Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Then complete the fast until the sunset.} [Quran 2:187] In a Hadeeth (narration) on the authority of Sahl ibn Sa‘d, may Allah be pleased with him, he said that the Messenger of Allah, , said: “People will remain upon goodness as long as they hasten the Iftaar (breaking the fast).” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

In another narration, the Messenger of Allah, , said: “People will continue upon goodness as long as they hasten the Iftaar. Hasten the Iftaar because the Jews delay breaking their fast.” [Ibn Maajah] In another narration, the Messenger of Allah, said: “Religion (Islam) will remain dominant as long as people hasten the Iftaar. Indeed, the Jews and Christians delay breaking their fast.” [Ibn Hibbaan and Ibn Khuzaymah]

In another narration, the Messenger of Allah, said: “My Ummah will continue to adhere to my Sunnah as long as they do not delay the Iftaar until the stars appear.” [Ibn Khuzaymah] [Ibn Hibbaan: Saheeh] [Al-Haakim and Ath-Thahabi: Saheeh according to the conditions stipulated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

In a Hadeeth on the authority of Abu ‘Atiyyah Al-Hamdaani he said,

I and Masrooq went to ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her and said, ‘O Mother of the Believers, two [men] from the Companions of Muhammad one of them hastens the Iftaar and his performance of the (Maghrib) prayer, and the other delays the Iftaar and his performance of the (Maghrib) prayer.’ She said, ‘Who among the two hastens the Iftaar and the performance of prayer?’ We said, ‘ ‘Abdullaah (meaning Ibn Mas‘ood).’ Whereupon she said, ‘This is what the Messenger of Allah used to do.’ Abu Kurayb added, ‘The second one was Abu Moosa.’  [Muslim]

In a Hadeeth on the authority of Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, he said, “I never saw the Prophet offering the Maghrib Prayer before breaking his fast even if it was with a sip of water.”[Abu Ya‘la] [Ibn Hibbaan: Saheeh]

In a Hadeeth on the authority of ‘Amr ibn Maymoon Al-Awdi he said, “The Companions of Muhammad were the fastest in breaking their fast and the latest in having the meal of Suhoor (pre-dawn meal).” [‘Abdul-Razzaaq]

• First: It is recommended to hasten the Iftaar as long as the sunset is confirmed through vision, report of a trustworthy person or by estimating when it is most likely to have taken place. The Sunnah (tradition) supports this. This is also the guidance of the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them. Al-Haafith Ibn ‘Abdul-Barr said, “The scholars have unanimously agreed that if the time of the Maghrib prayer is due, then, it is permissible for the fasting person to break the fast whether it is an obligatory or voluntary fasting. They unanimously agreed that the Maghrib prayer relates to the night prayers as it occurs at night. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Then complete the fast until the nightfall.}[Quran 2:187]”
•  Second: Hastening the Iftaar indicates the existence of goodness in those people who hasten to break their fast and its absence from those who delay it.
• Third: One of the characteristics of this Ummah (Muslim nation) is its hastening the Iftaar to contradict the People of the Book, the Jews and the Christians, who delay breaking their fast until the stars appear. Contradicting the way of the People of the Book is a great principle in our religion that is stated in many legislations. It is proof of the distinction of this Ummah and its priority over all nations. Hence, it is impermissible to imitate the disbelievers.
• Fourth: Delaying the Iftaar is proof of deviating from the Sunnah of the Prophet, and introducing a religious innovation.
• Fifth: The aforementioned Hadeeths refute the claim of the Raafidhah (a deviant sect) and those whose views coincide with theirs in delaying the Iftaar until the appearance of the stars in the sky.
• Sixth: Adhering to the time assigned to any act of worship, without an increase or decrease, saves one from falling into excess, negligence of religion and drives away the whisperings of the devil. This includes, for instance, hastening the Iftaar after being sure that the sunset has taken place.
• Seventh: Hastening the Iftaar shows the slave’s weakness and his worshipping Allah and his quickness in accepting the concession that Allah The Almighty has granted him.
• Eighth: These Hadeeths indicate that it is unfavorable under Sharee‘ah (Islamic legislation) to continue fasting after the time of Iftaar. They also indicate that breaking the fast should precede the prayer because it fulfills the act of hastening the Iftaar in a better way.
• Ninth: Encouraging people to follow the Sunnah and avoid contradicting it, because corruption takes place when people do not adhere to the Sunnah. When the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, failed in anything, they used to look for the act of Sunnah that they might have ignored. When they found such an act, they used to realize the reason of their failure.
• Tenth: These Hadeeths indicate the merit of this Ummah if it follows the Sunnah. Following the Sunnah of the Prophet, results in the love of Allah The Almighty. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Say, [O Muhammad], "If you love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful."} [Quran 3:31]