Question:
Assalamualaikum. What is the hadith which encourages us to hasten in breaking our fast?
Answer:
Waalaikumussalam.
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
The month of Ramadhan is a month when people are chasing towards the great rewards offered by Allah SWT. Furthermore, everything that is commanded in this honoured month would surely have wisdoms behind it.
This matter is stated in a hadith narrated by Imam al-Bukhari and Imam Muslim in their Sahih.
- From Sahl bin Sa’ad RA, the Prophet PBUH said:
لاَ يَزَالُ النَّاسُ بِخَيْرٍ مَا عَجَّلُوا الفِطْرَ
"The people will remain on the right path as long as they hasten the breaking of the fast."
Sahih al-Bukhari (1957) and Sahih Muslim (1098)
The Meaning and Wisdom
Imam al-Hafiz Ibn hajar al-Asqalani said the wisdom on the commandment to hasten the breaking of fast is so that the daytime is not extended to the night for this is better for those who are fasting and would strengthen them in worship. Scholars agreed that it is permissible to break one’s fast as soon as a person is certain that the sun has set, either by observing it himself or through two others fair and just people and as well as one person according to a more accurate opinion. (See Fath al-Bari, 199/4)
Furthermore, Imam al-Nawawi RA said that in the hadith there is an encouragement to hasten in breaking one’s fast when he is sure that the sun has set. Among its meanings is so that the affairs of this ummah will always be organized and they will always be in righteousness for as long as they practise this sunnah. Consequently, if they delay it, then it shows that harm has befalls on him. (See al-Minhaj, 208/7)
Syeikh al-Bugho when doing ta’liq on this hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari said the meaning of “لاَ يَزَالُ” is they remain in ease and mitigation when they break their fast after they are sure that the sun has set for it is easier for them and strengthen them to perform worship. Moreover, he will also receive greater rewards for holding onto the sunnah of the Prophet PBUH.
Closing
To conclude, every commandment of syara’ has its own wisdoms and this shows our attitude in obeying Allah SWT’s and the Prophet PBUH’s every commandment. Besides, it is also sunnah for us to hasten in breaking our fast. Lastly, let us all practise this sunnah in our daily lives and may Allah SWT grant us the strength to complete the worship of fasting until the end. Amin.
Wallahua’lam.