Time of breaking a fast

Does it make a difference when to break a fast: before or after the evening prayer? And will the Almighty accept it if we break an hour later?

Ibn Hajar al-Haitami in his book “Tuhfat alMuhtaj” writes, “It is advisable to speed up the breaking of a fast after the full setting of the sun’s disk over the horizon is known and it is desirable (to break it) before performing the prayer, as stated in a reliable hadith, “People will continue in goodness as long as they hasten to break their fast.” (Narrated by Al Bukhari and Muslim)

Imam ibn Qasim al-Ubbadi, commenting on the words of ibn Hajar, says, “It is undesirable to deliberately postpone the iftar, considering that it is praiseworthy, however, if one postpones without such an intention, then there is nothing condemned.”

If a person broke the fast after the time of evening prayer (which comes with full sunset), then canonically his or her fast is valid. However, in accordance with the Sunna, it is advisable to break the fast as soon as possible before the evening prayer is performed.

Source: Tuhfat al-Muhtaj, v. 3, p. 420