Explanation of the Rulings of Fasting: First: Delaying the Pre-Dawn Meal

The Shaykh : We begin by mentioning some of the rulings of fasting. First: the pre-dawn meal (suhur), meaning that a person eats the pre-dawn meal. Is it obligatory, a recommended practice (sunnah), or permissible like lunch and dinner? Yes, it is recommended, a sunnah. Therefore, a person should keep three things in mind when the pre-dawn meal is served to him; pay attention to them. He should keep three things in mind: First, complying with the command of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). That is, you keep in mind that it is as if the Messenger is saying, "Eat the pre-dawn meal," so you eat it, as if you are saying with your state, "Hear and obey." When you eat the pre-dawn meal in compliance with the command of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), you are rewarded for it. Second, you keep in mind following the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to eat the pre-dawn meal. He used to eat it and delay it until there was between him and the prayer only the length of fifty verses. So now you are eating as if the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) is in front of you eating, meaning from the aspect of following him. Otherwise, he has passed away (may Allah's prayers and peace be upon him), but from the aspect of following him. Third, you keep in mind seeking assistance with this pre-dawn meal for what? For the fast, which is an obligation among the obligations of Allah. So you are seeking assistance with it for the obligation, and whatever assists in an obligation is good. Keep these three matters in mind. But most people, and we are among them at times, do not keep in mind when eating the pre-dawn meal anything other than what? Other than filling the stomach. They do not keep in mind that this is a sunnah that is commanded, and that they are following the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) in it, and that they are seeking assistance with it for the obedience of Allah.