Question
In the following Hadith, does ‘فطره’ mean iftar or ‘Eidul Fitr?
للصائم فرحتان: فرحة عند فطره، وفرحة عند لقاء ربه
Answer
This narration is recorded in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim as part of a longer narration.
Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reported that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “…The fasting person enjoys two pleasures; one at the time of breaking fast and the others when he meets His Rabb”
(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 1904 and 7492 with slight variation in the wording and Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 1151)
The commentators explain that ‘فطره’ in this Hadith refers to the time of iftar when a person is opening his fast due to being satiated and quenched or due to the fact that he has completed the ‘ibadah of fasting [for the day] and he is able to eat which will assist to fast the next day.
(Refer: Fathul Bari, Hadith: 1904, ‘Umdatul Qari, Hadith: 1904, Sahih Muslim with Al Minhaj, Hadith: 2700-2701, Al Mufhim of Imam Qurtubi, Hadith: 1018, Fathul Mulhim, Hadith: 2681, Faydul Qadir, Hadith: 6012, Mirqat, Hadith: 1959)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar