Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Brother Burhan;

salamalaikum and thanks for the great work you and your friends are doing, may Allah bless you all.  Two questions

The right timing for Iftar (breaking the fast) - all agree that it is sunset, but shall we pray magreb salah first and then break the fast  OR  break fast first and then do the magreb salah. I thought the Prophet's sunnah is more in favor of the later way. Your thoughts pl.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

What time to break fast

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Sahl ibn Sad reported that the Prophet (saws) said: "The people will always be with the good as long as they hasten in breaking the fast."

Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 2346 Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

The Prophet (saws) said: ‘Religion will continue to prevail as long as people hasten to break the fast, because the Jews and the Christians delay doing so.’

Said Sahl ibn Sa'd narrated that the Prophet (saws) said: "All the Prophets of Allah have been ordered to hasten the breaking of the fast and to delay the ‘suhoor’ (pre-fast dawn) meal.’

Related by al-Bukhari, Ahmad and Malik.

Anas reported: "The Messenger of Allah (saws) would break his fast with ripe dates before he would pray (Magrib prayers). If those were not available, he would eat dried dates. If those were not available, he would drink some water."

Related by Abu Dawud, al-Hakim, and by at-Tirmidhi.

It is an absolutely preferred Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) to hasten to break one’s fast as soon as the sun has completely set, and then offer the obligatory Magrib prayers.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan