The minimum amount that suffices for the pre-dawn meal and its time

The questioner:
What is the minimum that can be said to mean a person has eaten the pre-dawn meal, if we set a condition?

The Shaykh:
It depends on what Allah makes easy, according to one’s situation. I mean, some people complete the pre-dawn meal or do not. But if one does not desire the pre-dawn meal, we give him a sip of water or a sip of milk or some dates. But if he desires the pre-dawn meal, he eats a pre-dawn meal that is sufficient to strengthen him for the obedience of Allah.

The questioner:
Some people eat dinner at twelve o’clock, then they sleep and say, “We will not wake up until just before the call to prayer, when we will drink a glass of water.” Does this apply to them, meaning they have eaten the pre-dawn meal? I mean, they want this virtue that the Messenger mentioned in Allah. Does this apply to them?

The Shaykh:
It does not apply unless they delay the pre-dawn meal, and the preferred view is to eat the pre-dawn meal at the end of the night, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did. His pre-dawn meal was at the end of the night, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you, Shaykh,