If a person is fasting a voluntary fast and the prayer is called for while he is eating, should he leave his meal and stand up for the prayer?
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The questioner : If a man is fasting a voluntary fast and the prayer is called for while he is eating.
The Shaykh : He is fasting a voluntary fast, yes.
The questioner : And he is breaking his fast when the prayer is called for, should he leave the meal?
The Shaykh : Whether the fast is obligatory or voluntary, it is all the same. Does he think that if he stands up, he will be distracted by this meal, or not? By Allah, I do not know; people differ. May Allah reward you. As for the one whose custom is to break his fast at sunset and drink whatever coffee is available, this does not concern him; he goes to pray Maghrib and does not worry about it. But as for the one whose custom is to have a dinner, we might say that if he leaves, his heart will be distracted. Therefore, it is the custom of some people to break their fast with a light meal, then pray, then return and have dinner. That is better, yes.
The Shaykh : He is fasting a voluntary fast, yes.
The questioner : And he is breaking his fast when the prayer is called for, should he leave the meal?
The Shaykh : Whether the fast is obligatory or voluntary, it is all the same. Does he think that if he stands up, he will be distracted by this meal, or not? By Allah, I do not know; people differ. May Allah reward you. As for the one whose custom is to break his fast at sunset and drink whatever coffee is available, this does not concern him; he goes to pray Maghrib and does not worry about it. But as for the one whose custom is to have a dinner, we might say that if he leaves, his heart will be distracted. Therefore, it is the custom of some people to break their fast with a light meal, then pray, then return and have dinner. That is better, yes.