The Sunnah of Salaf to Make Istighfar at Suhur

The Sunnah of Salaf to make Istighfar at Suhur

ﺑﺴﻢ اﻟﻠﻪ اﻟﺮﺣﻤﻦ اﻟﺮﺣﻴﻢ

:said ( ﺗﻌﺎﻟﻰ) Allah

ْ ْ اﻟﺼَّﺎﺑِﺮِﻳﻦ َ وَاﻟﺼَّﺎدِﻗِﻴﻦ َ وَاﻟ ﻘَﺎﻧِﺘِﻴﻦ َ وَاﻟ ﻤُﻨﻔِﻘِﻴﻦَ ْ َ وَاﻟ ﻤُﺴْﺘَﻐْﻔِﺮِﻳﻦَ ﺑِﺎﻷ ﺳْﺤَﺎرِ

(They are) those who are patient ones, those who are true (in Faith, words, and deeds), and obedient with sincere devotion in worship to Allah. Those who spend [give the Zakat and alms in the Way of Allah] and those who pray and beg Allah’s Pardon in the last hours of the night. [ 3:17]

:said (ﺗﻌﺎﻟﻰ) Allah

َ وَﺑِﺎﻷ ﺳْﺤَﺎرِ ﻫُﻢْ ﻳَﺴْﺘَﻐْﻔِﺮُونَ

And in the hours before dawn they would ask forgiveness.[51:18]

These two verses establish the legislated act to ask Allah for forgiveness in the last hours of the night before dawn or the last 6th of the night.[1] Include in these verse is time of .Sahr( ﺳﺤﺮ) comes from) ﺳﺤﻮر) Suhur .The word Suhur

Allah said: And in the hours before dawn they would ask forgiveness.” This means that during those hours of night they ask Allah for his forgiveness. The salaf used to wake up at night regularly to offer prayer then afterwards they would seek Allah’s forgiveness and pardon.[2]

Hasan Al-Basri said: The (Salaf) wouldn’t sleep much at night. In fact they were active in worship and sometimes this would extend to until the last 6th of the night; and then they would complete those acts of worship by making Istighfar.[3]

.to be blessed [ﷺ]The Suhur has been mentioned by the Prophet said [ﷺ] He

ﺗَﺴَﺤَّﺮُوا ﻓَﺈِنَّ ﻓِﻲ اﻟﺴَّﺤُﻮرِ ﺑَﺮَﻛَﺔً

“Take Suhur as there is a blessing in it.”[4]

Imam Qadi Al-Iyyad mentioned what blessings come from Suhur in his explanation of Sahih Al-Muslim.

· Help the fasting person fast easier.

· Adds to the Iftar meal

· Add blessing to the time that it’s consumed and this is at the pre-dawn. The word Suhur comes Sahr which is eaten at that time. Actions and supplications done during those hours are accepted.

· During Suhur Allah’s Mercy descends to Earth.[5]

When looking and reflecting over the verse Al-Imran the ( تعالى) description fits the people who are fasting. Allah said:(They are) those who are patient ones, those who are true (in Faith, words, and deeds), and obedient with sincere devotion in worship to Allah. Those who spend [give the Zakat and alms in the Way of Allah] and those who pray and beg Allah’s Pardon in the last hours of the night. [ 3:17]

They are patient, true in faith, devote in their worship, pray and beg Allah’s Pardon. Imam Al-Qurtubi said: “The people having Suhur for Allah’s pleasure stand up praying the night prayer, and in most cases when a person is praying he’s making dua, and seeking Allah’s forgiveness, all which take place in Ramadan.[6]

Imam Al-Qurtubi in his Tafsir mentioned that Sayyidul Istighfar should be said during the last hours of the night. [7]

So during this blessed month let’s make istighfar to fill in the gaps where we might haave fallen short in worship during the fast. Allah knows best.

Prepared by Abu Aaliyah Abdullah ibn Dwight Battle

[1] Tafsir Hada’iqul Ar-Ruh, Shiekh Muhammad ibn Ameen Al- Ethipio(May Allah have mercy on him) vol28/pg226

[2] Ibid vol 27/pg 513

[3] Tafsir Al-Baghawi /vol 7,pg 239

[4] Sahih al-Bukhari 1923

[5] Ikmal Mu’alim vol 4/pg 17

[6] Al-Mufhim vol9/118

[7] Tafsir 4/210