the adhan of Bilal, nor the vertical dawn, but the spreading dawn on the horizon." Al-Tirmidhi (7) said: This is a hasan (good) hadith. Abu Qilaba reported that Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, said while eating the suhur: "O servant, close the door, lest the morning (subh) should take us by surprise." A man said to Ibn Abbas: "I am eating the suhur, and when I am in doubt, I stop." Ibn Abbas said: "Eat as long as you are in doubt, until you no longer doubt." As for sexual intercourse, it is not recommended to delay it because it is not something one gains strength from, and it carries the danger of the necessity of an expiation (kaffarah) and the invalidation of the fast occurring thereby.

The third matter concerns what is used for the suhur. Anything that results in eating or drinking (8) fulfills the merit of the suhur, because of his (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) statement: "Even if one of you should gulp a gulp of water." Abu Hurayrah reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) that he said: "The best suhur for the believer is dates." Recorded by Abu Dawud (9).

The second chapter is regarding hastening the breaking of the fast (iftar). It contains three matters: First, its recommendation. This is the opinion of most scholars because of what Sahl ibn Sa'd al-Sa'idi reported, that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "The people will continue to be in a good state as long as they hasten the breaking of the fast (10)." Agreed upon (11). From Abu 'Atiyyah, who said: "Masruq and I entered upon 'Aishah, and Masruq said: 'Two of the companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) - one of them hastens the iftar and hastens the Maghrib prayer, while the other delays the iftar and delays the Maghrib prayer?' She said: 'Who is the one who hastens the iftar and hastens the Maghrib prayer?' He said: 'Abdullah (12).' She said: 'That is how the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to do.'" Recorded by Muslim (13). From Abu Hurayrah, who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Allah the Exalted says: 'The most beloved of My servants to Me are the swiftest of them to break their fast.'" Al-Tirmidhi (14) said: This is a hasan gharib (good but singular) hadith. Anas said: "I did not see the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) perform prayer until he had broken his fast, even if only with a sip of water." Recorded by Ibn 'Abd al-Barr (15).

The second matter is what one breaks the fast with. It is recommended to break the fast with fresh dates (rutab), and if none are available, then with dried dates, and if none are available, then with water, because of what Anas reported, saying: "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to break his fast with fresh dates before praying, and if there were none, then with dried dates, and if there were no dried dates, he would take sips (16) of (17) water." Recorded by Abu Dawud, al-Athram, and al-Tirmidhi (18), who said: A hasan gharib hadith. From Salman (19) ibn 'Amir, who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "When one of you breaks his fast, let him break it with dates; if he does not find any, let him break it with water, for it is pure."