THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SEHRI

During Ramadan, the meal taken before dawn 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. God has enjoined fasting on believers, but has also allowed them to have the pre-dawn meal before the day long fast. Any commandment of God, however difficult, requires absolute trust in Him.

Similarly, God has asked the believers to perform the task of conveying the message of Islam to people. During this task He takes the responsibility of protecting the believer from those who place obstacles in his path. If God’s command appears difficult to a believer, he should place his trust in God and persevere. This is because God does not only give commands but also fulfils the requirements needed to execute the command. He puts a person in a testing situation, but He also supports him throughout. He provides help for the person so that he can go through the situation he has been placed in.

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.