BLOGSANTRI.COM – This Hadiths about breaking fast as soon it is time to do so.
“The people will continue to do well so long as they hasten to break the fast”.
It was narrated from Sahl ibn Sa’d (Radi Allahu Anhu) that the Messenger of Allah (Subhana wa ta’ala),(Sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “The people will continue to do well so long as they hasten to break the fast.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (1957) and Muslim (1098).
This Hadith points to one of the etiquettes of breaking the fast, which is to hasten to do it as soon as the time comes. What is meant by hastening is that as soon as the disk of the sun disappears beneath the horizon, one should break the fast. There is a great deal of goodness in that, including the love of Allah (Subhana wa ta’ala).
Abu Hurayrah (Radi Allahu Anhu) said: The Messenger of Allah (Subhana wa ta’ala),(Sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Allah says, ‘The most beloved of My slaves to Me are those who hasten most to break the fast.’”
Hastening to break the fast is following the teaching of the Prophet (Sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) and acting in accordance with his Sunnah, as he (Sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) used to hasten to break his fast.
It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Abi Awfa (Radi Allahu Anhu) said: We were with the Messenger of Allah (Subhana wa ta’ala),(Sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) on a journey, and he was fasting.
When the sun set he said to one of the people, “O So and so, get down and mix water with saweeq for us.” He said, “O Messenger of Allah (Subhana wa ta’ala), (Sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) why don’t you wait until evening?” He said, “Get down and mix water with saweeq for us.” He said, “It is still daylight.” He said, “Get down and mix water with saweeq for us.” So he got down and mixed water with saweeq for them. The Prophet (Sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) drank some, then he said: “When you see night falling from this side, then the fasting person should break his fast.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1955; Muslim, 1101).
Hastening to break the fast is one of the characteristics of the Prophets, as Abu’l-Darda’ (Sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Three things are characteristics of the Prophets: hastening to break the fast, delaying suhoor and placing the right hand on the left in prayer.” (Narrated by al-Tabaraani in al-Kabeer, as stated in Majmoo’ al-Zawaa’id, 2/150).
Hastening to break the fast is also differing from the Jews and Christians whom we are forbidden to imitate in our worship and customs. The Prophet (Sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Islam will continue to prevail so long as the people hasten to break the fast, because the Jews and Christians delay it.” (Narrated by Ahmad, 27218; Abu Dawood, 2353. classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood, 2063).
Hastening to break the fast is also easier for people and farther removed from extremism in religion. This etiquette was followed by the best of generations, the companions of the Messenger of Allah (Subhana wa ta’ala),(Sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam). Al-Bukhaari (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri broke his fast when the disk of the sun disappeared.” Fath al-Baari, 4/196.
‘Amr ibn Maymoon al-Awdi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: The companions of Muhammad (Sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) were the swiftest of people to break their fast and the latest in eating suhoor. (Narrated by ‘Abd al-Razzaaq in al-Musannaf, 4/226).
It was narrated from ‘Umaarah ibn ‘Umayr that Abu ‘Atiyyah (Radi Allahu Anhu) said:
Masrooq and I entered upon ‘Aa’ishah (Radi Allahu Anhu) and said: “O Mother of the Believers, there are two men among the companions of Muhammad (Sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam), one of them hastens to break his fast and hastens to pray, and the other delays breaking the fast and delays the prayer.”
She said: “Who is the one who hastens to break his fast and hastens to pray?”
We said: “ ‘Abd-Allaah (i.e., ibn Mas’ood).”
She said: “That is what the Messenger of Allah (Subhana wa ta’ala),(Sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) used to do.”
Abu Kurayb added: and the other one was Abu Moosa. (Narrated by Muslim, 1099).
Whoever thinks that the sun has set when it has not, his fast is valid because he is excused, but he should refrain from eating until it has really set, because he is like one who forgot. Those who forget or who make a mistake come under the same ruling. Allah (Subhana wa ta’ala) says (interpretation of the meaning) :
“Our Lord! Punish us not if we forget or fall into error” (Quran: Al-Baqarah 2:286).
The one who forgets does not have to make up that day, and neither does the one who makes a mistake.
It was narrated that Asma’ bint Abi Bakr al-Siddeeq (Radi Allahu anhuma) said: We broke our fast at the time of the Prophet (Sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) on a cloudy day, then the sun came out… (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1959).
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: This indicates two things: that if it is cloudy it is not recommended to wait until one is certain that the sun has set, for they did not do that and the Prophet (Sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) did not command them to do that, and the companions with their Prophet were more knowledgeable and more obedient to Allah (Subhana wa ta’ala) and His Messenger than those who came after them.
The second thing is that it is not obligatory to make up that day, because if the Prophet (Sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) had commanded them to make up that day, that would have been well known and would have been transmitted as the news of their breaking their fast was transmitted. The fact that no such report has been transmitted indicates that they were not commanded to do that.
And Allah (Subhana wa ta’ala) knows best. (*)
