Iftar is the evening meal after fasting. What does not break the fast? If it becomes so difficult that you want to break the fast
The reader is invited to translate a series of answers to questions about iftar from the Sheikh’s website Muhammad Salih al-Munajid islam-qa.com.
It is sunnah not to delay breaking the fast.
Question #13999:
I would like to know if breaking the fast (iftar) is obligatory. If a Muslim goes to the mosque during evening prayer, what should he do during Iftar, should he eat first and then join the congregational prayer, or should he pray first and then eat?
Answer:
All praise belongs to Allah!
It is advisable to break your fast as soon as the fasting period ends. Various hadiths indicate this. Transmitted from words Sahlya b. Sa'da that the Messenger of Allah - peace and blessings be upon him! - said: “People will be in prosperity as long as they hurry to break their fast” ( Al-Bukhari(1821) and Muslim (1838)).
After fasting, a person should first of all immediately eat a few pieces of food that will calm his hunger, and then begin prayer. After completing the prayer, if he wants, he can continue eating again until he is full.
This is what the Prophet did, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. They say that Anas b. Malik said: “The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him! - Before praying, he broke his fast with fresh dates. If there were none, then he broke his fast with dry dates. If they were not there, then he broke his fast with a few sips of water.” This hadith leads at-Tirmidhi(as-thawm / 632), and al-Albani called it reliable in “sahikh” Abi Daoud"(560).
In the comments to this hadith, al-Mubarakfuri writes: “This hadith is a complete and sufficient indication of the desirability of immediately breaking the fast after fasting.”
Breaking the fast with food provided to those who have an illicit state
Question No. 37711:
Is it permissible to accept an invitation to iftar from a person whose majority of his property consists of haraam items?
Answer:
All praise belongs to Allah!
If most of a person’s property consists of forbidden items, then it is permissible to accept his invitation.
Prophet - peace and blessings of Allah be upon him! – accepted an invitation to the table from the Jews, despite the fact that Allah described them as engaging in usury and misappropriating people’s property. Some Salaf said regarding such things: “the benefit from it will go to you, and the sin from it will go to them.”
At the same time, you are allowed to refuse such a person to accept the invitation, in order to thereby express your censure to him and to keep him from earning a fortune through illicit means. It would be better to do this if it could really influence his abandonment of the sin into which he fell.
But Allah knows best!
Hokmah for breaking the fast in a society of adherents of innovations
Question No. 37742:
Is it sinful for someone who does not perform the Taraweeh prayer throughout the entire month of Ramadan? I work for a company where sometimes I have to stay late for work, so much so that I have to break my fast at work. And I seem to be the only Sunni in this company. Everyone else there is Shia and Ismaili. Can I break my fast with them?
Answer:
All praise belongs to Allah!
If a Muslim does not perform the Tarawih prayer, then sin does not fall on him for this. Regardless of whether he did not do it for a good reason, or without a good reason, since it is not obligatory. Its implementation is an imperative sunnah (sunnah muakkada). The Prophet himself - peace and blessings of Allah be upon him! – constantly committed it and encouraged Muslims to commit it. He said: “Whoever endures [night prayers] in Ramadan sincerely and with faith, all his previous sins will be forgiven!” (Al-Bukhari (37) and Muslim (760)).
A Muslim should certainly not neglect this prayer. If he does not have the opportunity to perform it behind the imam in the mosque, then he can perform it at home. If he cannot perform eleven rak’ats, then he can perform as many as will not be a burden to him, even if only two rak’ats, and then perform the Witr prayer. But Allah knows best!
As for breaking the fast with the Shiites and Ismailis, then if you believe that breaking the fast in their circle can help incline their hearts to call them to observe the Sunnah and abandon the innovations that they make, then from the point of view of Sharia it will be legitimate.
If you see that there will be no benefit in sharing iftar with them, then it is better not to break your fast with them and avoid them, expressing a negative attitude towards their innovations, and being careful that you will have to face their fabrications (shubuhat) when you you will not have knowledge that would reveal to you their falsity and inconsistency, due to which you can subject yourself to temptation in Religion. But Allah knows best!
Where is it better to break the fast, in the mosque or at home?
Question #38264:
Is it better to perform Iftar in the mosque after praying, or to pray first, then go home and eat with your family?
Answer:
All praise belongs to Allah!
If the person who asked the question, speaking about iftar, meant what the fasting person eats to differentiate the time of fasting from the time when it is allowed to eat, such as eating several dates, drinking water, etc., then it is advisable to make such an iftar immediately after fasting, in in accordance with the words of the Prophet - peace and blessings of Allah be upon him! – “People will be in prosperity as long as they hurry to break their fast” (Al-Bukhari (1957) and Muslim (1098). See: question No. 13999).
If he meant what people usually eat after praying, that is, those dishes that they specially prepared for iftar (wajabat ul-iftar), then, as I know, there are no specific regulations on this matter in the Sunnah. Here a person must decide for himself what is best to do, taking into account various needs.
Breaking the fast in the mosque in the circle of the jamaat is useful in that it gathers Muslims, brings their hearts closer, puts them on a par with each other, introduces them, contributes to the revival of the spirit of mutual assistance, etc. Breaking the fast in the house with family members is useful because it brings the family together, allows you to discuss its problems, helps strengthen family ties, helps to instill in children a culture of communication and a culture of eating, etc.
The head of the family is obliged to weigh all these benefits wisely and determine on which days he will break his fast with his family and on which days he will do it in the mosque, taking into account that the duty of caring for the family and children, teaching children the Religion and its ethical norms are more important and significant than the simple desirability of meeting friends in the mosque, despite the fact that there is an opportunity to see them during tarawih prayer, and at meetings where they acquire knowledge, and in other similar cases.
But Allah knows best!
Remembering Allah when breaking the fast.
Question No. 93066:
How is the appeal to Allah with prayers found in hadiths that are called unreliable, such as: (1) When breaking the fast: “Allahumma la-ka sum-tu wa 'ala rizky-ka aftar-tu / O Allah, for Your sake I fasted , and with the inheritance provided by You, I break my fast!” ; (2) “Ashhadu al-la ilaha illa Allah, astaghfiru-Llah, as'alu-ka-l-jannah, wa a'uzu bi-ka mina-n-nar / I testify that there is no other deity but Allah, please Forgiveness from Allah, I ask You for Paradise and seek Your protection from Fire!” Is there such a thing in Sharia, is it possible to read them, is it impossible, is it condemned, is it unreliable, or is it haram?
Answer:
All praise belongs to Allah!
First:
The words of supplication you mentioned at Iftar are given in a weak Hadith, which was reported by Abu Daoud(2358). In it, according to Mu'azah b. Zahra, it is reported that when the Prophet - peace and blessings of Allah be upon him! - broke his fast, said: “Allahumma la-ka sum-tu wa ‘ala rizky-ka aftar-tu / O Allah, for Your sake I fasted, and with the inheritance provided by You, I break my fast!”
There is no need for these words, since there is something that was also narrated by Abu Dawud (2357) from the words Ibn 'Umar, - may Allah be pleased with him and his father! - who said: “When breaking the fast, the Messenger of Allah - peace and blessings be upon him! - said: “Zahaba-z-zamau wa-btallyati-l-‘uruku, wa sabata-l-ajru in sha’a-Allah / The thirst has gone, the veins have filled with moisture and the reward is already waiting, if Allah wills!” .
This hadith was called authentic by al-Albani in Sahih Abi Dawud.
Second:
It is advisable for the fasting person to turn to Allah with prayers, both during fasting and when breaking the fast. Ahmad(8030) conveyed from the words Abu Hureyra, - may Allah be pleased with him! - who said: “I said: “O Messenger of Allah, verily, when we see you, our hearts soften and we become people [seeking] the eternal world, but when we leave you, this world again seduces us, and we become passionate about their wives and children.” The Prophet replied: “If you were always in the same state in which you are in my presence, then the angels would shake your hand and visit you in your homes, and if you did not sin, then Allah would replace you another people who would commit sins in order to forgive them.” Then we said: “O Messenger of Allah, tell us about Paradise, what are the buildings in it?” He replied: “Bricks made of gold and silver, mortar from a bowl with a strong smell, crushed stone from pearls and yakhont, dust from saffron. Whoever enters it will be in prosperity, will not be subjected to anything bad, will live forever and will never die. His clothes will not wear out and he will not cease to be young. The prayer of three people is not rejected: the just ruler, who fasts while his fast lasts, and the oppressed one. This prayer is carried in the clouds and the gates of heaven open before it, and the Lord is Almighty and Great! - says: “With my Power I will help you, even if only from this moment!”
The hadith is authentic, as established Shu'ayb al-Arnaout in "tahkyk ul-musnad".
The version of at-Tirmidhi (2525) says: “... fasting, at the moment of breaking the fast.”
This version was recognized as reliable by al-Albani in Sahih at-Tirmidhi.
You should ask Allah for Paradise, ask Him for refuge from the Fire, ask Him for forgiveness of sins, and appeal to Him with any other prayers legalized by Sharia. As for the prayer: “Ashhadu al-la ilaha illa Allah, astaghfiru-Llah, as'alu-ka-l-jannah, wa a'uzu bi-ka mina-n-nar / I testify that there is no other deity but Allah, I ask forgiveness from Allah, I ask You for Paradise and I seek Your protection from Fire!”, then we have not met her.
But Allah knows best!
Time to pray to Allah during Iftar
Question No. 14103:
The fasting person receives an answer to the prayer he makes during Iftar. And at what exact moment should you call out in prayer: before you begin to break your fast, during the process of breaking your fast, or after breaking your fast? Are there any special prayers transmitted from the Prophet - peace and blessings of Allah be upon him! – or which ones can you recommend reading at this time?
