Iftar means to conclude a fast after sunset by eating or drinking something. It is also a sunnah to make iftar soon after sunset, and it is makrooh to delay iftar after sunset without a valid excuse. However, if someone is doubtful whether the sun has set or not, he should not make iftar until he is sure about it, because if it is proved at any time that he had made iftar even half a minute earlier than the sunset actually took place on his horizon, his fast will be rendered nullified and void. Similarly, if the weather is cloudy, it is advisable to delay iftar for a few minutes after the time of sunset.

No particular meal is prescribed for iftar but it is advisable to make iftar using dates because the Holy Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) generally used dates for iftar.

The Superiority Of Hastening To Break The Fast

Hadhrat Sahl bin Sa`d (radiallaahu 'anh) reported: The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, "People will continue to adhere to good as long as they hasten to break the Saum (fasting).'' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Hadhrat Abu Atiyyah (radiallaahu 'anh) reported: Masruq and I visited `Aishah (radiallaahu 'anha) and said: "O Mother of the Believers! There are two Companions of Muhammad (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) and neither of them holds back from doing good acts; but one of them hastens to break Saum (fasting) and hastens to perform the Maghrib prayer, while the other delays breaking Saum and delays performing Salat (prayer).'' She asked, "Who is the one who hastens to break Saum and perform the Maghrib prayer?'' Masruq said, "It is `Abdullah (meaning `Abdullah bin Mas`ud - radiallaahu 'anh).'' She said, "The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) used to do so.'' [Muslim]

Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (radiallaahu 'anh) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "Allah the Most High says: `From amongst my slaves, the quicker the one is in breaking the Saum (fasting), the dearer is he to me.''' [At-Tirmidhi]

The person who breaks the Saum in its early time is best loved by Allah 'azza wa jal because he is a true follower of the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam).

Hadhrat `Umar ibn Al-Khattab (radiallaahu 'anh) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said: "When the night approaches from this side (i.e., the east) and the day retreats from that side (i.e., west) and the sun sets, then it is time for a person observing Saum (fasting) to break his fast.'' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

The words "break his fast'' can be interpreted in two ways. First, it is time to break the Saum. Second, the Saum has reached its end. Whether one eats or not the Saum is over because it comes to a close with sunset. Thus, the time for Saum has been determined that it begins with the daybreak and ends at sunset. Any increase in this time is exaggeration which is disliked by Allah.

Hadhrat Abu Ibrahim `Abdullah bin Abu Aufa (radiallaahu 'anh) reported: We were with the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) on a journey and he was observing Saum (fasting). When the sun set, he (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said to a person, "Dismount and prepare the ground roasted barley drink for us.'' Upon this he replied, "O Messenger of Allah, there is daylight still.'' The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "Get down and prepare barley drink for us.'' He said, But it is still daytime.'' The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) again said to him, "Get down and prepare barley drink for us.'' So he got down and prepared a barley liquid meal for him. The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) drank that and then said, "When you perceive the night approaching from that side, a person observing Saum (fasting) should break the fast.'' And he (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) pointed towards the east with his hand. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

This Hadeeth stresses that Saum must be broken soon after sunset and without delay.

Supplications Upon Breaking The Fast


Thahabadh-dhama'u wabtallatil-'urooqu, wa thabatal-'ajru 'inshaa'Allaah.
The thirst is gone, the veins are moistened and the reward is confirmed, if Allah wills.

(Reference: Abu Dawud 2/306 and others. (Fortress Of The Muslim))


Allaahumma 'innee 'as'aluka birahmatikal-latee wasi'at kulla shay'in 'an taghfira lee.
O Allah, I ask You by Your mercy, which encompasses all things, that You forgive me.

(Reference: Ibn Majah 1/557 from a supplication of Abdullah bin 'Amr. Al-Hafidh graded it as good in his checking of An-Nawawi's Kitabul-'Athkdr. See Sharhul- Athkar 4/342. (Fortress Of The Muslim))

Bismillah should also be said before eating, and then Al-Hamdulillaah when one is finished.

Hadhrat `Umar bin Abu Salamah (radiallaahu 'anh) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam), said to me, "Mention Allah's Name (i.e., say Bismillah before starting eating), eat with your right hand, and eat from what is near you.'' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Hadhrat `Aa'ishah (radiallaahu 'anhaa) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "When any of you wants to eat, he should mention the Name of Allah in the begining, (i.e., say Bismillah). If he forgets to do it in the beginning, he should say Bismillah awwalahu wa akhirahu (I begin with the Name of Allah at the beginning and at the end).'' [At-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud]

If we have forgotten to pronounce the Name of Allah before beginning to eat, we can do it during eating or in the end.

