25th April 2016
السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته
Question. If during Suhoor time whilst they are chewing or have a morsel of food in their hand, the Adhān is called out then is it necessary to discard the food immediately upon hearing it?
الجواب حامداً و مصلياً
In the Name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer
The end time of Suhoor whereby the fasting time begins is based on the clear appearance of the dawn (Subhu Sādiq). The Adhān merely indicates to the time of Subhu Sādiq. A person however is given the concession to finish off the remaining morsel during the Adhān. The Messenger of Allāh sallallahu alayhi wasallam said, “When you hear the Adhān (of Fajr) whilst the utensil (i.e. food and drink) is in your hand then he should not put it down until he fulfils his need (finishes his food).[1]
Some scholars interpret this Hadeeth to suggest that it indicates to the concession given to eating until the clear appearance (Tabyeen) of the Subhu Sādiq since the beginning time of fast is based on the time, not the Adhān itself.[2] However, this is near impossible for us as most people are inexperienced in determining the setting of the dawn break due to our dependence on the Salāh time table. Each person must therefore close their fast according to their local time table. Based on the Hadeeth though, one is at liberty to finish the remaining morsel or drink during the Adhān. This does not imply that one can begin eating a full meal during the Adhān and continue to eat thereafter. This will otherwise break the fast and necessitate Qadha.
[Allãh Knows Best]
Written by (Mufti) Abdul Waheed
Answer Attested by Shaykh Mufti Saiful Islam
JKN Fatawa Department
[1] Abū Dāwood No: 2350
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِذَا سَمِعَ أَحَدُكُمُ النِّدَاءَ وَالْإِنَاءُ عَلَى يَدِهِ، فَلَا يَضَعْهُ حَتَّى يَقْضِيَ حَاجَتَهُ مِنْهُ»
[2] Maulāna Khalil Ahmad Saharanpuri, Badhl Majhood pp. 489-491 vol 8