Answer:
All praise belongs to Allah!
This question was asked to the Sheikh Muhammad b. ‘Useyminu, - may Allah have mercy on him! - and he answered:
“You should turn to Allah with prayer before Iftar, during sunset, since at this moment obedience, humility and the state of fasting are united in a person. All these are reasons for receiving an answer to a prayer. After breaking the fast, the soul receives relaxation, delight, and sometimes even carelessness befalls it.
However, transmitted from the Prophet - peace and blessings of Allah be upon him! – the prayer, even if transmitted reliably, took place after breaking the fast, and this is “Zahaba-z-zamau wa-btallyati-l-'uruku, wa sabata-l-ajru in sha'a-Llah / Thirst has gone, veins are filled with moisture and the reward is already waiting, if Allah wills!”
Narrated by Abu Dawud, and al-Albani declared the message good in Sahih Sunan Abi Dawud (2066).
It is said only after iftar. Also, from some of his companions the following words are reported: “Allahumma la-ka sum-tu wa ‘ala rizky-ka aftartu / O Allah, for Your sake I fasted and with what You have endowed me with, I break my fast!”
You can turn to Allah with such requests that seem more suitable to you.”
("Lika'u-sh-shahri", No. 8, by Sheikh Muhammad b. Salih al-'Uthaymin).
When does an airplane pilot break his fast?
Question No. 37670:
When should an airplane pilot break his fast?
Answer:
All praise belongs to Allah!
“If, while on earth, he breaks his fast after sunset, and then takes off on an airplane and sees the sun again, then he will not be obliged to abstain from actions that violate the fast, since he has fully completed the fast on that day and there is no need for him to do so. to repeat the performance of the rite of worship which he had already completed. If he takes off before the sun sets and wants to break the fast of that day, despite the fact that he is a traveler, then he will have to break his fast only when the sun sets relative to the place in the air in which he is located. At the same time, the pilot is not allowed to deliberately lower the plane to such an altitude at which the sun is not visible in order to complete the post, since this is a trick. However, if he descends for technical reasons of flight and at the same time the solar disk disappears, then he should break his fast.”
(From the oral fatwas of the Sheikh Ibn Baza. See the brochure: "Seventy Essential Points About Fasting").
Permanent Council speaks:
“If a fasting person is on an airplane and finds out through his watch and telephone that it is time for Iftar in the part of the world closest to him, but because the airplane is in the air he still sees the sun, then he will not have the right to complete the fast, for Allah Almighty speaks: “...and then fast until nightfall”(Holy Koran. 2: 187) - and since he sees the sun, it is not considered that night has come for him.
If he is on the ground and breaks his fast when the day ends with him, and after that the plane in which he is located takes off and he sees the sun again, then in this case he continues to not observe the fast, since he must act according to to the position that exists in that part of the earth in which he was until the end of the day until he flew out” (end of quote).
In another fatwa, the Permanent Council says: “If a person is on a flight during the daytime of Ramadan and wants to continue fasting until the end of the day, then he will not be allowed to break his fast except after sunset” (“Majmu’ fatawa al-Lajnati-d -Daima”, 10 / 136 – 137).
But Allah knows best!
Question No. 66605: What should a muazzin do first: break his fast or proclaim the adhan?
When does the muazzin break his fast: before or after the adhan?
All praise belongs to Allah!
According to the basic rule, the fasting person should break his fast after the sun sets and night falls, in accordance with the words of the Almighty: “Eat and drink until you can distinguish the white thread of dawn from the black, and then fast until night” (Holy Quran, 2: 187).
At-Tabari said: “As for the words: “... and then fast until night,” with them the Almighty gives a delimitation of the time of fasting, that is, indicates that its time ends with the onset of night. Similarly, He indicates that the limit of the time for breaking the fast and the time in which it is allowed to eat, drink and have sexual intercourse is the moment the day begins and the beginning of the night. With the same words, He indicates that fasting is not observed at night, and that on days of fasting one cannot break the fast in the daytime” (end of quote).
"Tafsir at-Tabari", 3 / 532.
It is advisable for the fasting person to begin breaking the fast immediately. Narrated by Sahl b. Sa'da - may Allah be pleased with him! - that the Messenger of Allah - peace and blessings be upon him! - said: “People will remain in good fortune as long as they quickly begin to break their fast.”
Al-Bukhari (1856) and Muslim (1098).
Ibn ‘Abdul-Barr - may Allah have mercy on him! - said: “The sunnah is to break the fast immediately and postpone suhoor. You should begin breaking your fast immediately after you know for sure that the sun has set. No one is allowed to break his fast while he is in doubt as to whether the sun has set or not, since one does not begin to fulfill an obligation except when one is certain of its occurrence, and one does not stop performing it unless one is certain about it. completion" (end quote).
