Part 6: Sunnah Acts Of Fasting :

Part 6: Sunnah Acts Of Fasting :

1) THE MORNING MEAL (Al-Suhur) :
The morning meal (Al-Suhur) is the act of eating and drinking late at night before the morning prayer (Fajr) by a person who is intending to fast. [The literal meaning for (Al-Sahur) is the name for the food taken late at night before the Fajr time.] The Prophet said, "Take Sahur as there is a blessing in it." Sunan an-Nasa'i 2149.

It was reported by Muslim that, eating of Sahur is the difference between the muslims and the people of the Scriptures. This facilitates the fasting and one gets an increased amount of reward.

2) DELAYING (Al-Suhur) TILL THE LAST PORTION OF THE NIGHT
It was narrated that Abu 'Atiyyah said:
"I said to 'Aishah(radhi Allahu anha): 'Among us there are two of the Companions of the Prophet, one of whom hastens Iftar and delays Sahur, and the other delays Iftar and hastens Suhur.' She said: 'Which of them is the one who hastens Iftar and delays Suhur?' I said: "Abdullah bin Masud.' She said: 'That is what the Messenger of Allah(sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) used to do."' Sunan an-Nasa'i 2158.

3) THE TIME FOR THE PRE-DAWN(SUHUR) MEAL:

The time for the pre-dawn meal is between the middle of the night and dawn. It is considered best to delay it (that is, as close to dawn as possible). Zayd Ibn Thaabit may Allaah be pleased with him reported: "We ate the pre-dawn meal with the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) and then we got up for the prayer. He may Allaah be pleased with him was asked: 'What was the amount of time between the two?' He may Allaah be pleased with him responded: 'The time it would take to recite fifty verses.'" [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

4)THE BEST OF THINGS ONE MAY TAKE AS A Suhur ARE DATES:

The Prophet (sallalllahu alaihi wa sallam) said, "The best Sahur of the believer is dates (Tamr)."
Abu Dawoud, lbn Hibban, AI-Baihaqi.

5) THE DUA'A (INVOCATION) DURING THE FAST AND SPECIALLY AT THE TIME OF BREAKING THE FAST:

Abu Hurairah(radhi Allahu anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allah(salallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:“There are three whose supplication is not rejected: The fasting person when he breaks his fast.....Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3598
In another Hadith,The Messenger of Allah(sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “When the fasting person breaks his fast, his supplication is not turned back.” Sunan Ibn Majah Book 7, Hadith 1825.

The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) when he broke his fast used to say:

" Dhahabadh-dhama' Wabtallatil-Urouq Wathabatal-Ajro insha' Allah

"ذَهَبَ الظَّمَأُ وَابْتَلَّتِ الْعُرُوقُ وَثَبَتَ الأَجْرُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ "

Which translates as, "The thirst has gone and the veins are quenched and the reward is confirmed, if Allah Wills."

Sunan Abi Dawud 2357.

6) TO HASTEN THE IFTAR(breaking of the fast) :

It is narrated by Sahl bin Sa`d(radhi Allahu anhu):
Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said, "The people will remain on the right path as long as they hasten the breaking of the fast."
Sahih al-Bukhari 1957.

7) IT IS PREFERABLE TO BREAK THE FAST WITH DATES :

Anas bin Malik(radhi Allahu anhu) narrated:"The Messenger of Allah(sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would break the fast with fresh dates before performing Salat. If there were no fresh dates then (he would) break the fast) with dried dates, and if there were no dried dates then he would take a few sips of water." Jami` at-Tirmidhi 696.