What Is Dawn, When Does It Come and When Is It Unlawful to Eat?

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ibn ‘Umm Maktum once said Adhan for the morning Salat (prayer) and a man passed by the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, who was eating. He (the Messenger of Allah) invited the man to eat Suhur (breakfast in the morning before dawn). He said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, Mu’adhdhin has said Adhan for the morning Salat (prayer).’ The Messenger of Allah said, ‘Ibn ‘Umm Maktum says Adhan in the night; when Bilal says Adhan, then you must stop eating.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Dawn is when you see it, widthwise, like the whiteness of the suray (canal) (Euphrates river).”’

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of ‘The white twine from the black twine.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is the whiteness of the day out of the blackness of the night.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Bilal and ibn ‘Umm Maktum would say Adhan for the Holy prophet. Ibn ‘Umm Maktum was blind and would say Adhan in the night. Bilal, however, would say Adhan when it was dawn. The Holy prophet said, ‘When you hear the voice of Bilal then stop eating and drinking, because you are in the morning.’”

“This is about the words of Allah, most High, ‘It is lawful for you to have carnal relation with your wives during the night of the fast. . . .’ (2:187) One of the two Imam, (abu Ja’far or abu ‘Abd Allah), ‘Alayhim al-Salam, has said that it was revealed about the case of Khawwat ibn Jubayr al-Ansariy. He was with the Holy prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, at the time of digging the ditch and fasting. It became evening. At that time, before the revelation of this verse, if anyone slept, eating and drinking became unlawful for him. Khawwat went home to his family in the evening and asked for food. They said that it is not ready yet so you must wait until food is prepared for you. He leaned and fell asleep. They asked him, ‘Did you do it (sleep)?’ He replied, ‘Yes, I did.’ He remained in that condition until the morning, then went to work in the ditches and would faint. The Messenger of Allah passed by and asked about his condition, which he informed him of his story. Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, then sent down this verse, ‘Eat and drink until the white twine appears to you from the black twine in the morning.’ (2:187)”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘When does it become unlawful to eat and drink for one fasting, and when does performing Salat (prayer) of the morning becomes lawful?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘When dawn appears which looks like white Coptic fabrics, then eating and drinking become unlawful for a fasting person and performing the morning Salat (prayer) becomes lawful.’ I then said, ‘So we do not have time until sunrise.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘That is not it at all. Where are you going? That is the time for Salat (prayer) by children.’”