The mercy of Allah and His Malaaikah (Angels) are upon those who eat Sehri.
Ibn Umar (Companion of Prophet) says that, Prophet Muhammad said: “Verily Allah and His Malaaikah send blessings upon those who eat Sehri”.
Note: How great is Allah’s favour upon Muslims that even eating before dawn for fasting is so greatly rewarded. There are many Ahaadeeth (sayings of Prophet) in which the rewards of sehri are explained. Allama Ainee, a famous Aalim (Islamic Scholar), has quoted the rewards of sehri from seventeen different Sahaabah (Companions of Prophet Muhammad).
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Correct Time for Eating Sehri
Many people lose this great reward because of their own laziness. Some people, after finishing the Taraweeh Salaat, eat some food in place of sehri and go to bed. What great blessing do they lose! Sehri actually means food eaten shortly before dawn. Some ulema say that the time for sehri starts after midnight (Mirqaat).
The author of ‘Al-Kashshaaf’ (Az-Zamakhsharee) divided the night into six parts, saying that the last one of these is the time of sehri. Therefore, when the night (from sunset till dawn) lasts twelve hours, the last two hours would be the correct time for sehri.
Then it must also be remembered that to eat at the last permissible time is better and greater in reward than eating earlier, on condition that sehri is completed before the time of dawn.
Rewards of Eating Sehri
Prophet Muhammad said, “The difference between our fasting and that of the Ahle Kitaab (Jews and Christians) is that we eat sehri and they do not.”
Prophet Muhammad has said, “Eat sehri, because in it lies great blessings.”
In another Hadeeth it is said, “In three things are great blessings, in Jamaat (in a group), in eating thareed (a special dish) and in sehri.
In this Hadeeth, the use of the word Jamaat is general (for all actions), it includes Salaah with Jamaat and all those good actions done in a group, as Allah’s help comes to them.
Thareed is a type of tasty food, in which baked bread is cooked with meat. The third thing this Hadeeth speaks of is sehri.
When Prophet Muhammad used to invite any of the Sahaabah to eat sehri with him, he used to say: “Come and eat the blessed food with me.”
One Hadeeth says: “Eat sehri and strengthen yourself for the fast, Sleep in the afternoon (siesta) to make it easy to wake up in the later portion of the night (for the worship of Allah).”
Abdullah Ibn Haarith reports that one of the Sahaabah said, “I once visited Prophet Muhammad a time when he was busy in eating sehri.”
Prophet Muhammad then said: “This (sehri) is a thing full of barakah (blessings), which Allah has granted you. Do not give it up.”
Messenger of Allah in encouraging us repeatedly for sehri has said: “If there is nothing else, at least eat a date or drink some water.” Thus, when there are definitely great advantages and reward in sehri, Muslims should try hard to partake in sehri as much as possible.
However, in all things moderation (not too less or not too much) is important, and eating more than the required amount is harmful.
Neither should so little be eaten that one feels weak while fasting nor should so much be eaten that it causes discomfort. We have been advised not to overeat.
Reasons for Blessings in Eating Sehri
Ibn Hajar (a great Islamic scholar) has listed different reasons regarding the barakah (blessings) of sehri:
- The Sunnah is followed.
- Through sehri, we seperate ourselves from the ways of Ahle Kitaab (Jews and Christians), which we are at all times supposed to do.
- It provides strength for worship of Allah.
- It causes greater sincerity in the worship of Allah.
- It aids in preventing bad temper, which normally comes about as a result of hunger.
- Sehri is the time when duas are accepted.
- At the time of sehri, one gets the opportunity to remember Allah make zikr and dua.
How much Food One should Eat in Sehri?
The amount to be eaten in Sehri is different according to different persons and their activities. For example, for those students who are busy studying the knowledge of religion, too little food at sehri as well as at breaking the fast will be harmful for them. For them it is better not to eat too little, because they are studying religious knowledge, which is very important (for the protection and spread of Islam).
Similar is the case of those who are busy with zikr (Remembrance of Allah) and other religious activities. Other people who have no such hard work to do should eat little at sehri.
Once, Prophet Muhammad announced to those going for jihad; “There is no reward in fasting while travelling.” That was in the month of Ramadan, when some Sahaabah were fasting. Of course, where one is doing some work of religion where eating less does not lead to weakness, then it is best to eat less.
It is better that one should eat less in the nights of Ramadan than on other nights. After all, there is little benefit in fasting after having filled oneself at sehri and at breaking the fast.
The pious people have said, “Whoever remains hungry in Ramadan shall remain safe from the evil of Shaytaan (Devils) throughout the year until the next Ramadan.”