What we should know concerning Sehri

• Sehri is the meal that the Muslims partake before dawn in order to fast.

• There are many virtues and benefits in Sehri:

Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam) said: "Partake of Sehri as there is Barakah (blessings) in Sehri." (Bukhari/Muslim)

"The difference between our fast and the fast of the people of the book (Ahl-ul-Kitaab - Christians and Jews), is in partaking Sehri."  (Muslim, Abu Dawud and Tirmizi)

Therefore, waking up to partake of Sehri, is Sunnah. Even if we are not hungry or we do not want to eat, it is good to make the effort to wake up and drink at least a sip of water to fulfil this Sunnah.

• If a person could not wake up at the time of Sehri and woke up afterwards, he is not allowed to eat anything. He must just make Niyyah and fast as such. It will be a grave sin if he does not fast. It is a false conception that one should absolutely partake of Sehri in order to fast.

• It suffices to partake of Sehri after half the night has passed in order to get the Sawaab of Sehri and the last moment of Sehri is Subh-e-Saadiq. When Subh-e-Saadiq dawns, it is not permissible to eat anything under any circumstances.

• The best time to partake Sehri is a few moments before Subh-e-Saadiq. However, it should not be done at the very last minute, thereby creating doubt in the fast.

• One should not wait for Azaan to stop eating and drinking. As far as fasting is concerned, one should always take precaution. One should refrain from eating and drinking one or two minutes before Subh-e-Saadiq.

• If a person continued to eat and the time of Sehri has expired, and afterwards, he came to know that he had eaten after Subh-e-Saadiq, the fast will not be valid and he will have to replace it without Kaffaarah (compensation). However, the person should not eat or drink until sunset.

[English version of "Ceki nou bizin conné concernant sehri" – Al Jamiat – Vol.1 No.14]