When Will You Stop Eating Sahur, During Fajr Azan Or Imsak?

Illustration of sahur eating (Pexel)

YOGYAKARTA Some Muslims may still be confused about when to stop eating suhoor. This is because there are many opinions regarding the deadline for eating suhoor.

In the community, there is an opinion stating that the deadline for eating suhoor is when Imsak.

Another opinion states that a person is prohibited from eating and drinking when the call to prayer at dawn reverberates.

So, when will the time to stop eating suhoor, Imsak or the call to prayer at dawn?

Adapted from the official website of the Egyptian Fatwa Institute, the Imsak time is 15-20 minutes before the dawn call. Sheikh Ali Jum Muhammad conveyed that the time of the Imsak was a warning to the residents about the entry of fasting time.

Thus, a Muslim is still allowed to eat sahur when Imsak. This opinion is based on the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad.

The following reads:

"Eat and drink it to you until Ibnu Ummi Maktum announces the call to prayer. Because, in fact, he did not mention the call to prayer until dawn."

According to the hadith above, it can be concluded that the deadline for sahur time is when the azan Subuh reverberates.

The morning azan is sounded when the second dawn or dawn shodiq rises. The dawn azan is different from the time of the Imsak.

Imsak time is used to remind Muslims to immediately end the sahur because the fasting time will start soon.

Fasting begins when the second dawn or dawn until sunset.

Sheikh Ali Jum'ah said someone who intends to fast is allowed to eat and drink from sunset to dawn.

What is meant by the dawn here is the entry of fasting time or marked by the call to prayer. Therefore, if someone still eats suhoor when the shodiq dawn has been published, then he must immediately circulate what is in his mouth.

Best Time To Eat Sahur

According to Imam Ahmad, the best time to eat suhoor is in the third night until dawn.

Prophet Muhammad said:

"My people are in goodness as long as they move to open and end the sahur." (HR. Ahmad).

According to Abu Bakar Al-Kalabazi, what is meant by latting sahur' is to carry out sahur at the end of the night.

In the book entitled The Nature of Fasting of the Prophet and 20 Amalan Ringkas in the Month of Ramadan by dr. Raehanul Bahraen, M.Sc., Sp.PK. the best time to eat sahur is before Imsak.

This is based on a hadith narrated by Imam Bukhari. In the hadith, a friend of the Prophet Muhammad SAW, Zaid bin Tsabit admitted that he had been with the Prophet SAW and participated in the morning prayer in congregation after that. The range of time from finishing eating sahur and the dawn prayer of the Prophet Muhammad called Zaid was not long.

Anas ra of Zaid bin Tsabit ra said:

"We ate suhoor with the Prophet SAW, then he prayed (buh), then I asked, 'How long between the call to prayer and sahur?' He said, '(The old) is about 50 verses.' (HR. Bukhari IV/118, Muslim no. 1097).

From the hadith above, it can be concluded that the best time to eat suhoor is when it comes to Imsak. Eating suhoor that is too far from time will make your body limp quickly when fasting.

That's information about when to stop eating suhoor. Hopefully this article can add insight to the loyal readers of VOI.ID.