Mercy of Allah and His Angels on those Who Eat Suhur Ramadan Hadith in English
Ibn Umar radiyallahu anhu relates Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam said: “Verily Allah and His Angles send Mercy upon those who eat sehri (Sower, Suhur).”
How great is Allah’s favour upon us that even the partaking of food in the morning before dawn is so grandly rewarded. There are so many Ahaadith in which the virtues of sehri are expounded and rewards mentioned. Allama Ainy, Commentor on Bukhari, gathered so many of these that seventeen pages of his book were filled. All ulama are agreed on its being mustahab. Many deprived of this great reward because of laziness. Some even finish Taraweeh, eat (what is supposed to be sehri) and get into bed. What great blessings do they lose!! Sehri actually means partaking of food shortly before Fajr. SOme authorities say that the time of sehri commences after half of the night has passed. (Mirquat). The author of Kash-shaaf (Zamakhshari) divided the night into six portions stating that the last one of them is the time of sehri. So that when the night (from sun set till dawn) extends over twelve hours, the last two hours would be the correct time for sehri. Then it must also be remembered that to eat at the latest possible time is better and greater in reward than eating earlier, on condition that no doubt remains as to whether sehri, had been eaten before or after the time f Fajr. The Ahaadith are full of the virtues of sehri.
Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam said: “The difference between our fasting and that of the Ahul-Kitaab (Jews and Cristians) lies in partaking of food at sehri time. They do not.”
The Nabi said: “Eat sehri because in it lies great blessings.” In three things there are great blessings: In Jama’ah (Company), in eating tharid and in sehri.” In this Hadith the use of the word Jamaa’ah is general, whereupon we deduce, salaat with jama’ah and all those righteous deeds done together. Allah’s help comes to them (Tharid 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 sehri. When Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam used to invite any of the companions to eat sehri with him, he used to say: “Come and partake of blessed food with me.” One Hadith says: “Eat sehri and strengthen your fast. And sleep in the afternoon (siesta) so as to gain assistance in waking up in the latter portion of the night for ibaadah.”
Abdullah bin Harith (radiyallahu anhu) reports that one of the sahaaba said : “I once visited Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) at such a time while he was busy partaking of sehri. Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam then said “This is a thing full of blessings which Allah had granted you. Never leave it.”
Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) in urging towards sehri said: “Even though there be no food, then too one date should be eaten or a dring of water taken” Thus, when there definitely lies great blessings and reward in sehri. Muslims should endeavour to gain as much as possible. However, in all things moderation is important, while going beyond the bounds of moderation is harmful. Neither should so little be eaten so 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 from filling the stomach excessively.
In his commentary on Sahih Bukhari, Ibn Hajar mentioned various reasons for the blessedness of sehri:
1. Because in it the sunnah is followed.
2. Through sehri we oppose the ways of the Ahlul-Kitaab, which we are at all times called
upon to do.
3. Provides strength for ibaadah.
4. Promotes more sincerity in ibaadah.
5. Aids in elimination of bad temper which normally comes about as a result of fasting.
6. Sehri is a time when duas are accepted.
7. At the time of sehri one gets the opportunity to remember Allah, make zikr and lift up the
hand to Him in Dua.
These are a few of the major reasons. There are others as well.
Some Sufis are in doubt as whether the eating of sehri 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 sehri is against the object of fasting. In my opinion the amount to be eaten varies according to the different persons and their activities . For example, as for those students who are busy seeking knowledge of Deen, little food at sehri as well as iftaar, will be harmful. For them it is better not to have very little, because they seek Deeni knowledge which is very important (for the preservation and spread of Islam). Sililar is the case of those who are busy with zikr and other Deeni activities. Other people who have no hard work to do should eat little.
Once Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) announced to those proceeding to jihaad: “There is no virtue in fasting while traveling.” That was in the month of Ramadan when some sahaaba were busy with fardh fasting. Allama Sharani mentions 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 is the use of fasting after having filled oneself at sehri and ifraar? The Shaikhs of Tariqat have said: “Whoever remains hungry in Ramadan, shall remain safe from the evil of shaytaan throughout the year until the next Ramadan.”
Imaam Ghazali (rahmatullah alaihi) in his Ihya Ulumid Deen mentions the experiences of some Shaikhs. He makes mention of Sahl bin Abdullah Tastari who used to eat only once every fifteen days, while in Ramadan he ate only one morsel. In order to follow the sunnah he used to have drink of water daily for sehri and iftaar. Shaikh Junaid was a man who always used to fast throughout the year. However, when his noble friends used to visit him occasionally, he used to break his fast and eat with them saying: “The virtue of breaking fast and eating with (such noble) friends is not less that fasting (naf).
Similarly we can mention the experiences of numerous saints who through little food used to train their inner selves, 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.