"at-Tamhid", 21 / 97, 98.
An-Nawawi - may Allah have mercy on him! - said: “This hadith encourages one to begin breaking the fast immediately, immediately after it is definitely established that the sun has set. He says that the position of the Muslim community will be stable, and the Muslims themselves will be prosperous as long as this sunnah is consistently observed” (end of quote).
Sharh Muslim, 7/208.
As for the muazzin, if there are those who wait until he begins to proclaim the adhan in order to begin breaking the fast based on his adhan, then he should immediately begin to proclaim the adhan so as not to cause people to be late in breaking the fast and thereby breaking the sunnah . However, there is nothing wrong if, before starting to announce the adhan, he resorts to a light break of fast, in the form of a sip of water, for example, which will not entail postponing the adhan.
If no one waits until he begins to proclaim the adhan, as in the case when he proclaims it for himself (if he is alone in the desert, for example), or when he announces the adhan for a group of people near him (a group of travelers, for example), then there will be nothing wrong with breaking the fast before the announcement of the adhan, since his companions will break the fast with him, even if he does not proclaim the adhan, and will not wait until he begins to proclaim it.
But Allah knows best!
Breaking the fast with non-Muslims
Question No. 38125:
Is it possible to eat iftar with non-Muslims, Hindus and Christians, for example?
Answer:
All praise belongs to Allah!
Eating iftar with non-Muslims is permissible if there is a Shariah benefit in doing so, such as calling them to the Religion of Truth, or inclining their hearts to Islam, or something similar that can be counted on from their participation in eating iftar from those tables. which Muslims serve for a communal iftar, as is done in some countries.
As for simply maintaining sociability with them and enjoying their company, this is a dangerous matter, for one of the most important provisions of the foundations of the Religion and the duties of believers is adherence to the principle of “friendship and non-affiliation” (al-wala'u wa-l-bara'u ). This principle is indicated by a number of verses from the Book of Allah, and a number of hadiths from the Sunnah of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. Of them:
The words of the Almighty: “You will not find people who believe in Allah and the Last Day who would be friends with those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, even if for them these opponents are fathers, sons, brothers or relatives. Allah established faith in their hearts and strengthened them with spirit (light) from Himself. He will lead them into the gardens of Paradise, in which rivers flow. They will remain there forever. Allah is pleased with them [because they obeyed Him], and they are pleased with Him [for the way He rewarded them]. They are the party of Allah (follow His orders and shun His prohibitions). Verily, the party of Allah is successful” (Quran, 58: 22);
The words of the Almighty: “O you who believe, do not take unbelievers as helpers and friends instead of believers. Do you really want Allah to present a clear argument against you [revealing your hypocrisy]” (Quran, 4: 144);
The words of the Almighty: “O you who believe, do not take Jews and Christians as your friends and helpers. They are friends and helpers for each other. And whoever of you takes them as friends and helpers is one of them. Indeed, Allah does not guide a people who commit iniquity [by taking unbelievers as friends]” (Quran, 5:51).
The words of the Almighty: “O you who believe, do not take as your close friends (friends who may inquire about your secrets) those who are not from you (Jews, Christians and hypocrites). They do not miss an opportunity to harm you and rejoice in your difficulties. Hostility [towards you] has already appeared on their lips, but in their hearts lies even greater [hostility]. We have clarified to you the signs [regarding their hostility], if only you understand [this and do not maintain relations of friendship and mutual assistance with the disbelievers]” (Quran, 3: 118).
Based on the above, the answer to the question about the permissibility of sharing iftar with infidels depends on the purpose for which it is done.
But Allah knows best!
Can a doctor performing surgery postpone Iftar?
Question No. 49716:
My relative works as a doctor. He wanted to ask if he is performing a surgical operation, can he postpone iftar?
Answer:
All praise belongs to Allah!
First:
The sunnah is to begin breaking the fast as soon as the sun sets. This is reported in the hadiths of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. Al-Bukhari (1975) and Muslim (1098) report from Sahl b. Sa'da that the Messenger of Allah - peace and blessings be upon him! - said: “People will be in prosperity as long as they hurry to break their fast.”
An-Nawawi writes: “This hadith encourages you to hurry up and break your fast as soon as the sun sets. Its meaning is that the position of the Muslim community will be stable, and the Muslims themselves will be prosperous as long as they observe this sunnah. If they begin to put off breaking their fast, this will be a sign of their crisis.”
Hafiz said: “According to Muhallaba, this act eliminates the possibility of adding part of the night time to the daytime, and is also a manifestation of the greatest leniency towards the fasting person and best gives him strength for worship. Scholars are unanimous that the moment of breaking the fast is the establishment of sunset by direct observation of it, or from information received from two reliable people. Also, according to a more reliable opinion, the testimony of one reliable person will be sufficient” (end of quote).
