Zaid bin Thabit said, "We took the Suhur with the Prophet (ﷺ) . Then he stood for the prayer." I asked, "What was the interval between the Suhur and the Adhan?" He replied, "The interval was sufficient to recite fifty verses of the Qur'an."
Hadith Commentary: The Timing of Suhur
This narration from Sahih al-Bukhari (1921) provides crucial guidance regarding the permissible time for the pre-dawn meal (Suhur) during Ramadan. The esteemed companion Zaid bin Thabit (may Allah be pleased with him) relates this practice directly from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Scholarly Analysis of the Time Interval
Classical scholars have determined that the time between finishing Suhur and the Fajr prayer is approximately the duration required to recite fifty verses of the Qur'an at a moderate pace. This equates to roughly 10-15 minutes in contemporary measurement.
Imam An-Nawawi commented that this demonstrates the permissibility of eating Suhur until very close to Fajr time, contrary to those who would stop eating much earlier. This aligns with the divine wisdom of providing strength for fasting while observing the precise timings ordained by Allah.
Legal Rulings Derived
The majority of scholars from the Hanafi, Shafi'i, Hanbali, and Maliki schools agree that Suhur remains permissible until the true dawn (al-fajr as-sadiq) appears. This hadith serves as primary evidence against unnecessary caution that would cause people to abandon Suhur too early.
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani emphasized that this practice encourages Muslims to take full advantage of the blessings of Suhur while maintaining strict adherence to the commencement of fasting at the correct time.