04. IFTAAR [To hasten the Iftar]
04. IFTAAR
Iftaar karna Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam ki sunnat hai:
عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ: لاَ يَزَالُ النَّاسُ بِخَيْرٍ مَا عَجَّلُوا الْفِطْرَ
Tarjumah: Hazrat Sahl bin Saad Radhiallahu Anhu se riwayat hai ke Allah ke Rasool Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam ne irshad farmaya: Meri ummat ke logon mein us waqt tak khair baaqi rahega jab tak woh iftaar mein jaldi karte rahenge.
(Sahih Bukhari: 1957)
➤ Iftaar mein jaldi karna chahiye yani Sooraj doobte hi fauran iftaar karna chahiye. Upar wali hadees is baat ki daleel hai.
➤ Logon mein mashhoor iftaar ki dua “اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ صُمْتُ وَعَلَى رِزْقِكَ أَفْطَرْتُ” Mursal hone ki wajah se zaeef hai. Sheikh Albani Rahimahullah ne Abu Dawood (2358) ki is Hadees ko Zaeef kaha hai.
(Dekhen {Zaeef ul Jami: 4349 or Zaeef Abu Dawood (Albani): 2358})
➤ Iftaar karte waqt Bismillah kahen aur iftaar ke baad yeh dua padhen:
ذَهَبَ الظَّمَأُ وَابْتَلَّتِ الْعُرُوقُ وَثَبَتَ الأَجْرُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ
Tarjumah: Piyaas khatm ho gayi, ragein tar ho gayein, aur agar Allah ne chaaha to sawaab (ajr) mil gya.
(Sunan Abi Dawood: 2357)
Allama Albani Rahimahullah ne is Hadees ko Sahih kaha hai.
➤ Iftaar karana bade ajr (sawaab) ka kaam hai. Hadees e Rasool Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam hai:
عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ الْجُهَنِيِّ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم: مَنْ فَطَّرَ صَائِمًا كَانَ لَهُ مِثْلُ أَجْرِهِ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ لاَ يَنْقُصُ مِنْ أَجْرِ الصَّائِمِ شَيْئًا
Tarjumah: Zaid bin Khalid Al-Juhani Radhiallahu Anhu se riwayat hai ki Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam ne farmaya: Jis shakhs ne kisi Rozedaar ko iftaar karaya to us shakhs ko bhi utna hi sawaab milega jitna sawab Rozedaar ke liye hoga, or Rozedaar ke apne sawaab main se kuch bhi kami nahi ki jayegi.
(Tirmizi: 807)
Allama Albani Rahimahullah ne Sahih kaha hai.
➤ Jab koi kisi doosre ke yahan iftaar kare to yeh dua padhe:
أَفْطَرَ عِنْدَكُمُ الصَّائِمُونَ وَأَكَلَ طَعَامَكُمُ الأَبْرَارُ وَصَلَّتْ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ
Tarjumah: Tumhare paas Rozedaaron ne iftaari ki, nek logon ne tumhara khaana khaaya aur tum par firshton ne rehmat bheji.
(Sunan Abi Dawood: 3854)
Allama Albani Rahimahullah ne Sahih kaha hai.
➤ Ghalati se waqt se pehle iftaar karne waalon ko chahiye ke jaise hi ghalati ka ilm ho fauran khaana chor den, is par koi gunah aur koi kaffara nahi hai. Jaisa ki Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam ka farmaan hai:
مَنْ أَكَلَ نَاسِيًا وَهْوَ صَائِمٌ فَلْيُتِمَّ صَوْمَهُ، فَإِنَّمَا أَطْعَمَهُ اللَّهُ وَسَقَاهُ
Tarjumah: Jis ne Roza rakha ho or bhool kar khaa liya ho to use apna Roza poora kar lena chahiye kiunki use Allah ne khilaya pilaya hai.
(Sahih Bukhari: 6669)
➤ Lekin jaan boojh kar aisa karne waalon ke liye sakht wa’eed hai.
➤ Ghair Muslim agar halal kamaayi se iftaar karaye to us ke khane mein koi harj nahi hai agar deeni Maslehat ho lekin agar Islam ke liye bura ho to bachna behtar hai, isi tarah jo log iftaar ko siyasat (politics) se jodte hain aur iftaar party karte hain us se bhi parhez behtar hai.
