sehri

Sehri, also spelled sehri or suhoor, is the pre-dawn meal eaten by Muslims before beginning the daily fast during the month of Ramadan. The fast starts at dawn with the Fajr prayer, so Sehri is consumed in the hours before that prayer and ends when fasting begins.

The term Sehri is commonly used in South Asia and parts of the Muslim world, while many Arabic-speaking communities use the term suhoor. Variants in transliteration exist, with sufuri or sahur also encountered in different languages. Regardless of name, the practice refers to the meal taken before the start of the daily fast.

Practices around Sehri emphasize nourishment and hydration to sustain followers through the daytime fast. Typical foods are balanced and modest in portion, favoring complex carbohydrates, proteins, fruits, and plenty of fluids. Some people prefer light meals to avoid discomfort during the day. Sehri times are determined by local prayer timetables and vary with the season and location, since dawn time shifts daily.

Cultural variations exist in the foods chosen and the ways Sehri is observed. In many regions, families gather at home or in mosques for the pre-dawn meal, sometimes sharing traditional dishes. It is commonly accompanied by prayers or the recitation of Qur’anic verses before the Fajr prayer, after which the fast begins.

As with other fasting obligations, exemptions exist for certain individuals, including the ill, elderly, pregnant or nursing, travelers, and others for whom fasting would pose a risk. Those exempt may make up missed days later or provide fidya (charitable compensation) in some circumstances, reflecting the flexible and individualized nature of religious practice.