"The Messenger of Allah said: 'Eat Sahur, for in Sahur there is blessing." (Hasan)Abu 'Abdur-Rahman (An-Nasai) said: In this narration of Yahya bin Saeed, its chain is Hasan but it is Munkar, and I fear that the error is from Muhammad bin Fudail.
The Book of Fasting - Sunan an-Nasa'i 2151
"The Messenger of Allah said: 'Eat Sahur, for in Sahur there is blessing." (Hasan)
Commentary on the Hadith
This noble hadith establishes the immense virtue of taking the pre-dawn meal (Sahur) before fasting. The Prophet ﷺ explicitly commands the believers to partake in Sahur, emphasizing that it contains divine blessings (barakah).
The wisdom behind this command is manifold: Sahur strengthens the fasting person for worship, distinguishes Islamic fasting from that of other religions, and provides spiritual and physical sustenance for the day ahead. The barakah manifests in increased reward, ease in fasting, and divine acceptance of one's worship.
Chain of Narration Analysis
Imam Abu 'Abdur-Rahman An-Nasa'i, being among the foremost scholars of hadith criticism, notes that while Yahya bin Saeed's chain appears Hasan (sound), the narration is considered Munkar (rejected) due to irregularity. He expresses caution that the error likely originates from Muhammad bin Fudail, whose narrations sometimes contain weaknesses.
Despite this technical assessment, the substance of the hadith is established through numerous other authentic chains, making the ruling regarding Sahur's virtue firmly established in Islamic law.
Legal Ruling
The majority of scholars consider Sahur to be highly recommended (mustahabb) rather than obligatory. The minimum requirement for fulfilling this Sunnah is consuming any amount of food or drink, even a sip of water. The optimal time for Sahur is during the last portion of the night, close to the Fajr prayer.