Eat Away – And Get Reward from Allah

Have you ever thought that something as simple

as eating can be one of the most

rewarding things to do in Ramadan if you

do it right?

I'm your brother Abu Abdi Salaam speaking to

you from the blessed city of Makkah.

Mecca.

Ramadan, as we all know, is a time

of avoiding

most important

things like food and drink. As well as

focusing

instead on worshipping Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala and

getting close to him. But what if I

told you that at specific times in Ramadan,

eating the food that we love is the

most rewarding act? Yes. I'm talking about the

times of suhoor

and Iftar. Abu Atya once said, I said

to Aisha,

among us, there are 2 men, one of

whom hastens iftar

and delays suhoor and the other one delays

iftar and hastens suhoor.

She said, which of them is the one

who hastens iftar and delays suhoor?

I said, AdulAllah ibn Mas'ud radiAllahu an. She

said, this is what the messenger of Allah

sallallahu alaihi wasallam

used to do. Meaning delaying the sahur as

close as possible to fajr

and eating iftar as soon as Maghrib

sets. Just like us, the companions of the

prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam

would work during the morning hours in Ramadan

under the sun and in hunger. They plowed

the fields,

tended to their livestock, and traded and bartered

in the markets. Despite the scorching heat and

the pangs of hunger that come with fasting,

they did not waver in their commitments.

They were diligently dedicated to their roles in

society

as well as to their worship of Allah

subhanahu wa ta'ala at once,

showcasing an outstanding balance of duty and devotion.

Fast forward to our times, the essence of

Ramadan remains unchanged.

We too navigate through our day to day

responsibilities,

juggling work, family, and our responsibilities

towards Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala. The sunsets and

the Maghrib Adhan echoes, marking the end of

a long day's grind.

Iftar arrives as a much needed breather, a

precious time when the most beloved deed to

Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala is to simply open

our fast and to be grateful to Him.

In that moment of relief, as we reach

for those dates and sip cool water. It's

more than just fulfilling a physical need. It's

a profound

act of obedience to Allah and indeed gratitude.

Reminding us of the deep gratitude we owe

to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala for his countless

blessings and mercy. It's an embrace of the

relief and thankfulness

for every challenge Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala has

helped us get through, recognizing Allah's support in

our journey from true dawn all the way

to sunset. The time of Iftar marks the

end of a great act of worship and

our vulnerability

during this period gets us closer to Allah

Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala's mercy.

This is exactly why the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi

Wasallam said in a hadith

authenticated by al Bani, for the fasting person

there is an accepted Dua.

Meaning, that when the fasting person makes Dua

right before his iftar, this is a great

time to make Dua to Allah Subhanahu Wa

Ta'ala.

Just before his iftar, a fasting person's soul

is at its peak closeness to Allah and

gratefulness

for having almost completed the fast. This is

perhaps why Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala has set

this time to make dua and ask him

for anything we wish. We can ask him

to clear our debts,

guide our children and family members, get high

grades in exams, Cure us from sickness. Get

that promotion. We can make Dua for the

people who have passed away. Ask Allah to

remove our worries. Grant us peace of mind

and anything else that you desire

or need.

The other major meal in Ramadan is of

course the suhoor. The prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam

said in a hadith narrated by both Bukhari

and Muslim,

make sure to have your suhoor meal for

suhoor

is blessed.

Suhoor gives us energy and prepares us for

the next day's fast. On top of that,

it is a meal that is blessed by

Allah subhanahu ta'ala Mubarak

making its effect even more potent. As the

hadith of Aisha that

we mentioned before states, the prophet sallallahu ahi

wa sallam used to delay his suhoor. He

used to delay it until just before fajr

starts. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala permits us to

eat and drink until the break of dawn

as stated in the Quran. Allah says

And eat and drink until the white thread,

meaning the light of dawn appears to you

distinct from the black thread, meaning the darkness

of night.

And then complete your song, your fast until

the nightfall. This is in Surat Al Buqar.

So let's embrace these moments, understanding their essence

and significance

beyond mere actions, my dear brothers and sisters

in Islam. How can we bring them to

life in our fasting routine this Ramadan? Let

me know. Share your thoughts below. One final

point I'd like to say is make sure

you do have suhoor even if it's a

glass of water

or even if it is a date or

3 dates.

you from Mecca.

you from Mecca.