When Should You Stop Eating for Fajr Fast? A Simple Explanation

Assalamu alaikum everyone! Hope you're all doing well. Today, let's talk about something important for fasting, especially during Ramadan or other fasts. The big question is: when exactly do we need to stop eating and drinking when fasting for Fajr? Is it right when the Adhan starts, or can we wait until it finishes? So, here's the deal based on what scholars from the four main schools of thought-Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali-say. The fast actually begins at the true dawn, which is when the Fajr prayer time starts. Nowadays, this is usually when the Adhan for Fajr is called. So, as soon as that true dawn hits, you gotta stop eating and drinking, no delays. Allah says in the Quran (2:187): 'Eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread.' This means once you see the light of dawn, that's your cutoff. There's a hadith where the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) explained this clearly. He said that Bilal would give the Adhan at night to wake people up, but the real Fajr time is when Ibn Umm Maktum calls the Adhan. So, you can eat until you hear Ibn Umm Maktum's Adhan, not Bilal's. This shows there were two Adhans back then, and we need to follow the one that marks the true dawn. Some people get confused by another hadith that says if you hear the Adhan while eating, you can finish up. But scholars explain that this refers to the first Adhan given before dawn, not the Fajr Adhan. So, if you know the Adhan is for true dawn, you have to stop immediately, even if you're mid-bite. Spit it out if you have to! To sum it up, all four madhabs agree: when true dawn starts, your fast begins, and you can't eat or drink after that. Don't wait for the Adhan to end or follow any modern opinions that go against this consensus. Stick to what the reliable scholars have passed down to avoid mistakes. Just a friendly reminder: it's best to rely on established teachings rather than picking and choosing from random opinions. May Allah make it easy for us all to follow the right path! If you have more questions, feel free to ask in the comments below. JazakAllah khair for reading!