As a Muslims, we all know Suhoor is the pre-dawn meal consumed by Muslims observing fasting during the month of Ramadan. Suhoor has its own religious importance In this blog, we will discuss the concept of Suhoor in detail.
So, let’s get started!
Ramadan Meal Times
During Ramadan, Muslims eat two main meals:
- Suhoor: This is eaten before sunrise, usually very early in the morning. It is the time when Muslims fuel up for the day ahead of fasting.
- Iftar: This is the meal eaten after sunset when Muslims break their fast. It is a special time for families and communities to come together and enjoy a meal after a day of fasting.
Meaning of Suhoor
In Arabic, Suhoor means “the last part of the night” It refers to the meal that is eaten in the last part of the night or early in the morning, before the break of dawn.
It has different spellings and doesn’t stick to just one e like, Suhur, sahur, Suhoor As in Arabic, it is derived from the three root words, which means “of the dawn”. It is also called as Sehar, sehri in Persian
Religious Significance of Suhoor
Suhoor is meant to get your body ready for a day of fasting and make fasting easier by easing the challenges.
Suhoor is a time to have a fulfilling meal that prepares you for fasting throughout the day. It is considered a blessed time, occurring during the third part of the night, and it’s ideal for praying to Allah (SWT), making dua, and seeking forgiveness.
From a spiritual viewpoint, the Prophet (PBUH) advised Muslims to have Suhoor because it holds hidden blessings that benefit them. As it is mentioned in the Ahadiths:
“There is blessing in eating suoor; so, do not skip it, even if one of you has a sip of water. For indeed Allah and His Angels send blessings and mercy on those who eat suhoor.”
“Have Suhoor for verily there is a blessing in it.” (Abu Dawood)
A crucial aspect of Suhoor is setting the intention to fast. Having Suhoor is a recommended practice, and one should strive to have it even if it means just having a few dates and a sip of water.
“Whoever does not have the intention of fasting before Fajr, there is no fast for him.” (Ahmad)
Is Suhoor Obligatory for Every Fasting Person?
As said by our holy prophet PBUH:
“Whoever wants to fast, let him eat something for suhoor.”
However, according to this suhoor is taken mandatory, but the fact is, it is not mandatory but must recommended for the person who intends to fast. The reason behind this is, that it is the blessed meal.
Why is Suhoor Blessed?
Suhoor is considered blessed because it follows the Sunnah and the tradition of the Prophet (PBUH).
Moreover, this meal provides us with added strength for engaging in Dhikr and gives us more energy to manage the day ahead.
By waking up for Suhoor, Muslims ensure they are awake for supplication to Allah (SWT) during the best time for worship, which is the last part of the night.
DUA For Suhoor or Making an Intention to Fast
The dua for suhoor is:
بِصَوْمِ غَدٍ نَوَيْتُ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ
Translation: “I intend to keep the fast for tomorrow in the month of Ramadan.”
The Best Time for Suhoor
Zayd ibn Thaabit (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that they had Suhoor with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), after which he went to pray. When asked about the time between the call to prayer (iqaamah) and Suhoor, it was said to be as long as it takes to recite fifty verses of the Qur’an at a moderate pace. This suggests that the time for prayer closely follows the end of eating and drinking.
In this context, Adhan (the call to prayer) mentioned here refers to the iqamah, which signals the imminent start of the prayer. Anas, the narrator, reported that the time between finishing Suhoor and beginning prayer was similar the duration it takes to recite fifty verses.
While it is permissible to have Suhoor halfway through the night, it goes against the Sunnah. Suhoor is named as such because it occurs at Sahr, the end of the night. Eating Suhoor too early may result in missing the Fajr prayer due to sleepiness.
Delaying Suhoor is more beneficial for the fasting person as it conserves energy and provides strength for fasting. Therefore, it’s advisable to follow the Prophet’s example and delay Suhoor.
Benefits of Suhoor
The blessings of Suhoor are plentiful, offering benefits in both this life and the Hereafter:
- Suhoor provides strength for worship, helping one to obey Allah throughout the day by praying, reading Qur’an, and remembering Allah (dhikr). Without Suhoor, hunger can make someone lazy in worship, just like it can affect their daily tasks.
- Having Suhoor prevents bad moods caused by hunger, allowing one to be in a good mood and interact well with others.
- It encourages more fasting because fasting becomes easier with Suhoor. This motivates people to fast more frequently.
- Eating Suhoor is following the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). Therefore, it becomes an act of worship and earns rewards accordingly. Whether it’s for gaining physical strength or following the Prophet’s example, the intention matters.
- People who eat Suhoor wake up at a time when prayers are readily accepted, and blessings are sent upon them by Allah and angels.
- By having Suhoor, Muslims differentiate themselves from the people of other religions who may not practice it.
- Another blessing of Suhoor is the opportunity to pray Fajr in congregation at the proper time, which increases the number of worshippers during Ramadan.
Key Takeaway
- It is important not to skip Suhoor, even if feeling sleepy, as the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) emphasized its significance.
- Suhoor can be as simple as consuming a small amount of food or drink, and it doesn’t have to be any specific kind of food.
- The best suhoor for the believer is dates as said by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
- The important etiquette of fasting, as emphasized by scholars, is to avoid extravagance during suhoor. One should not overfill their stomach with food but instead eat a moderate amount. This is because filling one’s stomach excessively is not beneficial and can be harmful
In conclusion, Suhoor holds significant religious importance in Islam, serving as the pre-dawn meal consumed by Muslims before beginning their fast during Ramadan. It is recommended to have suhoor as it provides strength for worship, prevents bad moods caused by hunger, and encourages more frequent fasting. Following the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), having Suhoor becomes an act of worship that earns rewards. Moreover, Suhoor offers blessings in both this life and the Hereafter, as it provides an opportunity for prayers to be readily accepted and increases the number of worshippers during Ramadan. It is essential not to skip Suhoor.
Suhoor serves as a means to spiritually prepare oneself for fasting and to gain the blessings and rewards associated with this blessed act of worship.
May Allah accept our worship & prayers. Ameen.