In “ash-sharhu-l-mumti’” (6/268) another wisdom of breaking the fast in a timely manner is spoken of: “... this is a hasty striving for what Allah has made permissible. Allah is holy and great! – Generous, and the Generous One loves when people take advantage of His Generosity. He loves it when His servants, as soon as the sun sets, rush in haste to what He has permitted them” (end of quote).
Ibn Daqiq al-‘Eid said that this hadith contains an answer to the Shiites who delay breaking their fast until the stars appear.
Second:
It is sunnah to break your fast with fresh dates. If there are none, then dry dates. If there are no dry dates, then with water. If the fasting person does not find water, then he can break his fast with any food or drink that he has. If he has nothing at all, then he breaks his fast through intention, that is, he expresses the intention to break his fast and thereby shows haste in breaking his fast and acts in accordance with the Sunnah.
Sheikh Ibn 'Uthaymeen writes in "ash-sharhu-l-mumti" (6/269): "If a fasting person does not find any water, or other drink, or food, then he simply expresses the intention to break his fast, and it will be for him sufficient."
Therefore, if this doctor cannot break his fast with fresh or dry dates, then he breaks his fast with water. If he is unable to do this due to being busy with a surgical operation, then it will be sufficient for him to express his intention for Iftar, and thus the Sunnah will be observed by him.
But Allah knows best!
Question from China about iftar time
Question No. 93148:
I am a student studying in China. The city I am in is surrounded by mountains on the west side. The Muslim community living here breaks their fast based on the time indicated in the schedule taken from the Internet. As for me, I look at the solar disk. As soon as he goes beyond the mountains, I break my fast and perform the evening prayer (maghrib) in order to observe the sunnah of immediately breaking the fast and immediately performing the evening prayer, and also to distinguish myself from the Jews. Am I doing the right thing? Am I obliged to burden myself with climbing to a very high place, equal in height to mountains, in order to observe the sun's disk?
Answer:
All praise belongs to Allah!
It is allowed to rely on calculations of prayer times, if there is no evidence that there are errors in these calculations. Although errors in these calculations are often discovered. Not all of them, of course, but it often happens that they incorrectly indicate the time of morning prayer (fajr), and in some - the time of night prayer (‘isha). As for the evening prayer (Maghrib), errors regarding its time are insignificant, and for the majority of people it is not difficult to confirm whether the time indicated in the schedule is correct, or to identify an error in it by independently observing the sun.
In any case, sunset, after which the fasting person is allowed to break his fast and the time for evening prayer begins, is considered to have taken place when the solar disk actually disappears behind the horizon, and not when it disappears behind a mountain or building.
From the Companions - may Allah be pleased with him! – it is reported that they called the time of sunset the hiding of the sun under the veil (of night). The phrases they used were different, some said: “the sun has set” (“gabati-sh-shamsu”), others said: “hid behind the curtain” (“tawarat bi-l-hijab”), others said: “ the sun has set” (“vajabati-sh-shamsu”). All these phrases have one meaning - the entire solar disk setting beyond the horizon (gyyabu-l-kuliyu li-kursi-sh-shamsi).
You don't have to climb a mountain or any hill. You have to consider the approach based on where you are. Relative to this place, the sun must set below the horizon, but simply setting it behind a mountain is not sunset.
Since because of the mountains you are not able to see the sun during sunset, you can determine the time of sunset by the sign that the Messenger of Allah mentioned - peace and blessings be upon him! – and this is the approach of darkness from the East.
Al-Bukhari (1954) and Muslim (1100) reported from the words ‘Umar b. al-Khattaba- May Allah be pleased with him! - about how the Messenger of Allah - peace and blessings be upon him! - said: “If night comes from this side (from the east), the day moves away in that direction (towards the west), and the sun sets, then the fasting person will break his fast.”
An-Nawawi said: “Regarding these words of the Prophet - peace and blessings of Allah be upon him! - scientists say: “Each of these three signs presupposes the others and is accompanied by them. The Prophet mentioned them together so that a person who is in a gorge or in a similar place and does not have the opportunity to watch the sunset, is based on the approach of darkness and the removal of light,” and Allah knows best!” (end of quote).
If you cannot do this, then there will be nothing wrong with being guided by the prayer schedule, since the minimum that they give you is a solid guess (galabatu-z-zann) about the time of prayer, if, of course, nothing It has not been established that this schedule is erroneous.
But Allah knows best!
If the muazzins announce the adhan at different times, then which one of them should you rely on when breaking your fast?
Question No. 93577:
If the adhan from one mosque is distributed at a different time than in another mosque, while both of these mosques are located in the same area not far from each other, then by which of them will it be possible to determine the beginning of iftar?
Answer:
All praise belongs to Allah!
When deciding when it is time to break the fast, one should rely on sunset. Prophet - peace and blessings of Allah be upon him! - said: “If night comes from this side, day goes in that direction, and the sun sets, then the fasting person will break his fast.”
Al-Bukhari (1954) and Muslim (1100).
