SAHRI
It is essential part of fasting. It is the meal taken before dawn (starting of fast). This is not a mere meal, it is a blessing of Allah for those who eat with the intention of fasting that day and there is great reward for those who follow. It’s timing is preferably in the last part of the night well before dawn.
Waking up at this time is very cumbersome, people however, arrange to get up at this time to eat sahri and gain the blessings of Allah. Up to few years back there were volunteers who wander in the areas calling to wake up for sahri. I remember in my childhood two blind men keep walking in our area and sang few lines in very impressive way. First I will write Urdu version then try to translate for the readers:
JAAGNA HAI JAAG LAY AFLAAK KAY SAAY TALAY + HASHAR TAK SOTA RAHA GA KHAAK KAY SAAY TALAY
Wake up, you have to wake up under the skies + if you die you will be sleeping till the dooms day under the mire.
The way they used to sing these two lines had hair raising impact at least upon me. These type of volunteers have now gone and we will not see them again.
Comments
You are right AR, I am also using the mobile alarm for this purpose.
Yes, hope so Tara, thanks for reading my blog and commenting.
I really enjoyed learning about sahri. It is indeed sad when the world gets too busy and loses touch with rituals like this. I hope some people will remember how they were inspired by these volunteers. Maybe one day, you will hear their sweet song again.
Thanks for sharing.
It sounds like the Sahri is so vital, right?
Yes, there are no more such people.
The sound of the song is still in my mind and I remember the line not to forget ever.
Thanks for the blog!
Yes, my parents use to tell me about those volunteers. And, it sounds really astonishing that how those volunteers used to wake up others. It was not their duty to sing a song, just to make others awake and prepare themselves for fast.
We can't find such pious people these days!!