By Ishola Haroon Balogun

We praise Allah and seek His help and forgiveness. We turn to Him in repentance. We seek Allah’s protection from the evils of our souls and our bad deeds. Whoever Allah guides can never be misguided and whoever is misguided by Allah can never be guided.

I testify that there is no god but Allah, with whom there is no associate. I testify that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. May Allah bless him, his family, his Companions, and those who will follow them until the Day of Resurrection.

One of the beauties of Ramadan is the Muslim ummah coming alive at sun set to eat together to break their fast in groups. That is another blessing in the month.

It is common for people to eat Iftar in large groups, making the fast breaking into a community party. And like it has been said before, this is another time we bring the poor and the fasting needy to the table to celebrate the day’s fasting. It is more like a social affair than a spiritual fiesta.

Hasten to break the fast
The meaning is to avoid a situation where our fast will drag into the night. It is advised to break fast immediately it is sunset. Be conscious of your fast just as you are with your prayers. You don’t have to wait for the stars to come out before breaking your fast. Again, this has to be done before the Maghrib Salaat as in the practise of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w).

What should be said at the time of breaking fast?

Make dua before breaking your fast, remember that the supplications of three groups of people are not rejected;  the du’a  of the fasting person when he is breaking his fast, the du’a of the just Imam and the du’aa of the oppressed.

As a fasting person among other prayer you will say ALLAAHUMMA LAKA S’UMTU WA A’LAA RIZQIKA AFT’ARTU WA A’LAYKA TAWAWKKALTU, FA-TAQABBAL MINNAA INNAKA ANTAS SAMEE-U’L A’LEEM

O my Allah, for Thee, I fast, and with the food Thou gives me I break the fast, and I rely on Thee,
an obligation we fulfill, and Thou art Hearer, The Most Knowledgeable.

At the time of iftar, there is no barrier between the fasting Muslim and Almighty Allah. At that point, we should be more prayerful.  Keep yourself immersed with zikr and supplication on your heart desires. Never underestimate the power of dua at the point of breaking fast. Between the time of breaking fast and salaat Magrib, endeavour to supplicate to Almighty Allah