ABOUT 'SUHOOR' AND IFTAAR (eating something before dawn and breaking
of Fast)
1.
Taking of Suhoor is Sunnah. If one is not hungry
and has no desire to eat, then two or three dates or some other
light food may be taken or some water at least should be drunk.
2.
If anyone woke up and did not eat anything as
Suhoor but only chewed a beta leaf, then he will get the credit
of
Suhoor.
3.
As far as possible the taking of Suhoor should be
delayed but not so much that the dawn may appear and put the
fast in doubt.
4.
If Suhoor is taken early but continued to take tea
etc. for long and gargled near dawn, then the credit of delayed
Suhoor is gained.
5.
If anyone did not wake up for Suhoor and all
remained asleep, then fast should be observed without it. It is
a
sin and also cowardice not to keep a last because of not eating
Suhoor.
6.
It is permissible to take Suhoor till Fajr time starts and
not after that.
7.
If any one woke up late for Suhoor and under the
impression that it was still night took Suhoor but it revealed
later
that it was after dawn, then the fast was not accomplished and
it
should be kept as a missed fast but recompense is not due. But
even then nothing should be eaten or drunk and one should
behave like fasting ones. In the same way if fast is broken
thinking that the sun had set but the sun appeared after a
while,
then the fast is breached and should be kept as a postponed fast
but no recompense is due, and it is also not proper how to eat
or
drink till the sun has actually set.
8.
If the waking up was so much delayed that it
was suspected to be dawn, then to eat or drink anything now is
execrable and it would be a sin to do so. It after eating
something it was confirmed that it was dawn, then a missed fast
should be kept and if it is still doubt then a postponed fast is
not
essential. But as a precaution a postponed fast may be kept.
9.
It is appreciable to break the fast as soon as
the sun has definitely set. To delay after that is
execrable.
10.
On cloudy days the fast should be broken
with some delay till it is definite that the sun would have set.
The watches or clocks should not be relied upon as they may go
wrong. Even if someone has called the Adhan and the setting of
sun is still doubtful, fast should not be opened till your own
heart
is satisfied about the time.
11.
It is appreciable to break the fast with dates
or with some other sweet thing, but if any of these is not
available, then with water. Some men and women open fast with a
bit of salt and think it to be creditable. It is a wrong belief.
Source: www.islamawareness.net