When a Fasting Person Should Stop Eating
http://www.islamonline.net/
First of all, you have to bear in mind that Allah has permitted the
fasting person to eat and drink until dawn comes. He, Most High, says:
“… and eat and drink until the
white thread becometh distinct to you from the black thread of the dawn
…” (Al-Baqarah 2: 187)
However, it is preferable that the fasting person stops eating and
drinking a few minutes before dawn.
In his response to the question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior
lecturer and Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto,
Ontario, Canada, states:
There are two times for stopping eating during suhoor (pre-dawn
meal), namely a preferred time and a permitted time. Preferred time to
stop eating is ten minutes before Fajr time. So if the Fajr time is 6:12
a.m., one should stop eating around 6 a.m. Permitted time for eating
suhoor, however, extends up to 6:12 a.m., after which time it is
considered unlawful. Therefore, if anyone deliberately did so, the fast
is considered broken.
We have reports from the Prophet’s Companions that they finished
suhoor meal with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and
after having done so they still had enough time to finish reading fifty
verses of the Qur’an before Fajr. The estimated time for such reading is
ten minutes.
However, as mentioned earlier, the permitted time for suhoor can
extend up to the time of Fajr. If the Adhan (call to prayer) is called
on time that is the final cut off point for suhoor. But if, on
the contrary, the Adhan is called after the time of Fajr has started,
then the real time to consider is not the time of Adhan; rather one must
consider the time as posted in the time-table.
Supposing that the Adhan is called on time, and one still has a piece of
food in his hands, he is better advised not to consume it; he may,
however, swallow what is already in his mouth.
As for the question when is one supposed to start eating while breaking
fast, the answer is: One should break the fast as soon as the sun has
set, without delay. The Prophet’s Sunnah is not to delay fast breaking.
He said that his Ummah will continue to enjoy blessings of Allah so long
as they break their fast as soon as the sun has set without further
delay.
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to break his fast on
a few dates and water; then he would stand for Maghrib; he would take
the regular meal only after the Salah (Prayer).
Excerpted, with slight modifications, from:
www.islam.ca