Question:
Assalamu‘alaikum SS Datuk Mufti. What are the benefits of providing food for breaking fast?
Answer:
Waalaikumussalam wbt,
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the many countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
There are numerous evidences that mentioned the benefits of providing food for breaking fast. Hence, it is encouraged for anyone who are blessed with more than he needs to spend or treat others who are fasting for them to break their fast. Among the evidences are:
From Zaid bin Khalid, the Prophet PBUH said:
مَن فَطَّرَ صَائِمًا كَانَ لَهُ مِثلُ أَجْرِهِ، غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ لَا يَنْقُصُ مِن أَجْرِ الصَّائِمِ شَيئًا
“Whoever provides the food for a fasting person to break his fast with, then for him is the same reward as his (the fasting person's), without anything being diminished from the reward of the fasting person.”
Sunan al-Tirmizi (126)
From Ummu Ammarah, the Prophet PBUH said:
إِنَّ الصَّائِمِ إِذَا أَكَلَ عِندَهُ لمَ تَزَل تُصَلِّي عَلَيهِ المَلائِكَةُ حَتَى يَفْرُغَ مِن طَعَامِهِ
“When people eat by a person observing fast, the angels keep asking Allah's forgiveness for that person until they have had their fill.”
Sunan al-Tirmizi (1266)
The Prophet PBUH said:
الصَّائِمُ إِذَا أَكَلَتْ عِنْدَهُ المُفَاطِرُ صَلَّتْ عَلَيْهِ الملائِكَةُ
“If food is eaten in the presence of one who is fasting, the angels send blessing upon him.”
Sunan Ibnu Majah (1820)
The above-stated hadiths clearly state the benefits of providing food for people who are fasting to break their fast, especially if they are among the orphans, poor and needy.
The following we include the examples of scholars on how they provide for those who are fasting:
- Hasan al-Basri provides food for his brothers who are observing sunnah fasting, sitting and entertaining them while they eat.
- Abdullah bin al-Mubarak provides delicious food for his companions while they are travelling together, even when he was fasting.
- Hammad provides food every night in Ramadhan for 500 people.
- Abdullah bin Umar R.Anhuma fasted and will only break his fast together with the poor and needy.
May we be among those who always provide food for the people who are fasting. Amin.