SECTION · 10 – HOW SHOULD ONE ACT WHEN THE TIME FOR PRAYER ARRIVES AND THE TABLE IS SET?
3757 – It is narrated from Ibn ʿUmar (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “If the evening meal of one of you is served and the prayer has also begun, let him not stand for prayer until he has finished his meal.” In the narration of Musaddad, one of the narrators, the following sentences are added: When the evening meal was served to ʿAbdullah ibn ʿUmar, or when the evening meal was ready, he would not stand for prayer until he had finished his meal, even if he heard the iqama or the recitation of the imam.
3758 – It is narrated from Jābir ibn ʿAbdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Prayer is not to be delayed because of food or anything else.”
EXPLANATION
During Ramadan, breaking the fast at iftar time and then performing the prayer leads to a more tranquil prayer. Performing the prayer without breaking the fast disturbs the tranquility of the prayer. However, if the meal takes too long and causes the time for prayer to become tight, one should break the fast, thus subduing the excessive desire of the nafs (the lower self), then perform the prayer, and afterwards continue with the meal.
3759 – It is narrated from ʿAbdullah ibn ʿUbayd ibn ʿUmar (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: During the time of ʿAbdullah ibn al-Zubayr, I was with my father in the presence of ʿAbdullah ibn ʿUmar. The son of ʿAbdullah ibn al-Zubayr, ʿAbād, said: “We heard that when prayer and the evening meal coincided, the evening meal was begun before the prayer.” Thereupon, ʿAbdullah ibn ʿUmar said: “Woe to you! Do you think their (the Companions') evening meal was like your father ʿAbdullah’s meal (rich and distracting)?”