Hadhrat Jabir (radiallaahu 'anh) reported: I heard Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) saying, "If a person mentions the Name of Allah upon entering his house or eating, Satan says, addressing his followers: `You will find no where to spend the night and no dinner.' But if he enters without mentioning the Name of Allah, Satan says (to his followers); `You have found (a place) to spend the night in, and if he does not mention the Name of Allah at the time of eating, Satan says: `You have found (a place) to spend the night in as well as food.''' [Muslim]

Herein, we are told that in order to ward off Satan and his followers, we are supposed to remember Allah before entering our house and before beginning to eat. The remembrance of Allah implies those appropriate prayers of the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) which have been mentioned in Ahadith. For example, we are instructed to pronounce the Name of Allah before beginning to eat. On entering our house we recite the following Prophetic prayer: "Allahumma inni as'aluka khairal-mawliji wa khairal-makhraji. Bismillahi wa lajna, wa bismillahi kharajna, wa `al-Allahi rabbina tawakkalna.'' (O Allah! I ask you for what is good of entrance and what is good for exit. With the Name of Allah do we enter, and with the Name of Allah do we leave, and upon our Rubb Allah have we put our trust).

Hadhrat Hudhaifah (radiallaahu 'anh) reported: When we attended a meal with the Messenger of Allah (saw), we would not stretch forth our hands towards the food until he (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would start eating first. Once, we were with him when a little girl rushed in as if someone was impelling her. She was about to lay her hand on the food when the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) caught her hand. Then a bedouin came in rushing as if someone were pushing him. He (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) caught his hand also and said, "Satan considers that food lawful for himself on which the Name of Allah is not mentioned. He (Satan) brought this girl to make the food lawful through her but I caught her hand. Then he brought the bedouin to make it lawful through him but I caught his hand too. By Him in Whose Hand my soul is, now Satan's hand is in my grasp along with their hands.'' Then he mentioned the Name of Allah and began to eat. [Abu Dawud and An-Nasa'i]

Here, too, we are told that if we do not pronounce Allah's Name, Shaytaan and his minions will share our meal with us. So prior to eating, we must pronounce the Name of Allah. An incident is related in this Hadith. Once, Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) and his Companions (radiallaahu 'anhum) were just to start taking their meal when an unknown girl and a bedouin burst upon the scene. Without seeking the formal permission and pronouncing the Name of Allah they hurriedly stretched their hands to eat. Yet, Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) restrained them from doing so. Owing to Divine inspiration, he had seen the hidden hand of the Devil behind their abrupt actions. We have only one way to escape the Devil, that is, on such occasions we should first pronounce the Name of Allah. Second, this Hadith enlightens us on table manners calling for decency and decorum. It will be called an act of sheer indecency to voraciously pounce upon food as is commonly witnessed in feasts and weddings. Indeed, it is the result of deviation from Islamic teachings that many Muslims have grown ignorant of the Prophet's (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam)'s manner of eating. Allah 'azza wa jal, too, has left them unrestrained in their beast-like hunger.

Hadhrat Umaiyyah bin Makhshi (radiallahu 'anh) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) was sitting while a man was eating food. That man did not mention the Name of Allah (before commencing to eat) till only a morsel of food was left. When he raised it to his mouth, he said: "Bismillah awwalahu wa akhirahu (With the Name of Allah, in the beginning and in the end).'' Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam) smiled at this and said, "Shaytaan had been eating with him but when he mentioned the Name of Allah, Shaytaan vomited all that was in his stomach.'' [Abu Dawud and An-Nasa'i]

Hadhrat `Aa'ishah (radiallaahu 'anhaa) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) was eating with his six Companions (radiallaahu 'anhum) when a desert Arab came and ate up the food in two mouthfuls. Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "Had he mentioned the Name of Allah, it would have sufficed for all of you.'' [At-Tirmidhi]

The pronouncement of Allah's Name brings blessing to the meal, and the omission of His Name robs blessing away.

Hadhrat Abu Umamah (radiallaahu 'anh) reported: Whenever the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam) finished a meal, he would say: "Al-hamdu lillahi kathiran taiyiban mubarakan fihi, ghaira makfiyyin wa la muwadda`in, wa la mustaghnan `anhu, Rabbuna. (All praise is due to Allah, praise which is abundant, pure, and full of blessings, which is indispensable and to which one cannot be indifferent).'' [Al-Bukhari]

This Hadeeth mentions a supplication which Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam) used to recite after taking meal. The economy of words was the essence of the Prophet's (sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam) eloquence as displayed here. To supplicate this Prophetic prayer after taking a meal is recommendable.

Hadhrat Mu`adh ibn Anas (radiallaahu 'anhu) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said, "He who has taken food and says at the end: `Al-hamdu lillahi-lladhi at`amani hadha, wa razaqanihi min ghairi haulin minni wa la quwwatin (All praise is due to Allah Who has given me food to eat and provided it without any endeavour on my part or any power),' all his past sins will be forgiven.'' [At-Tirmidhi]

This Hadeeth tells us that if we praise Allah 'azza wa jal after taking a meal, all our minor sins committed in the past will be forgiven by Him.

The Merit Of Providing Something To The Person Observing Saum (Fasting) For Breaking The Fast

Hadhrat Zaid bin Khalid Al-Juhani (radiallaahu 'anhu) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "He who provides a fasting person something with which to break his fast, will earn the same reward as the one who was observing the fast, without diminishing in any way the reward of the latter.'' [At-Tirmidhi]

» Posted by Seifeddine-M on 12th August 2011

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