➤ Airplane mein safar karne walon ko bhi us waqt tak iftaar nahi karna hai jab tak sooraj nazar aaye. Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam ka farmaan hai:
إِذَا أَقْبَلَ اللَّيْلُ مِنْ هَا هُنَا، وَأَدْبَرَ النَّهَارُ مِنْ هَا هُنَا، وَغَرَبَتِ الشَّمْسُ، فَقَدْ أَفْطَرَ الصَّائِمُ
Tarjumah: Jab raat us taraf (mashriq) se aaye or din idhar maghrib mein chala jaaye ki sooraj doob jaaye to Roze ke iftaar ka waqt aa gya.
(Sahih Bukhari: 1954)
➤ Musalmanon ke baaz tabqaat mein iftaar ke liye paanch (5) se dus (10) minute tak ka ehtiyaat hota hai, usi hisaab se yeh log apne iftaar ka calender banaate hain. Is liye main aam musalmanon ko bakhabar karna chahta hun ke yeh sunnat ki mukhalifat hai balki iftaar mein ehtiyaat ko riwaaj dena bidat ka irtikaab hai. Sooraj doobte hi hamein baghair ehtiyaat kiye fauran iftaar karna chahiye.
REFERENCE:
BOOK: “Ramazaan ke kuch Ahkaam-o-Masael”
Taleef: “Shaikh Maqbool Ahmad Salafi Hafidhahullah”
Roman Transliteration by: Umar Asari
To hasten the Iftar
عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ: لاَ يَزَالُ النَّاسُ بِخَيْرٍ مَا عَجَّلُوا الْفِطْرَ
Narrated Sahl bin Sa`d:
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “The people will remain on the right path as long as they hasten the breaking of the fast.”
[ Sahih al-Bukhari 1957]
[2] Hastening or Delaying Breaking the Fast?
Summary of answer
There is no reward for delaying breaking the fast, rather it is better to hasten to break the fast as soon as the sun has set; this brings a more complete reward.
Answer
Praise be to Allah.
The sunnah is to hasten to break the fast
There is no reward for delaying breaking the fast, rather it is better to hasten to break the fast as soon as the sun has set ; this brings a more complete reward.
Al-Bukhari (1957) and Muslim (1098) narrated from Sahl ibn Sa’d that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The people will continue to do well so long as they hasten to break the fast.”
Abu Dawud (2353) narrated the same from Abu Hurayrah; his report includes the additional phrase, “… because the Jews and Christians delay it.” (Classed as hasan by al-Albani in Sahih Abi Dawud, 2353)
Al-Nawawi said:
“This hadith urges us to hasten to break the fast as soon as it is established that the sun has set. What this means is that the ummah will continue to be in a sound state and they will be fine so long as they continue to adhere to this Sunnah. If they delay it, that will be a sign that corruption has arisen among them.”
With regard to the words, “… because the Jews and Christians delay it,” al-Tibi said:
“This reason indicates that the basis of the true monotheistic religion is the opposite of what its enemies among the People of the Book do, and that agreeing with them leads to doom and destruction.”
Muslim (1099) narrated that `Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) was asked about a man among the Companions of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) – ‘Abd-Allah ibn Mas’ud – who hastened to pray Maghrib and break the fast. She said: This is what the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to do.
Al-Shafi`i said in al-Umm: “Hastening to break the fast is mustahabb .”
Ibn Hazm said in al-Muhalla (4/380): “It is Sunnah to hasten to break the fast and to delay suhur, i.e., when the sun disappears beneath the horizon of the fasting person and no more.”
Why is it recommended to hasten to break the fast?
The scholars have mentioned a number of reasons why it is recommended to hasten to break the fast, including the following:
- To be different from the Jews and Christians
- To follow the Sunnah
- So as not to make the day longer and take from the night
- It is kinder to the fasting person and gives him more strength for worship
- To hasten to eat that which Allah has permitted to him, for Allah is generous and the one who is generous likes to see people enjoying his generosity. So He likes His slaves to hasten to enjoy that which Allah has permitted to them as soon as the sun sets.
When to break your fast
The scholars unanimously agreed that the time for that is when it is established that the sun has set, by seeing it with one’s own eyes or by being informed of that by two witnesses of good character, or of one according to the correct opinion. This was the view of al-Hafiz. (See: Fath al-Bari, commentary on hadith no. 1957; al-Sharh al-Mumti’, 6/267)
For more, please see these answers: 26879 , 14103 , 93066 , and 65955 .
