The time of fasting was relaxed from its original form so that it would start at dawn and finish at sunset. As discussed last week, to have an early meal, i.e. suhoor, just before the start of the fasting day is strongly recommended and described by the Prophet (peace be upon him) as a blessing. The Prophet used to delay that meal as much as possible so that he ate immediately before dawn. This he did because it made fasting less hard for his followers. The same idea applies to ending one’s fast. In this, the Prophet’s guidance is to break the fast immediately when it is time to do so. We have numerous Hadiths that prove that once the sun has set, then it is time to finish the fast.
Sahl ibn Saad, a companion of the Prophet, quotes him as saying: “People will be well advised as long as they finish their fast without delay.” (Related by Muslim.) This clearly indicates that it is the Prophet’s Sunnah not to delay finishing one’s fast, once we are certain that the sun has set. If they change this habit, then people are making themselves liable to further deviation from the Prophet’s practice, or Sunnah.
Abu Atiyyah reports that both he and Masrooq went to Aishah, the Prophet’s wife, some time after he had passed away. Masrooq put to her their question in this way: “We know two men of the companions of Muhammad (peace be upon him) who try hard to do what is good. One of them, however, hastens to offer Maghrib and break his fast while the other delays both Maghrib and breaking his fast.” She asked: “Who is the one who does not delay Maghrib and breaking his fast?” He answered: “Abdullah ibn Massood.” She said: “That is what God’s Messenger (peace be upon him) used to do.” (Related by Muslim.)
The question is put very clearly in this Hadith. There is no doubt that both companions of the Prophet in question were absolutely certain that the sun has set, but one of them went straight away to do his duty of finishing his fast and praying Maghrib, while the other waited for some time, perhaps a few minutes, before doing so. The Prophet’s wife, who knew his practice better than anyone else, confirmed that the Prophet did not delay finishing his fast or praying Maghrib at all. We are not surprised to learn that it was Abdullah ibn Massood who did exactly like the Prophet. Abdullah was one of the most learned scholars among the Prophet’s companions. It stands to reason that he should know his practice better than most. Someone may suggest that this does not give us very precise guidance. What constitutes delay? What do we mean by finishing the fast straightaway? Answers to these questions are set very clearly in the following Hadith reported by a companion of the Prophet called Abdullah ibn Abi Awfa: “We were with God’s Messenger on a journey and he was fasting. When the sun had set he said to one person: ‘Prepare our drink for us.’ The man said: ‘Messenger of God, would you rather wait for the evening?’ The Prophet said: ‘Go down and prepare our drink for us.’ The man again said: ‘Messenger of God, wait until the evening.’ The Prophet repeated his words saying: ‘Go down and get our drink ready for us.’ Once more the man said: ‘You are still in daytime.’ The Prophet reiterated his order: ‘Go down and pour our drink for us.’ The man did as he was told. The Prophet (peace be upon him) drank then said: ‘If you see the night approaching from this direction, then it is time for a fasting man to finish his fast.’” (Related by Al-Bukhari.)
Muslim also relates this Hadith in a slightly different version which suggests that the man only cautioned the Prophet twice that it might not have been time for finishing the fast yet. Muslim’s version indicates that after the Prophet had drunk, he said, pointing with his hand: “If the sun disappears from this side and the night appears from that side then fasting is over.”
This Hadith shows that the Prophet wanted to teach his companions that once the sun has set, then it is time to finish one’s fast, although the light of day remains clearly apparent. The Prophet’s companion cautioned him three times, asking him to wait until the evening and indicating in the third time that he felt that it was still daytime, but the Prophet insisted each time that he should get down and get the drink for them. It takes a few minutes before the darkness of the night begins to replace the light of day after the sun has set. Some people may be tempted to delay finishing their fast until it is dark. The Prophet teaches us in this Hadith that they should do nothing of the sort. He explains that once the sun has set, and the night approaches, then it is time to eat and drink. It is important to say that the two signs the Prophet mentions, i.e. the disappearance of the sun and the approach of the night indicate exactly the same point in time, not two separate points. The Prophet was keen to stress this to us so that people do not begin to make things harder for themselves and others. What separates the night from the day is the sun. As long as it is to be seen in the sky, we should remain fasting. Once it has completely disappeared, it is time to finish our fast.
It is unfortunate that some people delay eating or drinking after the sun has set. Although they mean well and want to make doubly sure, they forget that they are dealing with God, the ever merciful. God does not take us to task for the slightest mistake. Indeed, He wants us to do what He has bid us to do, exactly as He has indicated to us and as His Messenger has taught us. When we make things harder, it is as if we are trying to do better than the Prophet. Here we should tread wearily. For no one can do better than the Prophet.
The Prophet’s guidance is to finish fasting on time, not to delay it for a few minutes in order to make doubly sure. The important point here is that we fast in submission to God’s will. We deprive ourselves of the pleasure of eating and drinking, enduring the hardship of fasting for 29 or 30 days and for such long hours every day because God has bidden us to do so. He appreciates that we do it for His sake.
There can be no other reason for our doing it. He rewards us for both our action and intention. Then there is no point in taking severe precautions. What we should do is to make sure that the sun has set. When we have done that, we are certainly on the safe side if we finish our fast and start eating and drinking normally.
When the Prophet finished a day of fasting, he either ate a few dates or drank a little water if dates were not available. He then prayed Maghrib before having a meal. This is the best course to follow. It is also much more healthy. After long hours of fasting, it is better to give our stomach just a little to digest while we pray Maghrib. When we have finished our prayers, we can proceed to eat a full meal. A person who prefers to eat his meal first before going on to prayer will soon discover that he is doing things the wrong way.
He imposes a heavy burden on his stomach very suddenly, after it had been resting for a few hours. When he has finished his meal, the last thing he wants to do is to move about and pray. He wants to relax. Yet the time of Maghrib will become very short and he must go straightaway to prayer after having eaten. Otherwise, he may miss Maghrib prayer. No one would like to miss an obligatory prayer on a day of fasting. It is very important, therefore, to follow the Prophet’s example and to eat a little and pray before proceeding to have our evening meal.
