Question
If a non-Muslim invites a Muslim to break fast at Iftaar at his place, will it be permissible for the Muslim to accept? Such invitation are taking place a lot nowadays.
Answer
Never will it be permissible for Muslims to accept the invitation of a non-Muslim to make Iftaar. Kuffaar are mal-oon and mabghoodh by Allah Ta’ala. They are constantly in the state of janaabat and najaasat. The Malaaikah of Rahmat flee from them.
Iftaar is a time when duas are readily accepted by Allah Ta’ala. The Malaaikah are present. Allah Ta’ala descends to the first Sama’ at the time of Iftaar during the month of Ramadhaan, and He calls on His servants to supplicate to Him. How can a Muslim then sit in the company of a kaafir? How can a Muslim eat of the food provided by the kuffaar? What has happened to his Imaan which can tolerate such a spiritual aberration?
Muslims who make Iftaar a merrymaking function and further aggravate it with the kaafir’s invitation, suffer from extreme Imaani deficiency. Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said:
“There are two moments of happiness for the fasting person: At the time of Iftaar and at the time of meeting His Rabb.”
Thus, Iftaar time is an auspicious moment of ibaadat. The very ending of the Fast in the Sunnah style (only a couple of dates and perhaps some water) is an act of Ibaadat of high merit. In a Hadith-e-Qudsi, Allah Ta’ala says:
“By My Greatness/Glory! The most beloved to Me of My servants (during Ramadhaan) are those who are quick in making Iftaar.”
They do not delay like Shiahs nor do they delay the Maghrib Salaat for the sake of indulging in the gluttony of sumptuous meals at the time of Iftaar. How can true Mu’mineen ever pollute and damage this important Ibaadat of Iftaar by sitting in the company of people of kufr wallowing in perpetual janaabat and najaasat. It is indeed evidence for the state of Imaani desensitization and acclimatization with kufr, and this is the consequence of emulating and bootlicking the kuffaar.
Iftaar must necessarily be in simple Sunnah style and with the mind focused at that time on Allah Ta’ala, taking His Name with each date consumed and with each sip of water. That is Iftaar. All other ways and functions are inspirations of Iblees.
(Source: The Majlis)