And Allah knows best.
[3] Du’a When Breaking Fast
Summary of answer
Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to say this du’a when breaking his fast: “Dhahaba al-zama wa’btalat al-‘uruq wa thabata al-ajr in sha Allah.”
Answer
Praise be to Allah.
Du’a for breaking fast: (Dhahaba al-zama…)
‘Umar said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to say when breaking his fast: “Dhahaba al-zama wa’btalat al-‘uruq wa thabata al-ajr in sha Allah (Thirst is gone, the veins are moistened and the reward is certain if Allah wills).” (Narrated by Abu Dawud, 2357; al-Daraqutni, 25. Ibn Hajar said in al-Talkhis al-Habir (2/202): al-Daraqutni said, its isnad is sahih.)
Allahumma laka sumtu…: Is this dua for breaking fast authentic?
The du’a “Allahumma laka sumtu wa ‘ala rizqika aftartu (O Allah, for You have I fasted and by Your provision I have broken my fast)” was narrated by Abu Dawud, 2358. It is a mursal hadith so it is da’if (weak). Al-Albani classed it as da’if in Da’if Abi Dawud (510)
Du’a after acts of worship
Saying du’a after doing acts of worship is deeply rooted in the Shari’ah, such as making du’a after praying and after completing the rituals of Hajj. Fasting is not excluded from that in sha Allah. Allah mentioned the verse of du’a and encouraged du’a among the verses that speak of fasting, as Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor). So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright.” [al-Baqarah 2:186]
Importance of making du’a in Ramadan
Pointing out the importance of making du’a during Ramadan, Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said:
“Allah tells us that He is close to His slaves and responds to the supplication (du’a) of the one who calls upon Him. Here He is telling us of His Lordship (rububiyyah) over them and that He gives them what they ask for and He responds to their du’a. For if they call upon Him that means they believe that He is their Lord… Then He enjoins two things upon them, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):
“So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright.” [al-Baqarah 2:186]
The first is that they should obey His commands to worship Him and seek His help.
The second is that they should believe in His Lordship (rububiyyah) and Divinity (uluhiyyah), and that He is their Lord and their God. Hence it is said that response to a person’s du’a is indicative of the soundness of his belief and the perfection of his obedience, because the verse of du’a ends with the words (interpretation of the meaning):
“So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright.” [al-Baqarah 2:186] (Majmu’ al-Fatawa, 14/33)
For more, please see these answers: 93066 , 14103 , and 65955 .
And Allah knows best.
[4] Reward of feeding a fasting person
Zaid bin Khalid Al-Juhani narrated that:
The Messenger of Allah said: “Whoever provides the food for a fasting person to break his fast with, then for him is the same reward as his (the fasting person’s), without anything being diminished from the reward of the fasting person.”
[Jami` at-Tirmidhi 807]
Whoever gives iftar to one who is fasting will have a reward like his, without that detracting from the reward of the fasting person in the slightest.
Praise be to Allah.
Reward of feeding a fasting person
Zayd ibn Khalid al-Juhani said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever gives iftar to one who is fasting will have a reward like his, without that detracting from the reward of the fasting person in the slightest.” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 807; Ibn Majah, 1746. Classed as sahih by Ibn Hiban, 8/216 and by al-Albani in Sahih al-Jami’, 6415)
Shaykh al-Islam [Ibn Taymiyah] said: “What is meant by giving him iftar is giving him enough to satisfy him.” (Al-Ikhtiyarat, p. 194)
The righteous salaf were keen to provide food for others and they thought that this was one of the best of righteous deeds.
One of the salaf said: “For me to invite ten of my companions and feed them food that they like is dearer to me than freeing ten of the sons of Isma’il from slavery.”
Many of the salaf used to give up their iftar for others, such as ‘Abd-Allah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), Dawud al-Tai, Malik ibn Dinar and Ahmad ibn Hanbal. Ibn ‘Umar used to break his fast with orphans and the poor and needy.
There were among the salaf those who used to offer food to their brothers whilst fasting, and they would sit and serve them, such as al-Hasan and Ibn al-Mubarak.
Abu al-Siwar al-‘Adawi said: “Men from the tribe of Banu ‘Adiyy used to pray in this mosque and not one of them would break his fast on his own; if they found someone to join them they would eat with him, otherwise they would take their food out to the mosque and eat with the people, and the people would eat with them.
Virtues of feeding people
From the ‘ibadah of providing food for people stem many other acts of worship such as creating love and friendship towards those who are given the food, which is a means of entering Paradise, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “You will not enter Paradise until you truly believe, and you will not truly believe until you love one another.” Narrated by Muslim, 54. It also fosters the practice of sitting with righteous people and seeking reward by helping them to do acts of worship for which they gain strength by eating your food.
And Allah knows best.
[5] When breaking fast in someone’s home
أَفْطَرَ عِنْدَكُمُ الصَّائِمُونَ وَأَكَلَ طَعَامَكُمُ الأَبْرَارُ وَصَلَّتْ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ
Afṭara `indakumuṣ-ṣā’imūn, wa akala ṭa`āmakumu ‘l-‘abrār, wa ṣallat `alaykumu ‘l-malā’ikah.
With you, those who are fasting have broken their fast, you have fed those who are righteous, and the angels recite their prayers upon you.
(Sunan Abi Dawood: 3854)
If someone does something against his oath due to forgetfulness
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ مَنْ أَكَلَ نَاسِيًا وَهْوَ صَائِمٌ فَلْيُتِمَّ صَوْمَهُ، فَإِنَّمَا أَطْعَمَهُ اللَّهُ وَسَقَاهُ ”
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “If somebody eats something forgetfully while he is fasting, then he should complete his fast, for Allah has made him eat and drink.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari 6669]
[6] Breaking the fast during the day in Ramadan with no excuse is a major sin
- Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymin (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked about the ruling on breaking the fast during the day in Ramadan with no excuse.
He replied:
“Breaking the fast during the day in Ramadan with no excuse is a major sin , and the individual becomes an evildoer thereby. He must repent to Allah and make up the day that he did not fast.” (Majmu‘ Fatawa wa Rasail al’Uthaymin (19/89)
An-Nasai narrated in al-Kubra (3273) that Abu Umamah said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) say: Whilst I was sleeping, two men came to me and took hold of my arms… And he quoted the hadith, in which he said: Then they set off with me, and I saw some people hung up by their Achilles tendon, with the corners of their mouths torn and dripping with blood. I said: Who are these? He said: These are the people who used to break the fast before it was permissible to do so.
Al-Albani classed it as sahih in as-Sahihah (3951), after which he said:
“This is the punishment of those who fasted then broke the fast before the time for breaking the fast came. So how about those who did not fast at all?! We ask Allah to keep us safe and sound in this world and the Hereafter.”
And Allah knows best.
[7] Iftaar with non-Muslims
Praise be to Allah.
It is permissible to have iftaar with non-Muslims if there is a shar’i reason for doing so, such as calling them to the true religion, or softening their hearts towards Islam, etc, which are what is hoped for if they come and eat iftaar at the tables set up for communal iftaar, as happens in some countries. But if it is done just to be friendly towards them and enjoy their company, this is a dangerous matter, because the principle of al-wala’ wa’l-bara’ (befriending the believers and showing enmity towards the disbelievers) is one of the basic principles of Islam, and one of the most important duties of the believers. This principle is referred to in a number of verses in the Book of Allaah and ahaadeeth of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), for example:
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“You (O Muhammad) will not find any people who believe in Allaah and the Last Day, making friendship with those who oppose Allaah and His Messenger (Muhammad), even though they were their fathers or their sons or their brothers or their kindred (people). For such He has written Faith in their hearts, and strengthened them with Rooh (proofs, light and true guidance) from Himself. And He will admit them to Gardens (Paradise) under which rivers flow, to dwell therein (forever). Allaah is pleased with them, and they with Him. They are the party of Allaah. Verily, it is the party of Allaah that will be the successful”
[al-Mujaadilah 58:22]
“O you who believe! Take not for Awliyaa’ (protectors or helpers or friends) disbelievers instead of believers. Do you wish to offer Allaah a manifest proof against yourselves?”
[al-Nisa’ 4:144]
“O you who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians as Awliyaa’ (friends, protectors, helpers), they are but Awliyaa’ of each other. And if any amongst you takes them (as Awliyaa’), then surely, he is one of them. Verily, Allaah guides not those people who are the Zaalimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers and unjust)”
[al-Maa’idah 5:51]
“O you who believe! Take not as (your) Bitaanah (advisors, consultants, protectors, helpers, friends) those outside your religion (pagans, Jews, Christians, and hypocrites) since they will not fail to do their best to corrupt you. They desire to harm you severely. Hatred has already appeared from their mouths, but what their breasts conceal is far worse. Indeed We have made plain to you the Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses) if you understand”
[Aal ‘Imraan 3:118]
Based on this, the ruling on gathering with these people for iftaar depends on the intention. And Allaah knows best.
