it was proven that the Prophet used to wake up in janabah then wash and fast. It is better to wash from janabah before Fajr prayer in order to be able to make prayer in congregation.

[Source: http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/index.php?page=articles&id=135757]

5. ITS WISDOM - A DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN MUSLIMS & NON MUSLIMS

'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 (christians and jews) is in the eating at the time just before dawn (i.e suhoor)."

[Ref: Muslim Book 6 Hadith 2413; Sunan Al Nasaee, Vol 3 Book 2 Hadith 2168]

Why should we distinguish ourselves from them?

Allaah has forbidden the Muslims to imitate the disbelievers, and the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allaah be upon him) spoke very sternly concerning that, as he said: “Whoever imitates a people (Kuffar) is one of them.”

[Ref: Narrated by Abu Dawood (4031) and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Sunan Abi Dawood]

6. ITS EXCELLENCE (THE SUHOOR IS BLESSED)
Sayyidunah Ibn Umar (radiallah anhu) narrated:

إن الله وملائكته يصلون على المتسحرين

"Certainly Allaah and his Angels send blessings upon those who eat Suhoor"

[Authenticated by Shaykh Albaani in Silsilah al-Ahaadeeth as-Saheehah (3409)]

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, even if one of you just takes a (gulp) of water, since Allah sends mercy and His angels seek forgiveness for those who take the suhoor"

[Ref: Ahmad]

Anas ibn Maalik (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Eat suhoor for in suhoor there is blessing.”

[Ref: Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1923; Muslim, 1059]
[Ref: Sunan Al Nasaee , Vol 3, Book 2 , Hadith 2152]

It was narrated that AL-'Irbad bin Sariyah said: "I heard the Messenger of Allah inviting people to have Sahur in Ramadan. He said: 'Come to the blessed breakfast." (Hasan)

[Ref: Sunan Al Nasaee Vol 3 book 2 hadith 2165 and another narration in 2167]

7. RASOOL (S.A.W)'S FAVORITE FOOD IN SUHOOR

The Messenger (SAW) said: "The best Suhoor for the believer is dates."

[Abu Dawood, Al-Baihaqee and Ibn Hibbaan, Reported by Abu Dawood, no. 2345; Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1/448)]

Note: This does not mean that we cannot or should not eat anyting else !

9. WHEN SHOULD WE STOP EATING? OR TILL WHEN CAN WE DO SUHOOR?

“and eat and drink until the white thread (light) of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread (darkness of night), then complete your Sawm (fast) till the nightfall”
[al-Baqarah 2:187]

It was narrated that Abu 'Atiyyah said: "I said to 'Aishah:' Among us there are two men, one of whom hastens Iftar (i.e is quick in opening his fast) and delays Sahur (eats suhur until dawn or fajr adhan), and the other (person) delays Iftar (i.e breaks his fast late) and hastens Sahur (stops eating suhoor early) . ' She said; 'Which of them is the one who hastens Iftar and delays Sahur?' I said: "Abdullah bin Masud. ' She said; 'This is what the Messenger of Allah used to do. "'

[Ref: Sunan Al Nasaee, Vol. 3 Book 2 , hadith 2161, 2160 and etc]

Narrated from ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) that Bilaal used to give the adhaan at night, and the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘Eat and drink until Ibn Umm Maktoom gives the adhaan, for he does not give the adhaan until the dawn comes.”

[Ref: Al-Bukhaari (1919) and Muslim (1092)]

Ibn Mas'ud (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying The Adhan of Bilal should not restrain anyone among you from eating Sahur (last meal before daybreak during the month of Ramadan) 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.

[Ref: Sahih Muslim, Book 6, Hadith 2404]

IS SUHOOR OBLIGATORY OR MUSTAHHAB?

The correct ruling irrespective of any Madhabi inclination is that suhoor is not fardh but mustahhab (recommended) and the fast is valid even without the suhoor. However i'll enlist the view of the shaf`i jurists as well for knowledge base.

Anas (radhi Allah ‘anhu) relates that the Prophet (salla Allah ’alaihe wa sallam) said, “Take the pre-dawn meal for in it there is blessing” (‘Umdat al-Ahkam, Hadith 182).

And Allah knows the best...