Today, most muazzins rely on prayer schedules. There is nothing wrong. It’s just that some of the muazzins are not attentive to the accuracy of the time on their watches.
Therefore, if the muazzins announce the adhan in different ways, then you should either wait until the one who is more scrupulous about time begins to announce the adhan, so that he begins to announce the adhan as soon as the appointed time for it arrives, neither earlier nor later, and rely on his adhan, and not on someone else’s, or you can rely on the schedule yourself, first making sure that your watch is accurate, even if the muazzin does not announce the adhan at the time indicated in your schedule.
But Allah knows best!
Does excess (israf) eating during Iftar reduce the reward of fasting?
Question No. 106459:
Does intemperance in preparing food for breaking the fast reduce the reward for fasting?
Answer:
All praise belongs to Allah!
“This does not reduce the reward for the post. Even committing sinful acts after fasting does not reduce the reward for it. However, this falls under the words of the Almighty: “Eat and drink, but do not overindulge; indeed He does not love those who overindulge.”(Quran, 7: 31).
Israf (wastefulness) in itself is prohibited, and iktisad (frugality) puts life in order.
If they have any surplus, let them give it as sadaqa (donation). It will be better this way” (end quote). (Respected Sheikh Muhammad b. ‘Uthaymin “Fatawa-l-Islamiyya”, 2/118).
Arsen Shabanov
Important instructions for those who fast during the month of Ramadan (video)
Instructions
If the morning prayer Fajr begins at 3:12 minutes. Then you will need to get up earlier, say half an hour at 2:40 and you will have enough time to eat well before the end of your meal (suhoor).
It is best to prepare food before bed so that in the morning everything is ready, get up and start eating.
Important Note
If you want to receive a greater reward, then get up even earlier, perform ablution and perform the Tahajjud prayer of two or four or more sunnat rakats. And then eat.
We would not advise you to eat too fatty or salty foods, as it will be difficult for you to keep the fast in this case. If you still experience difficulty, then eat only vegetables and fruits. Or at least take a sip of water.
Iftar (meal)
If you have already set food on the table, then when the time for iftar comes, you need to start eating dates or water and start eating within ten minutes, and then go do namaz.
If you have not yet covered the food, then first you start eating with dates or water, then you go and do namaz and only then sit down to eat.
Suhoor and Iftar
You should try to finish your Suhoor (morning meal) at the last minute. DO NOT finish your food 10 minutes or more in advance. FINISH your meal in a minute or two!
Iftar (evening meal) should begin as soon as it is time for Maghrib prayer (evening time). As soon as you hear the Azan, immediately start eating dates or water. Don't delay iftar without reason! (it is forbidden)
If you are invited to visit
You may be invited to visit or to iftar or even to suhur (they are also invited to suhur, but less often). If possible, you should accept the invitation. If two people are invited on the same day, then choose the one who lives closer. If both live close, then choose the one who is more righteous in your opinion.
It is also advisable for you to invite someone to your home from those who are fasting.
What does not break the fast?
If you ate or drank water accidentally or out of forgetfulness, this does not break the fast. If you get sick, you can break your fast and then make up for the missed days.
If it becomes so difficult that you want to break the fast
The main thing here is not to be alone. That is, go to your friends or take the bus. Time spent talking with friends goes faster. And it will be a shame to break the fast near people; this will also help you endure Ramadan completely. You must remember that the time before Iftar passes very slowly and the time after Iftar passes very quickly.
In this life we rejoice at the onset of iftar, and in the next life (the afterlife) we will rejoice that we kept the fast.
- During fasting, you should not quarrel with people. Avoid this at all costs. Say you are fasting. Perhaps people will provoke you into conflict. This should be avoided at all costs.
- Try to be generous
- Spend more time worshiping, studying books, doing dhikr (remembrance of Allah)
Regarding fasting time
Fasting times during the month of Ramadan can change every day. That is, today, let’s say, iftar starts at 20:10 tomorrow at 20:11 and so on. The same goes for all other prayers. Keep an eye on this!
Tarawih
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
“Whoever stands (taraweeh) in the month of Ramadan with faith and in anticipation of a reward, his previous sins will be forgiven” (Sahih al-Bukhari).
Men should do Tarawih in mosques, and sisters at home. Different mosques may do things differently. One may have 8 rakats, and the other may have 20 rakats.
We wish all brothers and sisters strength to do good deeds, which will allow us to experience the grace and light of this holy month!
With the onset of the blessed month of Ramadan, we hear here and there the word IFTAR - breaking the fast. This word has firmly entered our everyday life. For the majority of our Muslims, this word has become familiar and familiar.
Every time we invite each other to iftar, we want to show our respect and love for fasting Muslims by serving everything delicious that is in the house. All this happens in a pleasant atmosphere, while reflecting on the Almighty and the blessings that our Creator has endowed us with!
