Suhur

Sahur or suhur (UK: ; Arabic: سَحُورٌ, romanized: saḥūr, lit. 'of the dawn', 'pre-dawn meal'), also called sahari, sahri, or sehri (Persian: سَحَری, romanized: sahari), is the meal consumed early in the morning by Muslims before fasting (sawm), before dawn during or outside the Islamic month of Ramadan. The meal is eaten before fajr prayer. Suhur corresponds to iftar, the evening meal during Ramadan, replacing the traditional three meals a day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), although in some places dinner is also consumed after iftar later during the night. Being the last meal eaten by Muslims before fasting from dawn to sunset during the month of Ramadan, suhur is regarded by Islamic traditions as a benefit of the blessings in that it allows the person fasting to avoid the crankiness or the weakness caused by the fast. According to a hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari, Anas ibn Malik narrated, "The Prophet said, 'take suhur, as there is a blessing in it. Before the daily fast begins, Muslims wake early to eat a meal called suhur. This meal helps provide energy for the day of fasting and is often eaten shortly before dawn prayer. Suhur is considered spiritually meaningful as it prepares believers for the day’s fasting and worship. Across many Muslim communities around the world, suhur (the pre‑dawn meal before fasting) is often accompanied by specific cultural practices and traditional foods that reflect local tastes and dietary needs. In South Asian countries such as Pakistan and Bangladesh, families commonly eat paratha, lentils, yogurt, and fruits to provide sustained energy throughout the long fasting hours, while in Arab countries, dates, labneh (strained yogurt), eggs, and herbal teas are popular ones aimed at hydration and nourishment. Preparing suhur is also frequently treated as a social activity family members wake early to share the...