Fasting in the holy month of Ramzan is an obligatory act for Muslims. What pleases Allah the most, is the person who refrains from eating, drinking and other desires for the sake of Allah.
The purpose of fasting is to teach patience, self-control, humility, submissiveness to Allah and to purify the souls. Scientifically it resets the metabolism to a slower rate.
Before observing the fast, Muslim takes meal known as Sehri. Sehri time is before the Fajr prayer. In other words, one can eat until the white thread of dawn is differentiated from the black thread. The time when Muslims awake just to take Sehri meals is like Allah is showering His countless blessings.
Many people wake up early to pray before Sehri time. They worship Allah; recite Quran and read different Islamic books of hadith to gain knowledge. At Sehri time, wake up calls ring in almost every home. Many people call each other so that nobody should miss Sehri. When everyone is awaken, women of the home make different dishes according to the choice of members. Milk, water or fresh juices are served with meal because water is essential for body and whole day one can’t drink water. Grand parents, at home, usually advice children to drink more and more water to avoid dehydration.
Now days in Pakistani culture people usually like to sleep after taking Sehri, which is not a good practice, but it is a trend, that’s why some people like to enjoy Sehri in restaurants. Most of the teenagers like to enjoy Sehri outside their homes because there is a lot of variety available in restaurants. They also offer deals and discounts to attract customers.
There is a similar atmosphere on every place at the Sehri time. All people in mosques, homes, hostels, institutes and restaurants are busy in eating, but as the Azan (prayer call) starts in the mosque, everyone stops eating. It is advised that one should stop eating 15 minutes before Azan (prayer call). There is another interesting advice from elders that taking few spoons of curd at Sehri time helps us to control the thirst. Nowadays this advice is also an SMS.
After completing the Sehri Muslims read the Dua (supplication) for observing fast. After Dua everyone make Wudu (Ablution) before Fajr prayer. Male members go to mosques and females pray at home. In this way the whole Muslims of the world are blessed by Allah.
Instead of the fact, that Sehri is not an obligatory act for fasting. It is the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). He (PBUH) advised Muslims to take Sehri. Muslims follow their teachings in such a beautiful way just for the sake of Allah.