In this conversation, every time we praise our Creator for the fact that fasting is not so difficult, and as soon as the time to break the fast comes, all the inconveniences and difficulties of the past day are forgotten. Having completed our ablution before preparing food to break the fast, all the prayers that we know, the verses of the Koran, salawat to the Prophet and His family, and read dhikr are sure to come to mind...
The preparation of this food is also our worship! A person who feeds a fasting Muslim for Iftar receives a reward equivalent to the reward of the fasting person! Alhamdulillah! Each of us has this opportunity. After all, there are those who cannot fast for health reasons or for other compelling reasons. Regretting their situation and wanting to receive Allah's pleasure, they also try to prepare something tasty for Iftar and treat fasting household members, neighbors, relatives, and acquaintances. May the Almighty accept all our good deeds that we do for the sake of Allah!
More and more of our Muslims are observing fast for the first time, and with what ecstasy they talk about how they are waiting for iftar! But not for the food itself! They are waiting to give praise to the Creator and say to themselves: “I could do it, I succeeded!” Of course, there is no complacency here, there is only joy in the fact that we managed to overcome that barrier of incomprehensible fear that sometimes haunts us (due to the intervention of Iblis). We are used to blaming all our shortcomings on him, the damned one! InshaAllah, let's work on ourselves, fight our nafs!
We are all familiar with the state when, when the time comes to break the fast, there is no feeling of intense hunger or unbearably strong thirst. Of course, I want to eat and drink, but I don’t have that unbearable desire to eat a lot. Having quenched your thirst, eaten a little food, you feel full and satisfied that, by the grace of the Almighty, another day of trials entrusted to us by our Lord has passed! Alhamdulillah! Satisfaction not with ourselves, but with the fact that our Lord gives us so much wonderful and tasty food with which we can break our fast! After the adhan sounds, after drinking a little water and eating one date, there is a strong desire to perform your prayer on time, and then go to the table, where food awaits, which is prepared with great love. Food that makes us happy that we will eat it at Iftar! Let it be a barakat for each of us!
A wide variety of delicious and healthy food that we serve! There’s so much we don’t have on our tables! Everything is! When setting the tables for Iftar, we want to please ourselves and our loved ones with an abundance of this food, sometimes overdoing it. All this comes from the desire to make up for everything that is not eaten throughout the day. It’s as if we accomplished a feat by observing our fard fast. Of course, we don’t eat everything. Most of us have the opportunity to buy and eat fruit, so we will lean on it and drink plenty of water to replenish the moisture in our body lost during the long hot day. Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), as we know from the history of our religion, lived very modestly and ate simple food. On ordinary days, he sometimes went to bed hungry, for lack of anything edible in the house. And during the month of fasting, our beloved Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not always have the opportunity to break his fast with food; he made do with one date. But he did not complain about it, He was pleased with what the Almighty gave him! He knew how to be grateful to his Creator!
Alhadulillah that such changes have taken place in our lives! We are already accustomed to inviting people to Iftar, visiting people at IFTAR. Not just for dinner, but for breaking the fast! More and more of those who treat fasting Muslims for iftar in mosques, in cafes (even in non-Islamic cafes), in shops... But there was a time when we didn’t even hear this word, and even more so, we didn’t know the meaning of it words. Although in the sermons of our ulama, even if they heard the word “iftar”, they did not attach any significance to it and did not delve into its meaning.
This precious opportunity lasts only one month a year! And this blessed month is so fleeting, unfortunately! Hurry up to catch iftar! Probably someone is having their first iftar this year! So don't be late for it! Let us hasten to do good and not miss this blessing given to us by the Almighty!
May the Almighty accept all our fasts and good deeds! Amine!
The day before, a “Hungry Iftar” was held at the office of the Association of Cultural and Educational Public Associations “Sobranie”. This event is held annually on one of the days of the month of Ramadan as a sign of solidarity with all those who suffer from war, devastation and hunger.
Iftar is called hungry because it consists only of water and dates. These products have long been the staple diet of millions of people in Syria, Palestine, Iraq, Africa and other places on Earth.
The Prophet Muhammad and his companions, for whom hunger was a common daily condition, were mainly content with water and dates. It is known that once, in a conversation with the Messenger of the Almighty, the companions complained of severe hunger, because of which each of them was forced to tie a stone in the stomach area so as not to feel the need for food so acutely. Then the prophet loosened his belt, under which he had two stones.
There is also a known case when, during a time of famine, the Commander of the Faithful, Umar Ibn Khattab, lived on bread and water for a whole year, since his subjects ate the same. He allowed his diet to be diversified only when food problems in the state were solved.
This and much more was discussed at the table. During the breaking of the fast, contemporary problems of the Ummah were also discussed. Activists of Muslim youth organizations, public figures and journalists took part in the breaking of the fast. At the end of Iftar, guests stayed for Taraweeh prayer.
