Suhoor is a pre-dawn meal eaten by Muslims during Ramadan to sustain them during the day’s fasting. It must be finished before the dawn prayer, and Muslims believe that abstaining from it may lead to losing blessings. The meal is typically heavy and served as a family affair.
Suhoor generally pertains to a Muslim meal that is eaten before dawn or before the first light of the day appears. It is a traditional part of Ramadan, a time when Muslims usually fast to purify themselves. It is said that the pre-dawn meal is not obligatory, but it is very important, as it helps sustain and nourish a Muslim during the fasting period of the day. In other languages, suhoor is also known as sahari, sehur or sehri.
The literal meaning of the Arabic word “suhoor” is “of the dawn”, most likely referring to the time of day when the meal should be eaten. In the past, Muslims considered the daily fasting period to be more than 20 hours, but later analysis and examination of the Quran, Islam’s holy book, revealed a story involving the Prophet Muhammad and two companions, Bilal and Ibn Umm Maktoon. The story relates how both companions prayed before dawn, with Bilal the first, but Ibn Umm Maktoom’s prayer approached the time of dawn. Muhammad therefore designated the latter’s prayer as the signal for the beginning of the fast.
There are certain rules that Muslims usually follow in having nuns, one of which is finishing their “breakfast” before the “fajr” or “dawn” prayer. If a person is still eating, even just one minute after the prayer begins, the act of fasting is disqualified. Technically, the sehur can be eaten after midnight, but many Muslim authorities recommend eating the meal just before the fajr prayer. Muslims are also encouraged to recite a prayer: “I intend to fast for tomorrow in the month of Ramadan.”
The practice of eating sehur also implies that a Muslim should be able to wake up especially at the beginning of the month of Ramadan to partake of the pre-dawn meal, as eating and drinking anything after sunrise is not permitted. Muslims also believe that a person who abstains from sehur may lose many blessings, as Muhammad is said to have given instructions: “Eat nuns, for there are blessings.” Suhoor is typically served as large and heavy meals, as it is the only meal Muslims are allowed to eat before sunset. It is advised, however, that meals are kept simple, as Ramadan is a month-long reminder that Muslims should be purified, charitable, and humble. Many Muslims enjoy nuns as a family affair, inviting family and friends together to arrange a large gathering.
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