سنن السحور والإفطار

Suhur (the meal before dawn). • It is blessed: "Take suhur, for in suhur there is blessing." (Bukhari 1923, Muslim 1095) • It is recommended to delay it, towards the end of the night. Zayd ibn Thaabit reported that between their suhur with the Prophet ﷺ and the prayer there was time to recite about fifty verses (Bukhari 1921). • Even a sip of water or a few dates are enough to follow the sunna. • The limit is dawn: Allah says "Eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread" (meaning of 2:187). [TEXTE ARABE À INSÉRER : sourate 2:187, passage « وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ … »]. In practice, we follow the Fajr time on the centre's timetable.

Iftar (breaking the fast). • Break the fast as soon as the sun has set, without waiting: "People will remain upon good as long as they hasten to break the fast." (Bukhari 1957, Muslim 1098) • With what? The Prophet ﷺ broke his fast with fresh dates, otherwise dry dates, otherwise a few sips of water, before praying (Abu Dawud 2356, Tirmidhi 696) [À VÉRIFIER : numéros]. • The dua reported at the time of breaking the fast: ذَهَبَ الظَّمَأُ وَابْتَلَّتِ الْعُرُوقُ وَثَبَتَ الْأَجْرُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ Dhahaba ẓ-ẓama'u wa btallati l-'uruuqu wa thabata l-ajru in shaa'a llaah "The thirst has gone, the veins are moistened, and the reward is certain, if Allah wills." (Abu Dawud 2357) [À VÉRIFIER : degré] • The moment of breaking the fast is a time for dua: the one who fasts has a supplication that is not turned away [À VÉRIFIER : référence et degré]. Take a minute before eating to ask Allah.

Feeding those who fast. "Whoever gives food to someone who is fasting has the same reward as them, without the reward of the one fasting decreasing in any way." (Tirmidhi 807) [À VÉRIFIER : numéro]. That is the meaning of shared iftars at the mosque.

Generosity. The Prophet ﷺ was the most generous of people, and he was even more so in Ramadan (Bukhari 6, Muslim 2308).

Guarding one's tongue. "Fasting is a shield. The one who fasts should neither use foul language nor quarrel; if someone insults or provokes him, let him say: I am fasting." (Bukhari 1894, Muslim 1151)

Moderation. Fasting loses part of its meaning if the nights become feasts and food is wasted. A simple, shared meal leaves more strength for the night prayer.

Understanding the lesson

Explanation The sunnahs of suhur and iftar show a balance: Islam does not ask us to deprive ourselves as much as possible, but to fast wisely. Suhur gives strength for the day; hastening iftar avoids prolonging hunger beyond what Allah asks.

The time of suhur is also a spiritual moment. Allah praises "those who seek forgiveness before dawn" (meaning of part of 3:17). Getting up a little earlier makes it possible to pray two rak'ahs, make a dua or ask forgiveness before eating.

Iftar, for its part, is a time for sharing. Inviting a neighbour, a student on their own, someone who has recently become Muslim, taking part in the mosque's iftars: this is living the hadith on the reward of the one who feeds a fasting person.

Finally, moderation protects both health and worship: an overly heavy meal makes the night prayer difficult, and waste contradicts the spirit of the month.

Lessons to draw from it • Don't skip suhur: even a few dates or a little water are enough to follow the sunnah. • Use the time before dawn for prayer, dua and seeking forgiveness. • Break the fast without delay, taking a minute for dua. • Share iftar with those who are alone, and avoid waste.

Key points to remember • "Take suhur, for in suhur there is blessing" (Bukhari 1923, Muslim 1095). • "People will remain in good as long as they hasten to break the fast" (Bukhari 1957, Muslim 1098).

The main message Suhur and iftar make each day of fasting a balance between body and soul, and a chance to share.