Prayer schedules and the time to begin fasting

Question:

• We see that iin some of the schedules for Ramadan, there is a part called “Imsaak” (refraining from food). It is before the Fajr Prayer by maybe 10 to 15 minutes. So is there in the Sunnah something that this is based off of, or is it an innovation? Please give us a verdict in this, may Allah reward you.

Answer:

• This is an innovation. There is nothing from the Sunnah that allows for this. Rather the Sunnah teaches us the other then this. Allah says in His book {Eat and drink until the white thread becomes distinct from the black thread of Fajr} (2:187). The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Verily Bilal makes the call in the night, so eat and drink until you hear the call of Ibn Umm Maktoom. Because verily he does not make his call until the time for the Fajr Prayer has begun” (narrated by al Bukhari and Muslim). This “Imsaak” that some of the people came up with is something extra that was not legislated by Allah. Therefore it is not counted from the accepted deeds. Rather it is from going over board in the religion. The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Destroyed are those that go to the extreme, destroyed are those that go to to the extreme, destroyed are those that go to the extreme” (narrated by Muslim).

[Taken from Fatawah Arkan al Islam by Sheikh Uthaimeen]

[Translated by Abu Abdillah Abdul Lateef]