Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Eighth Lesson on Iftar – Part 8
By Mufti
Abdul Malik Misbahi, New Age Islam
Translated
into English by Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi, New Age Islam
30 March
2023
Eighth
Lesson on Iftar
The fact
that every good deed performed during Ramadan is multiplied by a variety of
blessings and virtues is unquestionably a special blessing of the month. As an
illustration, consider Sehri which is a pre-dawn meal. You have already
seen the reward that is given on Sehri in the previous lesson if it is
consumed with the intention of fasting. In the same vein, Iftaar, or
breaking the fast is ostensibly done to relieve oneself of the discomforts of
fasting. But it also contains mercy and benefits, as stated in the Sacred
Hadith. The beloved Prophet (peace be upon him), says:
“The
people will not cease to remain upon goodness so long as they hasten to break
the fast.” (Sahih Bukhari vol. 1: p.
645)
The
beloved Prophet (peace be upon him) is reported as saying in another hadith:
“My Ummah will not cease to be upon my Sunnah so long as they do
not delay breaking their fast until the stars appear.” (Sahih Ibn Khuzaimah,
p. 209)
The
beloved Prophet (peace be upon him) says, Allah, the Exalted, says: The one who
is most beloved to me among my servants is the one who hastens to break the
fast.
The
Prophet (peace be upon him) also said: ‘This Deen (Islam) will always
stay dominant, for as long as people will be prompt in Iftar, because
the Jews and Christians delay (breaking their fasts)." (Sunan Abu
Dawud, Vol. 2. P. 446)
The
beloved Prophet is also reported to have said,
"Whoever
makes provisions for the Iftaar of a fasting person, for a Ghazi (Muslim
soldier), for a pilgrim, or for his family behind him, he will receive the same
reward without any reduction."
Virtue of
Making Provisions for Iftaar
When
addressing the merit of providing food for the Iftaar to a person who is
fasting, also make reference to the following hadith:
“The
person who offers Halaal food or water for Iftaar, the Angels
make Dua-e-Istighfar for him throughout the entire month of Ramadan, and
the Angel Jibraeel (peace be upon him) prays for forgiveness for him on the
night of Qadr.” (Tabarani, Mujam al-Kabeer, Volume: 2. Page: 262)
One
narration states that the person who offers Iftaar (to someone) in
Ramadan from Halaal earnings, then the Angels send Durood
(blessings) upon him during all the nights of Ramadan, and Jibraeel
shakes hands with him on the Night of Qadr.
The
beloved Prophet (peace be upon him) makes the following statement when
describing the virtue of providing water to someone who is fasting: "Whoever
offers water to a fasting person, Allah will give him water from my Hauz
(pond), so that he will not be thirsty till he enters Paradise." (Sahih
Ibn Khuzaimah, Volume: 3. Page: 192)
What Should
Be Used To Break The Fast?
The
beloved Prophet (peace be upon him) is reported to have said,
“One of
you should break his fast (make Iftaar) with dates or dried dates since
it is a blessing; if you cannot obtain dates then break your fast with water
because it is a purifier (cleanser).” (Tirmidhi, Vol.2, p.162)
Dua Is
Accepted During The Moment Of Breaking The Fast
The Holy
Prophet (peace be upon him) says, “Indeed, the supplication of a fasting person
is not rejected at the moment of breaking the fast.” (Targhib, Vol. 2, p.
35)
The
supplication of three persons is not rejected: (1) the fasting person at the
time of breaking the fast, (2) the righteous ruler, and (3) the oppressed.
After Allah the Exalted elevates their supplications above the clouds, the
gates of heaven are opened for these three, at which moment Allah the Exalted
says, "I swear on my honour! I'll certainly assist you, even if it takes
some time.” (Sunan Ibn Majah, Vol. 2, p. 349)
Dua For
Iftaar
There are
two well-known Duas (supplications) in the hadiths for breaking
the fast. The following is the first Dua:
اللَّھُمَّ لَکَ صُمْتُ،وَبِکَ
اَمَنْتُ وَعَلٰی رِزْقِکَ أَفْطَرْت۔
O Allah!
