We went along with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) while he was fasting. When the sun set, he said to Bilal: Bilal, come down and prepare barley beverage for us. He said: Messenger of Allah, would that you waited for the evening. He said: Come down and prepare barley beverage for us. He said: Messenger of Allah, the say still remains on you (i.e. there remains the brightness of the day). He said: Come down and prepare barley drink for us. So he came down and prepared barley drink. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) drank it and said: When you see that the night approaches from this side, he who fasts has reached the time to break it ; and he pointed to the east with his finger.
Hadith Text & Context
This narration from Sunan Abi Dawud 2352 describes a journey where companions traveled with Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) while fasting. As sunset approached, the Prophet instructed Bilal to prepare barley beverage (sawiq) to break their fast, demonstrating the proper timing for iftar.
Timing of Breaking Fast
The Prophet's insistence on preparing the drink despite Bilal's hesitation shows that fasting ends immediately at sunset, even if some daylight remains. The scholars explain that "night approaches from the east" means when the sun's disk completely disappears below the horizon, not when total darkness falls.
Legal Ruling (Hukm)
This hadith establishes that breaking fast becomes permissible immediately upon sunset. Delaying iftar without valid reason is discouraged in Islamic law. The Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali schools all agree on this timing based on this and similar authentic narrations.
Spiritual Significance
Hastening to break fast at sunset reflects gratitude for Allah's permission to end the day's abstinence. It also distinguishes Islamic practice from People of the Book who sometimes delayed breaking fast. The Prophet's action teaches balance - neither breaking fast prematurely nor delaying it unnecessarily.
Practical Application
Muslims should break fast immediately after sunset confirmation, beginning with dates or water as per Sunnah. Modern methods like prayer timetables and astronomical calculations are valid for determining sunset. The hadith emphasizes observing actual sunset rather than relying solely on personal perception of darkness.