Advice of Scholars - TO HAVE THE IFTÂR EARLY

Shernblâlî (rahmatullâhi ta’âlâ ’aleyh), wrote in the book Nûr-ul-îdhâh. “It is mustahab to have the iftâr early on cloudless nights. ” While explaining the book, he wrote, “On cloudy nights one must be careful in order to protect one’s fast from being broken, [that is, one must delay the iftâr a little]. One who eats the iftâr before the stars are seen has done it early enough. ” Tahtâwî says in his explanation of the book, “It is mustahab to break fast before performing the evening prayer. As written in the book Bahr [and also in Ibnî Âbidîn], to make haste for the iftâr means to have the iftâr before the stars are seen. ” Also it is mustahab to perform the evening prayer at that time, that is, to perform it early. When it is well understood that the sun has set, first the iftâr is eaten with dates, water, olives or salt. That is, the fast is broken. Then the evening prayer is performed in jamâ’at in a mosque or at home. Then the supper is had. Because it will take a long time to eat the food at the table, especially during Ramadân, the iftâr must be made with a little food and the supper must be had after the evening prayer so that the evening prayer will be performed early and the meal will be eaten with ease and without haste. Thus, the fast will be broken early and the prayer will be performed early.