“Hungry iftar - dates and water in solidarity with everyone who sometimes doesn’t have even this to break their fast after fasting. This is the kind of event that Muslims in Moscow came up with. This is the second year it has been held. The idea is brilliant. And purely Russian. At least no one has heard of this,” noted a journalist participating in the event. Nadezhda Kevorkova.
According to the head of the Association of cultural and educational public associations “Sobranie” Mukhamed Salyakhetdinov, “such events allow us to understand and feel the condition of those who are in trouble, strengthen the bonds of brotherhood and solidarity, and teach compassion.”
“I would really like that wherever iftars are held, one of them is sure to go hungry. I hope that this initiative will be picked up in other regions,” said the Muslim leader.
In turn, the author of the idea Rasul Tavdiryakov explained that “hunger iftars” have already taken place in several regions - Dagestan, Ulyanovsk, Moscow region and Belarusian Gomel. The collected amount of money is planned to be sent to the poor. “We expect that next year this campaign will gain wider coverage,” he said.
The start time of Iftar (corresponds to the time of the evening Maghrib prayer), as well as the end of Suhoor in 2018 for large cities of the Russian Federation can be found in the table, which is available for download .
Breaking the fast - the evening meal during fasting - is perhaps the most anticipated time of day for Muslims. This is an opportunity not only for family and friends to get together at one table, but also a whole holiday, which is held almost every day throughout the Holy month of Ramadan. It is iftars, as events that unite the entire ummah, giving the opportunity to feel the festive atmosphere, that make Ramadan a special month.
When fasting falls on summer days, the fasting time increases. Accordingly, the value of the evening meal also increases. At such moments, it seems that the time before iftar lasts very long, and after it - too quickly. Therefore, the evening meal becomes long-awaited, which is why, sometimes, the other side of the situation appears. During Iftar, some fasting people may overeat, literally pouncing on food. It’s hard to resist, and allowing yourself to eat everything you see on the table is fraught with negative consequences for your health.
How to avoid overeating at Iftar?
According to the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.), it is advisable to begin breaking the fast by drinking a glass of water (you can use water with honey) and eating an odd number of dates. The latter can be replaced with another sweet or simply limited to water. According to a reliable hadith, the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) broke his fast with fresh or dried dates, and if they were not available, with plain water. He said that water purifies.
“Allahumma lakya sumtu wa bikya amantu wa alaikya tawakkyaltu wa ‘ala rizkykya aftartu fagfirli ya gaffaru ma kaddyamtu wa ma akhhartu”
Translation:“O Allah! For Your sake I kept the fast, I believed in You and I only trust in You, I break my fast with what You sent me. Forgive me, O Forgiver of my sins, past and future!”You should not start eating right away. This will be stressful for the stomach, so it is recommended to first go to the pre-evening prayer, slowly complete it, and only then start eating. In 5-7 minutes the body will have time to prepare for eating, so after eating there will be no heaviness in the stomach.
Where to start breaking the fast?
Sitting down at the table, your eyes widen from the availability of varied and tasty food. Even if not much has been prepared, the desire to “eat the whole cow” remains. Eating well during Iftar will help you eat properly during Suhoor. After all, in a few hours the stomach must have time to digest everything eaten and make room for a new meal. Only then will Suhoor be complete and correct. Accordingly, for iftar you need to choose products that are quickly processed by the body and saturate it with moisture. Vegetables and fruits are ideal for this.
You should not start iftar with a glass of fermented milk drinks. It will be hard on the stomach. In Islam there are no prohibitions on eating food during breaking the fast, except canonically. However, the religion of the Creator adheres to the principle “do not harm yourself,” therefore, you can eat anything that does not negatively affect your health. So, you should exclude fried, fatty and, if possible, spicy foods. Some smoked and canned foods contribute to the leaching of salts and minerals, and they also increase thirst.
It is ideal to eat dietary foods for iftar: low-fat chicken broth soup, stews, stews.
You should limit your intake of flour products and carbonated drinks. It is recommended to drink water some time after eating, otherwise it will dilute the gastric juice and complicate the digestion of food.
It is best to drink water in portions when performing Tarawih prayer. Each time between rests in prayer, you can drink half a glass or a glass of clean water. This will help to gradually absorb fluids and normalize the water balance in the body before the onset of Suhoor, and relieve thirst for the coming day.
Of course, after a long fast, a person wants to try different foods. But it is worth remembering that these dishes can be eaten even after the month of Ramadan, and now the main thing is not the food, but the atmosphere itself, the process itself. It is necessary to realize that during fasting days it is important to be able to control yourself not only during daylight hours (refusing food and drink, watching your speech, thoughts and actions), but also after breaking the fast, i.e. self-control continues at night. Learning not to overeat, in other words, not to take more than what your body needs, is a good habit for the future, and Ramadan is a great way to practice.
Proper nutrition allows you to both ease stress and receive moral and physical benefits from it, and most importantly, the pleasure of the Almighty.