All
Muslims agree that it is preferred to eat a pre-dawn
meal and that there is no sin upon one who does
not do so. Anas reported that Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said "Eat a pre-dawn
meal, for there is blessings in it." [Bukhari
and Muslim]
Al Miqdam
ibn Madyakrib reported that Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wa sallam said "You should eat this
pre-dawn meal for it is a blessed nourishment."
[an-Nasa'i witha good chain] The reason why it is
a blessing is that it strengthens the fasting
person, makes him more energetic and makes the
fast easier for him.
a) WHAT
WOULD FULFILL THE SUNNAH OF EATIN A PRE-DAWN MEAL
The Sunnah
would be fulfilled by eating a small or large
quantity of food or even just by drinking a sip
of water. Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported that
Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said
"The pre-dawn meal is blessed so do not
neglect it even if you only take a sip of water.
Verily, Allah and the angels pray for those who
have pre-dawn meals." [Ahmad]
b) THE
TIME FOR THE PRE-DAWN MEAL
The time
for the pre-dawn meal is between the middle of
the night and dawn. It is considered best to
delay it [that is as close to dawn as possible].
Zaid ibn Thabit reported: "We ate the pre-dawn
meal with Rasulullah and then we got up for the
prayer. He was asked "What was the amount of
time between the two?" He said '[The time it
would take to recite] 50 verses.'" [recounted
by Bukhari and Muslim]
'Amr ibn
Maimun adds "The companions of Muhammad
sallallahu alayhi wa sallam would be the first to
break the fast and the last to eat their pre-dawn
meals." [al Bayhaqi / sahih chain]
c) DOUBT
CONCERNING THE TIME FOR FAJR
If one is
in doubt whether or not the time for fajr has
begun or not, he may continue to eat and drink
until he is certain that it is fajr. He should
not base his action on doubt or suspicion. Allah
has made the signs for beginning daily fast very
clear and unambiguous. Allah enjoins upon the
believers in the Qur'an "Eat and drink until
the white thread of the dawn becomes distinct
from the black thread of the night."
A man said
to Ibn Abbas "I eat until I suspect that its
time has ended so I stop. Ibn Abbas observed
"Continue to eat until you are certain about
that time." Abu Dawud reported that Ahmad
ibn Hanbal said "If you have some doubt
about fajr, eat until you are sure dawn has come."
[opinion of Ibn Abbas, 'Ata, al 'Auza'i, and
Ahmad]