What is the wisdom behind hastening the iftar and delaying the suhur in Ramadan?
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The questioner : Noble Shaykh, what is the wisdom behind hastening the iftar and delaying the suhur in Ramadan?
The Shaykh : The wisdom behind this is to make things easy for the servants and to adhere to the limits of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Indeed, Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) has specified eating during the suhur by the clear appearance of the dawn. He said, the Exalted:[Al-Baqarah 2:187] And consider His saying, the Exalted: [Al-Baqarah 2:187] He did not say: "until the dawn rises," so that the clear indication of making things easy for the Ummah is apparent to you, and that they are not burdened except with what they can bear.
As for hastening the iftar, it is because it is also quicker to give the soul its share of what it desires, from which it had abstained in obedience to Allah (Mighty and Majestic). It also involves adhering to the Shari'ah limits, for Allah says:[Al-Baqarah 2:187] And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih al-Bukhari 1954 and he pointed to the east Sahih al-Bukhari 1954 and he pointed to the west Sahih al-Bukhari 1954.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : The wisdom behind this is to make things easy for the servants and to adhere to the limits of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Indeed, Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) has specified eating during the suhur by the clear appearance of the dawn. He said, the Exalted:
So now, have relations with them and seek that which Allah has decreed for you. And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night]
فَالآنَ بَاشِرُوهُنَّ وَابْتَغُوا مَا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا حَتَّى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الأَسْوَدِ مِنَ الْفَجْرِuntil the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread
حَتَّى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الأَسْوَدِ مِنَ الْفَجْرِAs for hastening the iftar, it is because it is also quicker to give the soul its share of what it desires, from which it had abstained in obedience to Allah (Mighty and Majestic). It also involves adhering to the Shari'ah limits, for Allah says:
Then complete the fast until the sunset
ثُمَّ أَتِمُّوا الصِّيَامَ إِلَى اللَّيْلِWhen night falls from this side
إذا أقبل الليل من هاهناand the day vanishes from this side
وأدبر النهار من هاهناand the sun sets, then the fasting person should break his fast.
وغربت الشمس فقد أفطر الصائمThe questioner : May Allah bless you.