Question:
Do we stop eating when Fajr comes in or when the Athan is called?
Answer:
Shaikh Ibn ul-Uthaymeen rahimahullah said:
“…That is, whoever does something that breaks the fast [i.e. Food and drink] and he is doubtful whether Fajr emerged, that is because Allah, the Exalted said:
فَالْآنَ بَاشِرُوهُنَّ وَابْتَغُوا مَا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا حَتَّى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الْأَسْوَدِ مِنَ الْفَجْرِ
So now have sexual relations with them and seek that which Allah has ordained for you (offspring), and eat and drink until the white thread (light) of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread (darkness of night)
[2:187]
The opposite of distinction is doubt or opinion. So as long as Fajr is not ascertained for us, then it is allowed for us to eat and drink due to Allah’s statement:
رَبَّنَا لا تُؤَاخِذْنَا إِنْ نَسِينَا أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا
Our Lord! Punish us not if we forget or fall into error
[2:286]
And this [action] is from a mistake.
And due to the Hadith of Asmaa bint Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with her) that when they ate thinking that the sun had set and then [in reality after a little while] the sun [actually] emerged. So if this was in the last part of the day, then the first part of the day is more deserving [to take this ruling]. This is because the one in the earlier part of the day is authorized to eat and drink until the fajr becomes clear to him. This issue has five types:
- That it is clear Fajr did not emerge. For example, [if] Fajr emerges at five o’clock and he is eating and drinking at four thirty, then his fast is correct
- That it is clear that Fajr emerged, like one who ate in the above example but [did it] at five thirty, then [in this case] his fast is invalid
- To eat while he is doubtful [wondering whether] Fajr emerged or not? He thinks most likely that it did not emerge, so his fast is valid.
- To eat and drink while he thinks most likely that Fajr emerged, then his fast is valid also
- To eat and drink while in doubt such that either side cannot be said to be correct, then his fast is valid
All of these are taken from the statement:
فَالْآنَ بَاشِرُوهُنَّ وَابْتَغُوا مَا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا حَتَّى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الْأَسْوَدِ مِنَ الْفَجْرِ
So now have sexual relations with them and seek that which Allah has ordained for you (offspring), and eat and drink until the white thread (light) of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread (darkness of night)
[2:187]
Is this restricted to if he is not clear that he ate after Fajr emerged?
The correct opinion is that it is not restricted. Even if it is clear to him after that that Fajr emerged, then his fast is valid based on the excuse of ignorance in [that] situation”.
[Sharh Mumti’ (6/395)]
Translated by
Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan
