Assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuhu, Shaykhs. If a person eats date biscuits in the pre-dawn meal or when breaking the fast, will that person obtain the reward for following the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, of having dates in the pre-dawn meal and when breaking the fast? If yes, will it be a similar reward or a lesser one? And is it better than having some other things, like a sandwich or juice etc., as it at least contains date paste? May Allaah reward you, Shaykhs.

All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

If a person wants the best and wants to be rewarded by following the Sunnah in breaking the fast, then he should break the fast with ripe or dry dates if possible, and otherwise with water. There is no doubt that this is better than breaking the fast with other food.

It is confirmed that the Prophet used to break the fast with ripe dates before he would pray, and if not, then with dry dates, and if there were none, then he would break the fast by having some sips of water. [Abu Daawood and At-Tirmithi - Al-Albaani classified it as Saheeh (sound)].

It is also desirable to eat dates in the pre-dawn meal, as it is confirmed that Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet said, “The best Sahoor for a believer is dates.” [Abu Daawood- Al-Albaani classified it as Saheeh].

As for breaking the fast with biscuits stuffed with dates or eating this at the pre-dawn meal, then there is nothing wrong with it, but the one who does this did not conform to the Sunnah in breaking the fast, because this was not the Sunnah of the Prophet .

It was reported that he used to avoid breaking his fast with something cooked with fire, and biscuits are cooked with fire.

Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet liked to break the fast with three dates or with anything that was not cooked with fire.

But Shaykh Husayn Asad said, “The chain of narrators of this hadeeth is weak.” Shaykh Al-Albaani also classified it as weak.

Allah knows best.