Ahadith

Zaid ibn Thabit relates: We ate breakfast during Ramadhan with the Holy Prophet and then stood up for Prayer. He was asked what was the interval of time between the two. He said: The time required for the recital of fifty verses (Bokhari and Muslim).

Ibn Umar relates that the Holy Prophet had appointed two muezzins, Bilal and Ibn Umm Maktum. He said: Bilal calls the Azan while it is still night. So continue your breakfast till Ibn Umm Maktum calls it. There was in fact only a brief interval between the two (Bokhari and Muslim).

Amr ibn ‘As relates that the Holy Prophet said: The difference between our observance of the fast and that of the People of the Book is the eating of breakfast (Muslim).

Sahl ibn Sa‘ad relates that the Holy Prophet said: My people will adhere to good as long as they do not delay the breaking of the fast (Bokhari and Muslim).

Abu Atiyyah relates: Masruq and I visited Ayesha and Masruq said to her: There are two of the companions of the Holy Prophet neither of whom holds back from any type of good; one of them goes forward in breaking his fast and offering Maghrib Prayer and the other retards both. She asked: Who is the one who goes forward in breaking his fast and offering Maghrib? He answered: Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud. She observed: The Holy Prophet did the same (Muslim).

Abu Hurairah relates that the Holy Prophet said: Allah, the Lord of honour and glory says: Of My servants I love most those who are foremost in breaking their fasts (Tirmidhi). .

Umar ibn Khattab relates that the Holy Prophet said: When the night approaches from the East and the day retreats in the West and the sun has set, the one observing the fast breaks it (Bokhari and Muslim).

Abdullah ibn Aufa relates: We were with the Holy Prophet in the course of a journey when he was observing a voluntary fast. When the sun set he said to someone: So and So, dismount and prepare the ground roast barley for us. He answered: Messenger of Allah, if you would let it be dark. He repeated: Dismount and prepare the barley for us. The man said: There is daylight still. The Holy Prophet said a third time: Dismount and prepare the barley for us. On this the man dismounted and prepared the dish. The Holy’ Prophet ate of it and pointing to the East said: When you perceive the night approaching from that direction let the one observing the fast break it (Bokhari and Muslim).

Salman ibn ‘Amir Dhabi relates that the Holy Prophet said: Break your fast with a date, else with water for it is pure (Abu Daud and Tirmidhi). .

Anas relates: The Holy Prophet used to break his fast before offering Maghrib with fresh dates, failing that with dry dates and failing that he would swallow a few mouthfuls of water (Abu Daud and Tirmidhi).