I would like to know if breaking fast (iftar) is fard (obligatory)or?
When a person apporching to the Masjid for Salatul Maghrib, during the
time of iftar, should he/she break the fast and join in the prayer or
pray first and then break the fast. I hope my question is clear
enough. Please, answer me in details and may Allah blessyou with His
mercy.
The Sunnah is to hasten to break one's fast. This is what is indicated
by the ahaadeeth. It was narratedfrom Sahl ibn Sa'd that the Messenger
of Allaah (peaceand blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "The people
will still be fine so long as they hasten to break their fast."
(Narratedby al-Bukhaari, 1821; Muslim, 1838)
What one should do is to hasten to break the fast byeating small
morsels that will calm one's hunger, then get up to pray, then ifone
wishes, one may comeback and eat more.
This is what the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
used to do. It was narrated that Anas ibn Maalik said: "The Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to break his fast
before praying by eating fresh dates, and if there were no fresh dates
he would eat dried dates; if there were no dried dates, he would have
a few sips of water." (al-Sawm, 632; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani
in Saheeh Abi Dawood, no. 560)
Al-Mubaarakfoori said in his commentary on the hadeeth: "This
indicates the lengths to which the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) in order to hasten to break his fast."
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