Page 142 - The Importance of the Ahl Al-Sunnah

HARUN YAHYA

as it was prescribed for those before you – so that,
hopefully, you will have taqwa ... (Surat al-Baqara,
183)
This moral and behavioral training cleanses one’s soul of evil
and develops such emotions as love, affection, and compas-
sion. It is also highly beneficial to human health, as modern
medicine has proven.
The Messenger of Allah (saas) said:
“Fast (the month of Ramadan) to heal your bodies from
diseases.”

Suhur
The Prophet (saas) used to eat suhur (the pre-dawn meal dur-
ing Ramadan) but, as opposed to his practice of eating iftar
(breaking the fast at sunset), would eat suhur at a late hour.
According to a hadith al-sharif narrated by Anas bin Malik
(ra), the Messenger of Allah (saas) said: “Take suhur as there
is a blessing in it” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 31,
Number 146). Rising before dawn and eating suhur is done
with the intention of fasting. Indeed, Al-Fatawa al-Hindiyyah
reports that:
“To get up for suhur in Ramadan is an intention. Najm al-
Din Nasa’i agrees. However, rising for suhur applies solely
as the intention to fast for that day. It does not apply to the
intention to fast on other days.” (I:195)

The Preconditions for Fasting
According to Omer Nasuhi Bilmen:
1) Being Muslim, of sound mind, and an adult are essential for
being responsible for fasting. Those who do not meet these
criteria are exempt. However, a rational Muslim child who has
reached the age of discretion can fast as supererogatory.
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