One of the greatest joys for a fasting Muslim is breaking the fast at 6:55 pm in Nigeria. If you are wondering how we can reap the best rewards when breaking the fast, here is an attempt to highlight some of the guidelines set by our beloved Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.
After about 14 hours of fasting without any food or drink, including the extra efforts we put in trying to be better, we will usually be keen on looking forward to breaking our fast when the call to prayer, or the Maghrib adhan (call to prayer), commences.
This feeling of joy was indeed acknowledged by Rasulullah s.a.w., along with other benefits in his guide to fasting: The Prophet s.a.w. said: “Allah the Exalted and Majestic said: Every act of the son of Adam is for himself, except for fasting. It is (exclusively) meant for Me, and I (alone) will reward it.
“Fasting is a shield. When any one of you is fasting on a day, he should neither indulge in obscene language nor raise his voice; or if anyone reviles him or tries to quarrel with him, he should say: “I am fasting.”
By Him (Allah), in Whose Hand is the life of Muhammad, the breath of the fasting person is sweeter to Allah on the Day of judgment than the fragrance of musk. The one who fasts has two (occasions) of joy: one is when he breaks the fast, he is glad about the breaking of (the fast), and (the other) is when he meets his Lord he is glad about his fast.” (Sahih Muslim)
Here are the tips :
Hasten to break your fast:
The Prophet (s.a.w) said: “People will continue to prosper in goodness as long as they hasten to break their fast.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari) Even if we are in a rush for any particular reason, it is better for us to have something to break our fast before performing the Maghrib prayer.
Preparation for breaking fast is better so that you don’t find yourself in a confused situation arising from your work schedule or what to eat.
Using dates, any desirable fruit or water is better: We have fulfilled the obligation of fasting from dawn to dusk. Hence, it is now our responsibility to provide our body with its right to nutritious food and restore its energy. We will need our physical body and mind at its best for us to be able to perform high-quality worship on the blessed nights of Ramadan. Beware of what you take first on empty stomach.
The Prophet (s.a.w) said: “Whoever has dried dates, then let him break the fast with that, and whoever does not, then let him break the fast with water, for indeed water is purifying.” (Sunan At-Tirmizi)
“The Messenger of Allah would break the fast with fresh dates before performing solat. If there were no fresh dates, then (he would break the fast) with dried dates, and if there were no dried dates, then he would take a few sips of water.” (Sunan At-Tirmizi)
Make dua after first bite
Make dua immediately after taking the first bite of the date or the first sip of water: One of the best times to make dua is during the break of the fast. The Prophet s.a.w. mentioned: “There are three whose supplication is not rejected: The fasting person when he breaks his fast, the just leader, and the supplication of the oppressed person; Allah raises it up above the clouds and opens the gates of heaven to it.
And the Lord says: ‘By My might, I shall surely aid you, even if it should be after a while.’” (Sunan At-Timizi) “When the fasting person breaks his fast, his supplication is not turned back.”(Sunan Ibn Majah)
Make dua for yourself and your loved ones. Ask from Allah s.w.t. anything that you wish for. Be hopeful that your patience and resilience while fasting the whole day will be accepted by Allah s.w.t.
Eat only Halal food
Eat any of the Halal food and share the food with others: “Whoever provides the food for a fasting person to break his fast with, then for him is the same reward as his (the fasting person’s), without anything being diminished from the reward of the fasting person.”