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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Fast of the Month of Ramadhan: Philosophy and Ahkam The early meal of the Month of Ramadhan (Suhoor) The Exalted and Praised One has said in His Glorious Book: "... and eat and drink till the whiteness of the day becomes distinct from the blackness of the night at dawn, then com­plete the fast till nighttime" (Qur’an Surah Baqarah 2:187).

He has also said, "Little did they sleep during the night, and they sought their Lord's forgiveness in the early hours of the morn" (Holy Qur'an, Surah Dhariyat 51:17-18). And the Almighty has also said, "Those who persevere, and the truthful, and the obedient (to Allah), and those who spend (benevolently), and those who ask forgiveness during the time of the morn" (Holy Qur'an, Surah Ale-Imran 3:17).

Suhoor is the meal comprised of food and water taken before daybreak by a Muslim who intends to perform the obligation of the fast. It helps him while abstaining from eating and drinking during daytime. This is the suhoor in its absolute meaning. Its timing has been defined by the Almighty thus: "... and eat and drink till the whiteness of the day becomes distinct from the blackness of the night at dawn" (Holy Qur'an, Surah Baqarah 2:187).

This means that suhoor can be eaten at any time during the night till a short time before daybreak. But what about this "short time" defined before daybreak?

Anas ibn Zaid ibn Thabit, may Allah be pleased with him, once said, "The Prophet (S) ate suhoor with us once, after that he stood for the prayers." He was asked, "What was the length of time from the suhoor till the athan ?" He answered, "About the time it takes one to recite fifty Qur'anic verses." This tradition is recorded by al-Bukhari, Muslim, and Ibn Khuzaymah.

Muhammad ibn Ya’qub quotes Abu Yahya al-San’ani quoting Imam Abu Abdullah al-Sadiq (as) saying, "If a believer fasts and reads Surat al-Qadr during the time of his iftar and suhoor , he will be rewarded with the rewards due to a martyr." This tradition is recorded on p. 344, Vol. 94, of Bihar al-Anwar . The real meaning of suhoor transcends the physical and nutritious benefits with which it provides the person who observes the fast.

Quoting what the Almighty has said explains the real meaning of suhoor : "Little do they sleep during the night, and they seek their Lord's forgiveness in the early hours of the morn" (Holy Qur'an, Surah Dhariyat 51:17-18).