In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

In a Hadeeth reported by Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri [may Allaah be pleased with him] the Allaah’s Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, “Allah sends His blessings and His angels supplicates for those who take the predawn fasting meal”. (1)

Al-Manaawee [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “Meaning, those who have the pre-fasting meal with the intention to strengthen oneself in fasting…etc (2)

Anas Ibn Maalik [may Allaah be pleased with him] reported that Allaah’s Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, “Take the pre-fasting meal. Verily, there is blessing in the pre-fasting meal”. (3)

This blessings comes from different angles: It is adherence to the Sunnah, gives one strength for the performance acts of worship, an increase in energy, repels the bad behaviour that may occur due to hunger, a means to giving charity to the one who asks or eat together with him, a means to remembering Allaah and supplication during the time period when supplication is accepted, and the one who forgot to make an intention to fast before sleeping catches the time to do so etc..(4)

In this there is an urge to have the pre-fasting meal. The scholars hold a consensus that it is recommended and not obligatory. As for the blessing, it is manifest because it strengthens a person to fast, gives him energy and due to this a person increases in desire to fast because the difficulty is lightened for the one who takes the pre-fasting meal. (5)

[Ref 1: Hadeeth declared authentic by Imaam Al-Albaanee [may Allaah have mercy upon him] in Saheeh At-Targheeb Wat-Tarheeb. Vol 1. page 620. Hadeeth Number 1066 (kitaab As-Sawm- Section ‘At-Targheeb Fis Suhoor’). Publisher: Maktaba Al-Ma’aarif (Riyadh). 1st Edition 1421AH (Year 2000)]
[Ref 2: Faydul Qadeer 2/ 270]
[Ref 3: Al-Bukhaaree 1923 and Muslim 1095]
[Ref 4: Fat-hul Baari Sharh Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree. Vol 4. Page 179. Publisher: Daarus salaam. 1st Edition 1421AH (Year 2000)]
[Ref 5: Sharh Saheeh Muslim Vol 7. Page 179. Publisher. Daar Al-Kutub Al-Ilmiyyah. 1st Edition 1421AH (Year 2000)