Suhoor & Mercy of ALLAH
Ibn Umar (Radhiyallaho anho) relates
Prophet Mohammad
(Sallallaho
Alaihe Wasallam) said, "Verily Allah and His Malaa'ikah send mercy upon
those who eat sah'ri (sowe - suhoor)".
COMMENTRY: How is
Allah's favor upon us that even the partaking of sah'ri is
a virtuous act which is enormously rewarded. There are so many
Ahaadith in which the virtues of sah'ri are expounded and
rewards mentioned. Allaama Ainy - commentator and ron Bukhaari
gathered Ahaadith from seventeen Sahbaan on the excellence of sah'ri.
All 'Ulama are agreed it is mustahab. Many are deprived of this great
reward because of laziness. Some even finish Taraweeh and then eat,
(which they regards as sah'ri) and get into bed. What great
blessing do they loose! sah'ri actually means partaking of food
shortly before Fajr (ref: Qamoos). Some authorities say that the time
for sah'ri commences after half of the night has passed (Mirquaat).
The author of Kash-shaaf (Zamakhshari) divided the night into six
portion stating that the last one of them is the time for sah'ri.
When when the night (from sunset till dawn) lasts for twelve hour then
the last two hours would be the correct time for sah'ri. It
must also be remembered that to eat at the latest time is better and
greater in reward than eating earlier, on condition that no doubt
remains as to sah'ri had been eaten before or after the time of
Fajr. The Ahaadith are full of the virtues of sah'ri.
Prophet Mohammad
(Sallallaho
Alaihe Wasallam) said, "The difference in our fasting with that of
Ahulul-Kitaab (Jews and Christians) lies in partaking of food at sah'ri
time, they do not".
It is mentioned in the Hadith,
"Eat sah'ri because in it lies great blessing". It also
mentioned, "In three things there are great blessing, in Jamaah
(company), in eating thareed and in sah'ri". In this Hadith the
use of the word jamaah is general, whereupon we deduce it to refer to
'salaah with Jamaah and all those righteous deeds done together and Allah's help comes to them. (Thareed is a delicious type of food,
in which dry baked bread is mixed with gravy containing meat). The
third thing mentioned in the Hadith is sah'ri when
Prophet Mohammad
(Sallallaho
Alaihe Wasallam) used to invite any of the companions to eat sah'ri
with him, he used to say, "Come and partake of blessed food with me".
One Hadith says, "Eat sah'ri and strengthen yourself for
fasting. And sleep in the afternoon (siesta) so as to gain assistance
in waking up in the latter portion of the night (for 'ibaa-dah)".
Abdullah bin Haarith reported that one of the Sahaaban said, "I once
visited
Prophet Mohammad
(Sallallaho
Alaihe Wasallam) at such a time while he was busy partaking of sah'ri.
Prophet Mohammad
(Sallallaho
Alaihe Wasallam) then said, "This is a thing full of blessings which Allah
has granted you. Never leave it".
Prophet Mohammad
(Sallallaho
Alaihe Wasallam) has encouraged sah'ri in numerous Ahaadith, "Even
though there be no food, then too one date should be eaten or a drink
of water taken". Thus, when there definitely lies great blessings and
reward in sah'ri, Muslims should endeavor to gain as such as
possible. However, in all things moderation is important, while going
beyond the bonds of moderation is harmful. Neither should so little be
eaten that one feels weak throughout the period of fasting, nor should
so much be eaten that discomfort is felt in the digestive organs. Many
a time we have been prohibited in the Hadith from filling the stomach
excessively.
In his commentary on Sahee Bukhaari,
Ibn Hajar has mentioned various reasons for the blessedness of sah'ri.
- Because in it the Sunnah is
followed.
- Through sah'ri we oppose the
ways of the Ahlul-Kitaab, which we are at all times called upon to
do. They do not have sah'ri when fasting.
- It provides strength for Ibaadah.
- It provides more sincerity in
ibaadah.
- It aids in eliminating bad temper
which normally comes about as a result of hunger.
- It provides an opportunity to assist
the needy at that early hour, especially a poor neighbor.
- Sah'ri is at a time when
duaa's are accepted.
- At the time of sah'ri one
gets the opportunity to remember Allah's, Thikr and lift up
the hands to Him in duaa'.
These are a few of major
reasons. There are others as well.
Ibn Daqeequl 'Iyd says that some
'Sufis are doubtful whether the eating of sah'ri is against the
object of fasting or not. They maintain that the object of fasting is
to stay away from food, drink and sexual desires, therefore sah'ri
is against the object of fasting. In many opinion the amount to be
should be less at both sah'ri and if'taar, how ever this varies
according to different persons and their activities. For example, for
those students who are busy seeking knowledge of Deen, little food at
sah'ri as well as if'taar, will be harmful. For them it is
better not to have very little, because they seek Deeni knowledge
which is very important (for preservation and spread of Islam).
Similar is the case of those who are busy with thikr and other Deeni
activities. Once
Prophet Mohammad
(Sallallaho
Alaihe Wasallam) announced to those proceeding to jihaad, "there is no virtues
in fasting while traveling". That was in the month of Ramadan when
some Sahaaban were busy with fardh fasting. This was because of jihaad.
However if eating less does not cause laziness and weakness in doing
important Deeni work, then there is no harm in eating less. Allaama
Sharaani (Radhiyallaho anho). mentioned in Sharh Iqna, "A covenant was
made with us that we shall not fill our stomachs completely when
eating especially in the nights of Ramadan". It is better that one
should eat less in the nights of Ramadan than on other nights. After
all, what type of fast it is after having filled oneself at sah'ri
and if'taar? The Mashaa'ikh of "Tariqah have said, "whoever remains
hungry in Ramadan, shall remains from the evil of shay'taan through
the year until the next Ramadan". Numerous other Mashaa'ikh have also
emphasized this point.
In the commentary of Ihyaa', Awaarif
quotes that, Sahl bin Adullah Tastari used to only once in every
fifteen day, while in Ramadan he ate only-one morsel. In order to
follow the sunnah he used to have a drink of water for sah'ri
anf if'taar. Shaikh Junaid (Radhiyallaho anho) was a man who always
used to fast throughout the year. However, when noble friends used to
visit him occasionally, he used to break his fast and eat with them
saying, "The virtues of braking fast and eating with (such noble)
friends is not less than fasting (nafl).
Similarly we can mentioned the
experiences of numerous saints, who through little food used to train
their inner slaves, but once again bear in mind, that it should not be
carried out to such an extent that the religious activities and
responsibilities are neglected as a result of weakness in the body.
Author:
Shaykh Muhammad Zakariyya Kaandhlawi
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