Quran
Hadith
Islamic Text
Yes, your fast is still valid if you miss Sehri (Sahoor), as long as you made the intention to fast. Although it is best to wake up and eat or drink something since it has been encouraged by the holy Prophet ﷺ.
أَنَسَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، قَالَ: قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: تَسَحَّرُوا فَإِنَّ فِي السَّحُورِ بَرَكَةً
(Sayidina) Anas bin Malik (May Allah Most High be pleased with him said) that The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, ‘Partake in the pre-dawn meal (Sahoor), for indeed there are blessings in the pre-dawn meal.’ (Sahih al-Bukhari, 1923).
Although the fast is still valid if you miss Sehri (Sahoor). Even if you purposely refrain from Sahoor (Sehri) despite having the opportunity to get up or after being woken for it, your fast is still valid. However, it is best to wake up since it has been encouraged by the holy Prophet ﷺ.
Not only has Sahoor been encouraged by the holy Prophet ﷺ but Barakah has been specifically attributed to it in the Hadith above. This is very important, as an Ummah we have great interest in Barakah and seek it wherever it is established.
Unfortunately the issue of Barakah has been diluted by many Muslims, because they attribute Barakah to things, times or places without evidence. This is not permitted. Rather one can only attribute Barakah to something if it has been revealed by Allah Most High or mentioned by his Messenger ﷺ. This dilution has inevitably impacted the importance given to those things, times or places that are well established as being blessed (Mubarak).
In any case the Sahoor meal is certainly established as being blessed (Mubarak). Therefore it should be given due importance. However, it is not a condition for the validity of the fast. It is not permitted to misinform or misguide people by saying the fast is invalid if you do not partake in the pre-dawn meal (Sahoor). Rather the fast will be valid as long as the intention to fast was established.
(ثُمَّ التَّسَحُّرُ مُسْتَحَبٌّ) لِقَوْلِهِ – عَلَيْهِ الصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ – «تَسَحَّرُوا فَإِنَّ فِي السَّحُورِ بَرَكَةً». (الهداية في شرح بداية المبتدي)
Sahoor is Mustahab (recommended). Due to his ﷺ statement: ‘Partake in the pre-dawn meal (Sahoor), for indeed there are blessings in the pre-dawn meal.’ (Imam al-Marghinani, al-Hidaayah).
وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّ السُّحُورَ مُسْتَحَبٌّ لِقَوْلِهِ – عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ – «تَسَحَّرُوا فَإِنَّ فِي السُّحُورِ بَرَكَةً» السُّحُورُ اسْمٌ لِمَا يُؤْكَلُ فِي وَقْتِ السَّحَرِ وَهُوَ السُّدُسُ الْأَخِيرُ مِنْ اللَّيْلِ. (الكتاب: الجوهرة النيرة)
Know that Suhoor is recommended. Due to his ﷺ statement: ‘Partake in the pre-dawn meal (Suhoor), for indeed there are blessings in the pre-dawn meal.’ Suhoor is the name given to that which is eaten at the time of Sahr (pre-dawn). It refers to the final sixth of the night. (Imam Abu Bakr al-Haddadi, al-Jowharah al-Nayyirah).
In the Nusoos above, Imams of the Hanafi Madhab have clarified that Suhoor (the pre-dawn meal) is recommended. Thus, it is not a condition for the validity of the fast. However, intention (Niyah) is a condition for the validity of the fast. Therefore, if the intention is established then missing the Suhoor meal will not impact the validity of the fast. Thus the fast will be valid even if one does not wake of for Sehri.
And Allah Most High Knows Best.
-Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen Rashid (18.04.2022)
See also:
Is the hadith “seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim” authentic?
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