Do I need to Hasten to Break my Fast When I Hear the Adhan?

Did you know it’s actually more virtuous to hasten to break your fast, as opposed to delaying it? Narrated Sahl bin Sa`d: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said,

“The people will remain on the right path as long as they hasten the breaking of the fast.” (Bukhari)

While you may think you would get more reward for enduring your hunger by delaying your Iftar – it’s actually the total opposite. In fact, there are a number of reasons why we should hasten to break the fast beside it being Sunnah:  

• To be different from the Jews:  

It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:  

“The people will remain upon goodness so long as they hasten to break the fast. Hasten to break the fast, for the Jews delay it.” (Ibn Majah)

• So as not to make the day longer and take from the night. Allah wishes us ease, not a hardship

 

• It is kinder to the fasting person and gives him more strength for worship. Eating a healthy, light meal for iftar will give you the ability to perform Taraweeh (night prayers) without feeling too full or tired from overeating

• To hasten to eat that which Allah has permitted for him, for Allah is generous and the one who is generous likes to see people enjoying his generosity. So Allah likes His slaves to hasten to enjoy that which He has permitted to them as soon as the sun sets.

    And in case you’re wondering what to break your fast with – it’s narrated that the Prophet ﷺ used to break his fast before praying with some fresh dates.  But if he didn’t have any dates, he ﷺ would break his fast with water. Anas bin Malik narrated:

“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would break the fast with fresh dates before performing Salah. If there were no fresh dates then (he would break the fast) with dried dates, and if there were no dried dates then he would take a few sips of water.” (Tirmidhi)

This hadith shows the lengths the Prophet ﷺ would go to in order to break the fast on time. So as soon as it has been established that the sun has set, grab your dates and hasten to break your fast. #ReviveRamadan.