[8] When to break the Saum (fast)?
عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ إِذَا أَقْبَلَ اللَّيْلُ مِنْ هَا هُنَا، وَأَدْبَرَ النَّهَارُ مِنْ هَا هُنَا، وَغَرَبَتِ الشَّمْسُ، فَقَدْ أَفْطَرَ الصَّائِمُ ”.
Narrated `Umar bin Al-Khattab:
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “When night falls from this side and the day vanishes from this side and the sun sets, then the fasting person should break his fast.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari 1954]
Praise be to Allah.
When to break your fast
When the sun has set, it becomes permissible for the fasting person to break the fast , whether the muadhdhin has given the adhan or not. What counts is the setting of the sun. Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “When the night comes from here and the day departs from here, and the sun has set, then it is time for the fasting person to break his fast.” (Narrated by al-Bukhari, 1954; Muslim, 1100)
Ibn Daqiq al-‘Eid said: “This hadith is a refutation of the Shi’ah who delay breaking the fast until the stars appear.” (Fath al-Bari)
Some muadhdhins may delay the adhan until a while after the sun has set, so the adhan is not what counts. This action is contrary to the guidance of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) who urged us to hasten to break the fast after the sun has set. He said: “The people will still be fine so long as they hasten to break the fast.” (Narrated by al-Bukhari, 1957; Muslim, 1098)
It is permissible for the fasting person to break the fast if he thinks it most likely that the sun has set; it is not essential that he be certain, rather thinking it most likely is sufficient.
If the fasting person thinks it most likely that the sun has set, and he breaks his fast, there is no sin on him. But it is not permissible for him to break his fast if he is not sure whether the sun has set.
Can you break the fast when you think it most likely that the sun has set?
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymin (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
It is Sunnah to hasten to break the fast when the sun has set. What counts is the setting of the sun, not the adhan, especially in present times when the people rely on timetables and they follow the timetables based on the clocks, and their clocks may be fast or slow. If the sun sets and you see it, and the people have not yet given the adhan, then you may break the fast. If they give the adhan and you see that the sun has not set, then you should not break the fast, because the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “When the night comes from here and the day departs from here, and the sun has set, then it is time for the fasting person to break his fast.”
It does not matter if there is still strong light. Some people say: We will carry on fasting until the disk of the sun has disappeared and it has gotten somewhat dark. But this does not matter; rather you should look at the disk of the sun and when the top of it disappears, then the sun has set, and it is Sunnah to break the fast.
The evidence that it is Sunnah to break the fast at this time is the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): “The people will still be fine so long as they hasten to break the fast. ” Hence we know that those who delay breaking the fast until the stars appear, like the Rafidis, are not fine.
If someone were to say: Can I break the fast when I think it most likely that the sun has set?
The answer is yes, and the evidence for that is the report that is narrated in Sahih al-Bukhari from Asma bint Abi Bakr (may Allah be pleased with her) who said: We broke our fast on a cloudy day at the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), then the sun appeared. It is known that they did not break their fast on the basis of certain knowledge, because if they had broken their fast on the basis of certain knowledge the sun would not have appeared after that; rather they broke their fast on the basis of their thinking it most likely that it had set, then the clouds dispersed and the sun appeared.” (Al-Sharh al-Mumti’, 6/267)
For more, please see these answers: 26879 , 14103
When To Say Du`a For Breaking Fast
And Allah knows best.
REFERENCES:
[1] Sunnah.com
[2] https://islamqa.info/en/answers/50019/hastening-or-delaying-breaking-the-fast
[3] https://islamqa.info/en/answers/26879/dua-when-breaking-fast
[4] https://islamqa.info/en/answers/12598/what-is-the-reward-of-feeding-a-fasting-person
[5]Sunnah.com
[6] https://islamqa.info/en/answers/232694/what-happens-if-you-break-your-fast-on-purpose
[7] https://islamqa.info/en/answers/38125/iftaar-with-non-muslims
[8] https://islamqa.info/en/answers/78416/is-breaking-fast-before-adhan-allowed