The Superiority of Hastening to Break the Fast, and supplications upon Breaking it

Imam Al-Nawawi’s Riyad-us-Saliheen
Chapter 222
The Superiority of Hastening to Break the Fast, and the supplication to say upon
Breaking it

1233. Sahl bin Sa`d (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “People will continue to adhere to good as long as they hasten to break the Saum (fasting).”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

1234. Abu Atiyyah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:   Masruq  and  I  visited `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) and said: “O Mother of the Believers! There are two Companions of Muhammad (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and neither of them holds back from doing good acts; but one of them hastens to break Saum (fasting) and hastens to perform the Maghrib prayer, while the other delays breaking Saum and delays performing Salat (prayer).” She asked, “Who is the one who hastens to break Saum and perform the Maghrib prayer?” Masruq said, “It is `Abdullah (meaning `Abdullah bin Mas`ud).” She said, “The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) used to do so.”
[Muslim].

1235. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Allah the Most High says: `From amongst my slaves, the quicker the one is in breaking the Saum (fasting), the dearer is he to me.”’
[At-Tirmidhi].

1236. `Umar bin Al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said: “When the night approaches from this side (i.e., the east) and the day retreats from that side (i.e., west) and the sun sets, then it is time for a person observing Saum (fasting) to break his fast.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

1237. Abu Ibrahim `Abdullah bin Abu Aufa (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: We were with the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) on a journey and he was observing Saum (fasting). When the sun set, he (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said to a person, “Dismount and prepare the ground roasted barley drink for us.” Upon this he replied, “O Messenger of Allah, there is daylight still.” The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Get down and prepare barley drink for us.” He said, “But it is still daytime.” The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) again said to him, “Get down and prepare barely drink for us.” So he got down and prepared a barley liquid meal for him. The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) drank that and then said, “When you perceive the night approaching from that side, a person observing Saum (fasting) should break the fast.” And he (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) pointed towards the east with his hand.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

1238. Salman bin `Amir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) saying, “When one of you breaks his Saum (fasting), let him break it on dates; if he does not have any, break his fast with water for it is pure.”
[Abu Dawud].

1239. Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) used to break his Saum (fasting) before performing Maghrib prayer with three fresh date-fruits; if there were no fresh date-fruits, he will eat three dry dates; and if there were no dry date-fruits; he would take three draughts of water.
[At-Tirmidhi].

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