to the point that he says to him: “Do not feel at ease in prayer when you are praying in front of people, lest you be showing off.” He even tells him: “Do not go early to the mosque, because they will say that you are showing off,” and: “Do not give in charity, because they will say that you are showing off.” Moreover, if he follows the sunnah, he may become an example for others. For instance, if someone invites you to lunch during the White Days and you say, “I am fasting,” this gives your brother a complete excuse, so he excuses you; perhaps this may even lead him to fast, following your example. The point is that a person should not give any thought whatsoever to the matter of showing off. Allah, Glorified be He, has praised those who spend their wealth secretly and openly, according to what the situation calls for: at times secrecy is better, and at times openness is better.
Delaying the pre-dawn meal and hastening the breaking of the fast
His statement, “and delaying the pre-dawn meal,” means that it is sunnah to delay the pre-dawn meal.
Suḥūr, with a ḍammah on the initial letter, differs from saḥūr, with a fatḥah, which denotes the food with which one takes the pre-dawn meal. Suḥūr, with a ḍammah, denotes the act itself. Thus, waḍūʾ, with a fatḥah on the initial letter, refers to the water, while wuḍūʾ, with a ḍammah, refers to the act. Likewise, ṭahūr refers to that with which one purifies oneself, whereas ṭuhūr, with a ḍammah on the initial letter, refers to the act of purification. This is a useful rule that safeguards a person from error in such words.
Thus, it is sunnah to delay the suḥūr—with a ḍammah—that is, when a person takes the pre-dawn meal—and the pre-dawn meal itself is also sunnah—he should delay it, following the example of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and seeking the goodness mentioned by the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him: “People will continue to be upon goodness so long as they hasten to break the fast and delay the pre-dawn meal.” (1) This is established by both his verbal sunnah and his practical sunnah, and it is also gentler on oneself, because when he delays the pre-dawn meal, the duration for which he must refrain from eating is reduced.