The Wisdom of Suhur

Allah (S.W.T) made fasting obligatory upon us as He (S.W.T) had made it obligatory on the people of the Book before us. He (S.W.T) said, (which means): {O you who believe Fasting is prescribed upon you as it was prescribed upon those before you so that perhaps you may attain Taqwaa.} [Al-Baqarah 2 : 183]

In the first period of Islam, the duration and regulations of fasting were in accordance with what was legislated by Allah upon the People of the Book. They were not allowed to eat, drink or engage in intercourse after they slept. That is once one sleeps, he could not eat nor do any of the above until the night of the following day, this implied that they took no Suhur (Pre-dawn meal).
However, when the above ruling was abrogated, the Messenger (S.A.W) commanded the Muslims to take the Suhur (Pre-dawn meal) as a means of being different in our fasting from the fasting of the People of the Book. 'Amr Ibn al-Aas reported that the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W) said: "The distinguishing feature between our fast and the fast of the People of the Book is in the eating at the time just before dawn." [Muslim]

The Suhur is Barakah (blessed)

'Abdullah Ibn Haarith said that one of the Sahabah (companion) said: 'I entered the house of the Messenger (S.A.W) whilst he was taking the Suhur (pre-dawn meal), and he (S.A.W) said: "Indeed it (the Suhur) is blessing that Allah has given to you so do not leave it out." [An-Nasai and Ahmad]

The reality that there are great blessings in the Suhur (Pre-dawn meal) is very apparent because there is in it:
(a) the following of the Sunnah,
(b) it makes the fast easier upon the person who is fasting,
(c) it increases the desire in the person to want to continue to fast because of the ease upon the fasting person and
(d) there is also in it the principle of being different from the People of the Book because they are prohibited from taking the Suhur (pre-dawn meal).

For this reason the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W) called it the blessed meal.

Allah (S.W.T) and the Angels send Salaah upon the people who take the Suhur (pre-dawn meal)

The greatest blessing of the Suhur (pre-dawn meal) may be that Allah (S.W.T) engulfs those who partake in it with His Forgiveness, showers His Mercy on them, while His angels ask of Him to forgive and pardon them.

Abu Sa'eed al-Khudree said that the Messenger (S.A.W) said: "Eating the Suhur is blessed. Do not neglect it even if you take a gulp of water, because Allah and His angels invoke blessings upon those who partake in the pre-dawn meal." [Ahmad]. It is very important that the Muslim does not allow this great blessing from his Merciful Lord to escape him.

Delaying the Suhur

It is recommended to delay the Suhur (pre-dawn meal) till just before dawn. Zaid ibn Thaabit said: "We ate the Suhur with the Messenger (SAW), then we got up to offer the Salaah (prayer - in this case the Fajr prayer). I asked "What was the time between the Adhaan (call to prayer) and the Suhur?" He said: "(The time it would take) to recite fifty verses." [Bukhari and Muslim]

It must be known that it is allowed to eat, drink and have relationship with one's spouse as long as one doubts and is uncertain that the dawn has started. Allah (S.W.T) and His Messenger (S.A.W) have made clear the criterion for establishing the Fajr, and this is what one is required to go by.

The Ruling for Suhur

The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W) commanded that whoever wants to fast must take the Suhur (pre-dawn meal). He (S.A.W) said: "Whoever wishes to fast, then let him eat something for Suhur." [Ibn Abi Shaibah, Ahmad and others]

And he (S.A.W) also said: "Take the Suhur because in the Suhur is Barakah (blessings)."[Bukhari and Muslim]

Then he (S.A.W) also prohibited the Muslims from neglecting it. He (S.A.W) said: "What differentiates our fast from the fast of the People of the Book is the Suhur meal." [Ibn Abi Shaibah, Ahmad]