‘Abd Allāh ibn Abī Awfā (1).
They argued: He thus deemed the fasting person to have broken his fast, as a matter of legal status, once the time for breaking the fast had begun, even if he had not actually broken it. This renders continuous fasting impossible in legal terms.
They argued: He (peace and blessings be upon him) also said: “My community will remain true to its natural disposition, and my community will continue to fare well as long as they hasten to break the fast” (2).
The “Sunan” collections (3) also report from him: “The religion will remain manifest as long as people hasten to break the fast, because (4) the Jews and Christians delay it.”
The “Sunan” collections (5) also report that he said: “Allah, Mighty and Majestic, said: ‘The dearest of My servants to Me are those who are quickest to break their fast.’”
(1) Narrated by al-Bukhārī (1955) and Muslim (1101).
(2) Reported by Ahmad (23534, 23582), Abū Dāwūd (418), Ibn Khuzayma (339), and al-Hākim (1/190), from ʿUqba ibn ʿĀmir, with the wording: “So long as they do not delay the Maghrib (sunset) prayer until the stars appear in great numbers.” Al-Bukhārī (1957) and Muslim (1098) reported it from Sahl ibn Saʿd with the wording: “People will continue to fare well as long as they hasten to break the fast.”
(3) Reported by Abū Dāwūd (2353), al-Nasāʾī in al-Kubrā (3299), and Ibn Mājah (1698), from Abū Hurayra; also narrated by Ahmad (9810). Ibn Khuzayma (2060), Ibn Hibbān (3503), and al-Hākim (1/431) graded it authentic. Ibn Mājah’s version does not mention “the Christians.”
(4) Q, M, and Mb read: “Inna” (“indeed”).
(5) Reported by al-Tirmidhī (700); also narrated by Ahmad (7241) and Ibn Hibbān (3507), all from Abū Hurayra. Its chain of transmission includes Qurra ibn ʿAbd al-Rahmān al-Maʿāfirī, whose reliability has been questioned. See Tahdhīb al-Tahdhīb (8/372).