The Blessings of the Pre-Dawn Meal
During the holy month of fasting, determining the exact time for stopping eating during Suhoor is a common point of inquiry for many Muslims seeking to perfect their worship. Suhoor is the pre-dawn meal consumed before the daily fast begins. It is a highly recommended Sunnah (Prophetic tradition) rather than a strict obligation, but believers are strongly encouraged not to skip it.
Anas bin Malik reported that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) highlighted its spiritual and physical benefits, stating: “Take Suhoor, for in Suhoor there is blessing” (Sahih al-Bukhari).
Beyond providing the necessary physical energy and hydration to sustain a person throughout the day, waking up for this meal offers a valuable opportunity to engage in late-night prayers and seek forgiveness from Allah during the last third of the night.
The Quranic Baseline for the Fasting Schedule
A fasting person must bear in mind that Allah has permitted eating and drinking exactly until dawn.
Almighty Allah states: “And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night]…” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:187).
Therefore, it is permissible for those who intend to fast to eat and drink until they are absolutely certain that the true dawn has arrived.
The Sunnah of Delaying Suhoor
Contrary to the misconception that one must stop eating several minutes before Fajr as a precaution, prominent scholars clarify that it is recommended (Mustahabb) to delay the pre-dawn meal. Establishing a specific “buffer time” to stop eating, such as ten or fifteen minutes before dawn, has no basis in the authentic sources.
While Anas bin Malik reported on the authority of Zaid bin Thabit that they took the Suhoor meal with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the interval between their meal and the prayer was sufficient to recite fifty verses of the Quran (Sahih al-Bukhari), scholars explain that this indicates the timing and duration of their meal, not that they stopped eating and waited that amount of time before Fajr. Delaying the meal actively helps the fasting person and fulfills the Prophetic tradition.
The Adhan and the Final Cutoff
The legal boundary for eating extends exactly up to the start of Fajr. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) explicitly established this boundary, stating: “Bilal calls the Adhan at night, so eat and drink until Ibn Umm Maktum gives the call to prayer” (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim). Ibn Umm Maktum was a blind man who only gave the call when told that morning had definitively come.
Therefore, if the Adhan (call to prayer) is called exactly on time, that call serves as the final cutoff point. Consuming food or drink after this precise cutoff renders the action unlawful. If a person drinks while hearing the Adhan, and the Adhan is called after the true dawn has appeared, the fast must be made up. However, if the local Adhan is known to be delayed, a person must rely on the calculated timetable.
Hastening the Breaking of the Fast (Iftar)
Regarding the proper time for Iftar, a fasting person must break their fast as soon as the sun has completely set, without any deliberate delay.
Sahl bin Sa’d reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The people will remain on the right path as long as they hasten the breaking of the fast” (Sahih al-Bukhari).
The traditional practice of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was to break his fast with a few dates and water, stand for the Maghrib prayer, and then partake in the regular meal following the prayer.
