Are the supplications for breaking the fast accepted when it’s made before breaking the fast

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم ، الحمد لله رب العالمين، و الصلاة و السلام على رسول الله -صلوات الله و سلامه عليه- وعلى آله و صحبه أجمعين.

أما بعد:

‎In response to the question concerning supplicating at the time of breaking the fast, (the answer is) yes. There are some Ahādeeth graded authentic by scholars regarding this matter. Among them is (the Hadeeth that states) that the supplication of the fasting person is always accepted while he is fasting, and especially during the time that is close to breaking the fast. The time of breaking the fast is also a time in which supplications are accepted.

In a Hadeeth authenticated by Imam Al-Albany the Prophet ﷺ said:

(ثَلَاثُ دَعَوَاتٍ مُسْتَجَابَاتٌ : دَعْوَةُ الصَّائِمِ ، وَدَعْوَةُ الْمَظْلُومِ، وَدَعْوَةُ الْمُسَافِرِ)

”Three supplications are answered… (among them) the supplication of the fasting person…“

صحيح الجامع 3030

And in another Hadeeth,

(ثَلَاثُ دَعَوَاتٍ لَا تُرَدُّ: دَعْوَةُ الْوَالِدِ لِوَلَدِهِ، وَدَعْوَةُ الصَّائِمِ، وَدَعْوَةُ الْمُسَافِرِ)

”There are three people whose supplication will not be returned unanswered … (among them) the supplication of the fasting person…“ this was graded Hasan (good) by Imam Al-Albany صحيح ابن ماجه ، 3129

Also, another Hadeeth states,  (إنَّ للصَّائمِ عندَ فِطرِهِ لدعوةً ما تردُّ ) “The time that the fasting person breaks his fast is not a time during which supplications are returned.” Some scholars mention that this is a Hadheeth that can be acted upon. Among them, Al-Hafidh ibn Hajar who graded it as good (Hasan). الفتوحات الربانية 4/342

Al-’Allāmah al-Uthaymeen رحمه الله said, ”what is recommended for the person who is fasting is to perform prayers, engage in remembrance (make Dhikr), recite the Qur’ān and be occupied in a variety of acts of worship while he is fasting…“ فتاوى في الزكاة و الصيام، 556

The Ahādeeth mentioned above state that the supplication of the fasting person is accepted at all times while he is fasting. And as mentioned in some Ahādeeth, at the time close to breaking the fast. However, it is not after breaking the fast. That is because the tiredness, humility and submittance to Allāh is felt most at the last moments of fasting.

والله تعالى أعلم. وصلى الله على نبينا محمد وآله وصحبه وسلم.