Some details about the pre-dawn meal

Some details about the pre-dawn meal

 

Having the pre-dawn meal is a Sunnah

 

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Anas (May Allah be well pleased with him), he says that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  Have the pre-dawn meal (Sehri) as there are blessings in having the pre-dawn meal (blessings mean the following of a Sunnah, reward and the strength to fast).  Bukhari and Muslim have both related this Hadith.

 

There are blessings in the pre-dawn meal

 

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat ‘Irbaaz bin Sariya (May Allah be well pleased with him), he says that once the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) invited him for the pre-dawn meal and said:  You do come for this blessed meal.  This Hadith has been related by Abu Dawood and Nasai.

 

Difference between our fasts and the fasts of the People of the Book

 

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat ‘Amr bin A’as (May Allah be well pleased with him), he says that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  The difference between our fasts and the fasts of the people of the book (the Ahl Ul Kitaab i.e. the Jews and the Christians) is the pre-dawn meal (i.e. we have the pre-dawn meal and fast and they fast without it).  Muslim has related this Hadith.

 

The best pre-dawn meal

 

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be well pleased with him), he says that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  The best pre-dawn meal of a Muslim is dates.  Abu Dawood has related this Hadith.

 

The command of having or desisting from the pre-dawn meal at the time of dawn

 

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be well pleased with him), he says that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  If any of you hears the Adhaan for Fajr (and is still having the pre-dawn meal) and the vessel is still in his (or her) hands, that person should not put it down until his need is fulfilled.  This Hadith has been related by Abu Dawood.

 

Explanation:  It is mentioned in this Hadith that if someone is having the pre-dawn meal and hears the Adhaan for Fajr, then that person shouldn’t stop eating but should finish it up.  Baihaqui says in this regard that this command is for those times when one Adhaan would be given before the True Dawn (Subah Sadiq) as mentioned in the Hadith of Muslim:

 

Hadhrat Bilal (May Allah be well pleased with him) would give an Adhaan before the True Dawn so that those offering Tahajjud could end it and those who were sleeping could wake up and prepare for Salaat Ul Fajr.  In this case, it is obvious that at the time of the first Adhaan there would still be time for the pre-dawn meal.  Thus, those who were having their pre-dawn meal could finish it as the fast starts with the True Dawn.  It is similarly mentioned in Kaukab Durriyun.