It is preferable to break the fast with dates and delay the meal until after the Maghrib prayer
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Fatwa number ( 18372 )
Q: How does a Muslim break his fast? Because many people are occupied with eating until the time for the Maghrib prayer has passed, and if you ask them, they tell you: there is no prayer in the presence of food. Is it permissible to cite this statement as evidence, since the time for Maghrib is short? And what should I do now: should I break my fast with dates, then perform the prayer, and after that finish eating, or should I finish all the food and then pray?
A: It is the Sunnah for the fasting person to hasten to break his fast once he is certain the sun has set; based on the hadith:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 699Sahih (Darussalam) , and the hadith: Al-Mustadrak lil-Hakim 46:7 The most complete practice for the fasting person
is to break his fast with dates, then delay eating the meal until after the Maghrib prayer; so that he combines the Sunnah of hastening to break the fast with the Maghrib prayer in its first time in congregation; following the example of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). As for the hadith:Sahih Muslim 560a and the hadith: and what comes in the same meaning, it refers to one to whom food is brought or who is present at a meal. He should begin with it before prayer so that when he comes to pray, his heart is free from longing for food, and he prays with a humble heart. However, he has no right to request the presence of food or to have it served before he prays if doing so would cause him to miss the prayer in its first time or the prayer in congregation. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: How does a Muslim break his fast? Because many people are occupied with eating until the time for the Maghrib prayer has passed, and if you ask them, they tell you: there is no prayer in the presence of food. Is it permissible to cite this statement as evidence, since the time for Maghrib is short? And what should I do now: should I break my fast with dates, then perform the prayer, and after that finish eating, or should I finish all the food and then pray?
A: It is the Sunnah for the fasting person to hasten to break his fast once he is certain the sun has set; based on the hadith:
The people will remain upon goodness as long as they hasten to break the fast.
لا يزال الناس بخير ما عجلوا الفطرThe most beloved of Allah’s servants to Allah are those who hasten to break their fast
أحب عباد الله إلى الله أعجلهم فطرًاis to break his fast with dates, then delay eating the meal until after the Maghrib prayer; so that he combines the Sunnah of hastening to break the fast with the Maghrib prayer in its first time in congregation; following the example of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). As for the hadith:
No prayer can be (rightly said) when the food is there (before the worshipper), or when he is prompted by the call of nature.
لا صلاة بحضرة الطعام، ولا وهو يدافعه الأخبثانWhen the meal and the prayer are present, begin with the meal
إذا حضر العشاء والعشاء فابدؤوا بالعشاء
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.