Sahur and Iftar are important parts of the duty of fasting in the month of Ramadan. Both are very beautiful times of the day in Ramadan which Muslims love a lot. They prepare different things for eating and drinking in Sehri and iftar and also, do good deeds at these times to attain rewards and make lots of duas during Sahur and Iftar.
Sahur or Sahoor is the time before the azan of Fajr in which Muslims eat and drink so that they can remain full during the day till the time of iftar. Without having Sahur, Muslims may feel weakness during the whole day, thus, doing Sahur is very essential. It must be kept in mind that healthy food must be taken in Sahur that keeps a person full and doesn't make him/her thirsty during the day. People should stop eating and drinking about 10 to 15 minutes before the azaan of Fajr.
Iftar is the time after the maghrib azan in which Muslims open their fast by eating or drinking. Muslims open the fast with the dua and then have delicious food and drinks. However, it is important to eat healthy in the iftar too and avoid oily food because it creates burning in the stomach. Healthy drinks like juices of fruits can also be taken in iftar. Dates are also essential part of the food in iftar. Moreover, water should also be taken in iftar in order to prevent body from dehydration.
The following dua is recited in sehri after we are done with eating and drinking before the fajr azan;
Translation:
“I Intend to keep the fast for month of Ramadan.”
The following dua is recited in iftar with the maghrib azan for opening the fast;
Translation:
“O Allah! I fasted for you and I believe in you and I put my trust in You and I break my fast with your sustenance.”
Both sehri and iftar have great significance for the Muslims. In sehri, Muslims prepare themselves for the whole day to keep fast and in iftar, Muslims gain the physical strength. Moreover, in both of these times, Muslims also pray and make duas, thus, both of these times in Ramadan have spiritual importance too. Furthermore, at the time little before iftar, Muslims also realize that how it feels when a person is hungry and thus, it creates empathy among Muslims and they feel the pain of poor who remain hungry due to poverty. Eventually, Muslims try their best to help the poor and needy so that they don’t feel hungry due to poverty. Also, in Ramadan, Muslims arrange sehris and iftars for the poor so that they can have their meals properly in Ramadan and don’t feel hungry during fasting. Thus, sehri and Iftar are very important.
