The Messenger of Allah said: "Eat and drink, and do not be disturbed by the rising glow, eat and drink until the redness appears to you on the horizon."
Hadith Text & Reference
The Messenger of Allah said: "Eat and drink, and do not be disturbed by the rising glow, eat and drink until the redness appears to you on the horizon."
Source: Jami' at-Tirmidhi, Hadith: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 705
Context & Meaning
This noble hadith addresses the timing of suhur (pre-dawn meal) during Ramadan, clarifying the permissible time for eating before the Fajr prayer begins. The "rising glow" refers to the vertical whiteness that appears falsely before true dawn, while the "redness on the horizon" indicates the true horizontal light of dawn.
Scholarly Commentary
Imam at-Tirmidhi recorded this hadith to establish the proper time for stopping suhur. The initial "glow" that rises vertically is not the true dawn but rather false dawn (al-fajr al-kadhib), during which eating remains permissible.
The true dawn (al-fajr as-sadiq) is characterized by horizontal light spreading across the horizon, described as "redness" in the narration. This marks the beginning of Fajr time and the commencement of the fast.
Scholars emphasize this distinction to prevent premature cessation of suhur, ensuring Muslims receive the blessings of this blessed meal while maintaining the validity of their fast.
Legal Ruling
The ruling derived from this hadith is that eating and drinking are permitted until the true dawn appears, characterized by horizontal light across the horizon. One should not stop eating based on the vertical false dawn.
This aligns with Quranic guidance in Surah al-Baqarah: "And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night]."