Does one earn the reward for feeding a fasting person by offering a single date, or is a full meal required, and is the reward forfeited if the invited guests break their fast with dates at the mosque before coming to the house?
Scholars differed concerning the meaning of providing iftar to a fasting person. Some hold that it is achieved by anything with which a fasting person breaks their fast, even if little, citing the apparent meaning of the hadith: "Whoever provides iftar for a fasting person will have a reward like theirs." Others, including Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, are of the view that the full reward is only attained by satisfying the fasting person's hunger, as this achieves the purpose of strengthening them for worship. Sheikh al-Uthaymeen preferred the first opinion. Based on this, to receive the full reward, the one providing iftar should be the first to offer food to the fasting people at the time of breaking fast, but satisfying their hunger afterward is hoped to also secure a portion of the reward.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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