1. The Five Pillars of Islam
Sahur (Meal before dawn) before Fasting
Muslims eat a light meal before dawn, in preparation of the fast for the next day. This
pre-dawn meal is called Sahur.
Allah (God) has indicated in Qur-an to have Sahur (Meal before dawn).
Permitted to you on the night of the fasts is the approach to your
wives. They are your garments. And you are their garments. Allah
knows what you used to do secretly among yourselves; but He
turned to you and forgave you; so now associate with them and
seek what Allah has ordained for you and eat and drink until the
white thread of dawn appear to you distinct from its black
thread; then complete your fast till the night appears; but do not
associate with your wives while you are in retreat in the mosques.
Those are limits (set by) Allah; approach not nigh thereto. Thus
does Allah make clear His signs to men that they may learn self-
restraint.
Surah (Chapter) al-Baqarah (The Cow) Qur-an 2:187
Muhammad S used to take Sahur (Meal before dawn) and sometimes took the
predawn meal with his Sahabah (Companions).

2. Narrated Anas: Zayd bin Thabit R said, "We took the Sahur with the
Prophet S. Then he stood for the prayer." I asked, "What was the
interval between the Sahur and the Adhan?" He replied, "The interval
was sufficient to recite fifty verses of the Qur-an."
Sahih Bukhari Volume 3, Book 31, Number 144 ; Sahih Muslim Book
006, Number 2415
Muhammad S preferred to take Sahur (Meal before dawn) in the late hours of the
night.
Anas R reported Allah's Messenger S as saying: “Take meal a little
before dawn, for there is a blessing in taking meal at that time”.
Sahih Muslim, Book 006, Number 2412:
Ibn Mas'ud R reported Allah's Messenger S as saying The Adhan of
Bilal R should not restrain anyone among you from eating Sahur (meal
before dawn) for he announces Adhan (or he calls) at (the fag end of)
the night to make him turn who stands for prayer among you, and to
awaken those who are sleeping among you. And he said: The dawn is
not like it, as one says (and he lifted his hand) till he (dispersed his
fingers) and said: It is like this.
Sahih Muslim, Book 006, Number 2404:
Besides providing sustenance during fasting, taking Sahur (Meal before dawn) also
becomes a source of blessings of Allah (God).
Narrated Anas bin Malik R: The Prophet S said, "Take Sahur as there is
a blessing in it." Sahih Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 31, Number 146
Eating something in Sahur (Meal before dawn) is preferred. It does not have to be a big
meal necessarily. One should eat something as Sahur (Meal before dawn) as it is
mentioned in Qur-an and is also a Sunnah (Tradition of Muhammad S).
Sahur (Meal before dawn) could be taken till the signs of morning begin to appear on
the horizon.

3. Permitted to you on the night of the fasts is the approach to your
wives. They are your garments. And you are their garments. Allah
knows what you used to do secretly among yourselves; but He
turned to you and forgave you; so now associate with them and
seek what Allah has ordained for you and eat and drink until the
white thread of dawn appear to you distinct from its black
thread; then complete your fast till the night appears; but do not
associate with your wives while you are in retreat in the mosques.
Those are limits (set by) Allah; approach not nigh thereto. Thus
does Allah make clear His signs to men that they may learn self-
restraint.
Surah (Chapter) al-Baqarah (The Cow) Qur-an 2:187
Detailed timetables for the timings of Sahur (Meal before dawn) are published locally,
worldwide by Masajid (Mosques), Islamic Centers, Madaris (Seminaries), local
businesses or individuals of the area. Usually, most charts show the end of Sahur (Meal
before dawn) when it is completely dark and there are no visible signs of dawn. The
chart makers usually put a little safety margin in their charts, finishing Sahur (Meal
before dawn) a little earlier is better than finishing it late.
If someone wakes up after the time for Sahur (Meal before dawn) is over, do the Niyah
(Intention) for the fast at that time.

4. The Jews and the Christians also used to fast in the times of Muhammad S. Sahabah
(Companions) asked him whether there was any difference between the fasting of
Muslims and that of the Jews and the Christians?
Muhammad S told them that Sahur (Meal before dawn) was the only difference
between the fasting of Muslims and that of the people from other faiths.
„Amr bin al-„As R narrated that Muhammad S said “Only difference
between our fasting and the fasting of other people of the Book
(Christians and Jews) is that we eat Sahur (Meal before dawn) and they
do not”.
Tirmidhi Bab as-Sawm 16-629