SEHRI: A BLESSED FOOD

The meal taken before dawn during the month of Ramadan is called Sehri. The Prophet asked his companions to eat Sehri saying “Eat sehri because it is a blessing” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 1923) The Prophet invited a companion to partake of Sehri saying “Come, eat of the blessed food.” (Sunan Abu Dawud, Hadith No. 2344) Another companion relates that during the month of fasting, “Once I went to the Prophet before dawn and he was eating Sehri. The Prophet observed: ‘Sehri is a blessing that God has bestowed on you. So do not leave it out.’”  (Musnad Ahmad, Hadith No. 23142)

Eating the pre-dawn meal is a reminder of the reality that when God gives the command for a difficult task, He at the same time makes arrangements so that there is ease in the performance of that task. We should simply keep absolute trust in God Almighty.

The significance of sehri is to remind a believer
of this principle: when God gives a difficult command to man, He at the same time makes arrangements so that there is ease in the performance of that task if one places complete trust in God and perseveres.

The Prophet observed: “A fast should be kept by one who has expressed his intention to do so before dawn.” (Sunan an-Nasa’i, Hadith No. 2343)

Before commencing the fast we should make the intention (niyyah) to keep the fast.