I fasted for you, and I broke the fast with sustenance provided by You. [Abu
Dawud]
The
following is a second Dua:
ذَھَبَ الظَّمَأُ، وَابْتَلَّتِ
الْعُرُوقُ، وَثَبَتَ الْأَجْرُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّہ۔
“Thirst
has gone, the arteries are moist, and the reward is certain if Allah wills.”[Abu
Dawud]
When Should
One Recite The Dua For Iftaar?
The
second Dua, as noted above, is generally agreed upon by scholars to be
recited following the fast. About the first Dua, the hadiths are
unclear as to whether it should be recited before or after breaking the fast.
The three possible things have been indicated by a variety of terms in various hadiths.
According
to certain hadiths this Dua should most likely be recited prior
to Iftaar, while some hadiths indicate that it should be recited
in the middle of Iftaar, and still others suggest that it should be
recited after Iftaari. Reciting this Dua after breaking the fast
is not Sunnah, hence insisting on one saying is incorrect. Moreover,
neither the person who recites this Dua before Iftaari nor the
one who recites it after Iftaari should be forbidden from or criticised
for doing so.
In fact,
some have assumed that reading this Dua is only permitted after breaking
a fast because it uses past tense verbs—for example, "I broke Fast with
food provided by You". Arabic grammar does not mandate it, in reality.
Instead, the past tense is occasionally employed in the structure of Arabic
language to describe events that are going to occur or are almost certain to
occur very soon.
In the
words of the Iqamah, for instance, we can observe that it is said,
"Qad Qamat al-Salaat," which translates as, "The
establishment of Salah has begun," even if the prayer has not yet
begun. But, a little time later, after reciting "Takbeer-e-Tahreema,"
the prayer is initiated. Following the construction of the rows and thorough
preparation, the prayer will almost certainly be established; for this reason,
it is stated in Iqamah that the process of the prayer has started.
Similarly, reading this Dua at the time of breaking the fast is correct
according to Arabic language norms when breaking the fast becomes imminent and
almost certain to occur very soon and the fasting individual starts to break
the fast at that time.
The hadiths
mentioned in this lesson affirm that the month of Ramadan is one for amassing
good deeds; hence, it is essential to gather them meticulously and with great
interest in order to prevent experiencing regret at the conclusion of the
month. May God grant us the ability to
do so during this wonderful month! Aameen
(Continued)
Mufti Abdul Malik Misbahi is the author of multiple books. He has also
lectured and held positions such as Mufti, Shaykhul Hadith, president,
founder, and director at a number of institutions, including Darul
Uloom Ghousia in Hubli, Karnataka, and Darul Uoom Solemaniya Rahmaniya in
Bikaner Darul Uloom Reza-e-Mustafa, Bihar, Madrasa Shah
Khalid, Vanwa Libo Muslim League, Fiji (near Australia), Madina
Educational Society, Rajasthan. He currently holds the positions of Mufti
in the Sunni Darul Ifta in the Madina Masjid, General Secretary of
the Raza Foundation, Director of the Darain Academy, Founder
of the Afkar-e- Raza Institution, and Chief Editor of the Do-Maahi
Raza-e-Madina (Urdu, Hindi) in Azadnagar, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand.
Previous Articles:
Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Welcome to Ramadan and
First Lesson on the Virtues of Ramadan
Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Second Lesson on the
Respect of Ramadan – Part 2
Thirty Lessons Of Ramadan: Third Lesson On The
Horrific Consequences Of Desecrating Ramadan – Part 3
Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Fourth Lesson on the
Fasting Of Ramadan and its Intention – Part 4
Thirty Lessons Of Ramadan: Seventh Lesson On Sehri
[Pre-Dawn Meal] Part 7
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-spiritualism/lessons-ramadan-iftar-part-8/d/129441
New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic
Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism