Changing the Times of the Prayers
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Fatwa No. ( 17878 )
Q: Some time ago, I visited the city of ( Bergen), the western capital of Norway , at the invitation of the (Islamic Cultural Center) there. During my stay, I saw the thirst of the Muslim community and their need for a caller to Allah who combines knowledge and piety, as the country, like most countries in Europe , does not have a qualified scholar to take on the responsibility of da'wah and issuing fatwas there. This is exploited by elements who have no knowledge and no religion, and who want to live at the expense of Islam and trade in it. They issue invalid fatwas, thereby going astray and leading others astray. This is a serious danger to Islam, as it is being handled by people who are not qualified for it, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: . For example, a man named ( Mahmoud al-Sayyad ) took on the responsibility of da'wah and issuing fatwas in this city, where he was the head of the Islamic association, and an imam and preacher there for years. He issued fatwas without knowledge or religion, including changing the times of the prayers in the city. He issued what is called the (Secular Calendar), thereby corrupting the religious affairs of many Muslims. He made them pray 'Isha'—let alone Maghrib—before the sun sets, and break their fast in Ramadan hours before sunset. He forged this fatwa in the name of the Saudi Scholars Association and its jurists, as you can see in the (Secular Calendar). I obtained a fatwa issued by the (Committee for Ifta') in the Kingdom, which rules the opposite and obligates adherence to the normal prayer times, as long as there is a night and day that are distinct, as is the truth. The fatwa is number (2769) dated 13/1/1400 AH. Since this fatwa was issued years before the invalid and forged fatwa, and some people might imagine that the alleged fatwa claimed by the man was an abrogation of the aforementioned fatwa, we request the honorable Committee for Ifta' to issue a fatwa
on this matter, as many people are still convinced by the man's fatwa and his misguidance, and his fatwa corrupts their prayers and fasting. It is known that the length of the night in the city is approximately (4) four hours. Perhaps this will encourage Islamic institutions to think about dedicating qualified preachers to the Islamic centers in these countries, otherwise the matter is very serious, and Muslims bear all the consequences. We accept our highest thanks and appreciation. And may peace and the mercy of Allah and His blessings be upon you.
A: A decision has been issued by the Council of Senior Scholars in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , regarding the determination of prayer times, and the determination of the beginning and end of the morning in Ramadan in countries similar to those countries. This is its content: After reviewing, studying, and discussing, the Council decided the following: First: Whoever resides in a country where night and day are distinguished by the rising of the dawn and the setting of the sun, but whose day is very long in summer and short in winter, it is obligatory for him to pray the five prayers in their known times prescribed by the Shari'ah; due to the generality of the saying of Allah the Exalted:
[Al-Isra 17:78] and His saying: [An-Nisa 4:103] and what is established from Buraydah (may Allah be pleased with him), from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), Mishkat al-Masabih 582 narrated by Muslim . And from Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-As , that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih Muslim 612d narrated by Muslim in his (Sahih). And other hadiths that came regarding the determination of the times of the five prayers, in words and actions, and did not distinguish between the length of the day and its shortness, and the length of the night and its shortness, as long as the times of the prayers are distinguished by the signs explained by the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). This is regarding the determination of their prayer times. As for the determination of their fasting times in the month of Ramadan, the obligated persons must abstain from food, drink, and other things that break the fast every day of it from the rising of the dawn to the setting of the sun in their countries, as long as the day is distinguished from the night in their countries and the total of their time is twenty-four hours. Food, drink, and intercourse and the like are permissible for them only in their night, even if it is short. The Shari'ah of Islam is general for people in all countries, and
Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Baqarah 2:187] And whoever is unable to complete the fast of a day due to its length, or knows by signs or experience or the report of a trustworthy and skilled doctor, or it is predominant in his mind that fasting will lead to his destruction or a severe illness, or will lead to an increase in his illness or a delay in his recovery, he breaks his fast and makes up the days he fasted in any month in which he is able to make them up. Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Baqarah 2:185] And Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Baqarah 2:286] And He said: [Al-Hajj 22:78] . Second: Whoever resides in a country where the sun does not set in summer and does not rise in winter, or in a country where its day lasts for six months and its night lasts for six months, for example, it is obligatory for them to
pray the five prayers in every twenty-four hours, and to estimate their times and determine them, relying on the nearest country to them where the times of the obligatory prayers are distinguished from one another; due to what is established in the hadith of the Night Journey and Ascension from . To the end of it. And what is established from the hadith of Talhah ibn Ubayd Allah , (may Allah be pleased with him), he said: Mishkat al-Masabih 16Muttafaqun 'alayh (Zubair `Aliza'i) the hadith.
And what is established from the hadith of Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him), he said: ... the hadith. And it is established so the day that is like a year is not considered one day sufficient for five prayers, but five prayers are obligated in it in every twenty-four
hours, and they are ordered to distribute them over their times, considering the time intervals between their times in the normal day in their countries. It is obligatory for Muslims in the countries responsible for determining the times of prayers to determine their prayer times, relying on the nearest country to them where night is distinguished from day, and the times of the five prayers are known by their Shari'ah signs in every twenty-four hours. Likewise, it is obligatory for them to fast the month of Ramadan, and they must estimate their fasting, determining the beginning and end of the month of Ramadan, and the beginning of abstention and breaking the fast in each day of it, by the beginning and end of the month, and the rising of the dawn and the setting of the sun in the nearest country to them where night is distinguished from day, and the total is twenty-four hours; due to what preceded in the hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) about the Dajjal, and his guidance to his companions in it on how to determine the times of prayers in it, as there is no difference in that between fasting and prayer. And by this, the invalidity of what came in the aforementioned Secular Calendar is known, and its contradiction with the explicit texts from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and its corruption of the prayers and fasting of Muslims. It is obligatory to beware of it and not follow it.
And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: Some time ago, I visited the city of ( Bergen), the western capital of Norway , at the invitation of the (Islamic Cultural Center) there. During my stay, I saw the thirst of the Muslim community and their need for a caller to Allah who combines knowledge and piety, as the country, like most countries in Europe , does not have a qualified scholar to take on the responsibility of da'wah and issuing fatwas there. This is exploited by elements who have no knowledge and no religion, and who want to live at the expense of Islam and trade in it. They issue invalid fatwas, thereby going astray and leading others astray. This is a serious danger to Islam, as it is being handled by people who are not qualified for it, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
When the trust is abandoned, wait for the Hour. It was said: How will the trust be abandoned, O Messenger of Allah? He said: When affairs are entrusted to those who are not qualified for them.
إذا ضيعت الأمانة فانتظر الساعة، قيل: وكيف إضاعتها يا رسول الله قال: أن توسد الأمور إلى غير أهلهاon this matter, as many people are still convinced by the man's fatwa and his misguidance, and his fatwa corrupts their prayers and fasting. It is known that the length of the night in the city is approximately (4) four hours. Perhaps this will encourage Islamic institutions to think about dedicating qualified preachers to the Islamic centers in these countries, otherwise the matter is very serious, and Muslims bear all the consequences. We accept our highest thanks and appreciation. And may peace and the mercy of Allah and His blessings be upon you.
A: A decision has been issued by the Council of Senior Scholars in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , regarding the determination of prayer times, and the determination of the beginning and end of the morning in Ramadan in countries similar to those countries. This is its content: After reviewing, studying, and discussing, the Council decided the following: First: Whoever resides in a country where night and day are distinguished by the rising of the dawn and the setting of the sun, but whose day is very long in summer and short in winter, it is obligatory for him to pray the five prayers in their known times prescribed by the Shari'ah; due to the generality of the saying of Allah the Exalted:
Establish prayer at the decline of the sun [from its meridian] until the darkness of the night and [also] the Qur'an of dawn. Indeed, the recitation of dawn is ever witnessed.
أَقِمِ الصَّلاَةَ لِدُلُوكِ الشَّمْسِ إِلَى غَسَقِ اللَّيْلِ وَقُرْآنَ الْفَجْرِ إِنَّ قُرْآنَ الْفَجْرِ كَانَ مَشْهُودًاIndeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.
إِنَّ الصَّلاَةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَابًا مَوْقُوتًاBuraida told of a man asking God’s Messenger about the time of prayer, to which he replied, “Pray with us these two,” meaning two days. When the sun passed the meridian he gave command to Bilal who uttered the call to prayer, then he commanded him and he made the announcement declaring that the time to begin the noon prayer had come. He gave him command and he made the announcement declaring that the time to being the afternoon prayer had come when the sun was high, white and clear. Then he gave him command and he made the announcement declaring that the time to begin the sunset prayer had come when the sun had set. Then he gave him command and he made the announcement declaring that the time to begin the night prayer had come when the twilight had ended. Then he gave him command and he made the announcement declaring that the time to begin the dawn prayer had come when the dawn appeared. Next day he commanded him to delay the noon prayer till the extreme heat had passed and he did so, and he allowed it to be delayed till the extreme heat had passed. He observed the afternoon prayer when the sun was high, delaying it beyond the time he had previously observed it. He observed the sunset prayer before the twilight had ended; he observed the night prayer when a third of the night had passed; and he observed the dawn prayer when there was clear daylight. Then asking where the man was who had enquired about the time of prayer and receiving from him a reply that he was present, he said, “The time for your prayer is within the limits of what you have seen.” Muslim transmitted it.
أن رجلاً سأله عن وقت الصلاة فقال له: صل معنا هذين.. )- يعني: اليومين - فلما زالت الشمس أمر بلالاً فأذن، ثم أمره فأقام الظهر ثم أمره فأقام العصر والشمس مرتفعة بيضاء نقية، ثم أمره فأقام المغرب حين غابت الشمس، ثم أمره فأقام العشاء حين غاب الشفق، ثم أمره فأقام الفجر حين طلع الفجر، فلما أن كان اليوم الثاني أمره فأبرد بالظهر، فأبرد بها، فأنعم أن يبرد بها، وصلى العصر والشمس مرتفعة، أخرها فوق الذي كان، وصلى المغرب قبل أن يغيب الشفق، وصلى العشاء بعد ما ذهب ثلث الليل، وصلى الفجر فأسفر بها، ثم قال: أين السائل عن وقت الصلاة؟ فقال الرجل: أنا يا رسول الله، قال: وقت صلاتكم بين ما رأيتمThe time of the noon prayer is when the sun passes the meridian and a man's shadow is the same (length) as his height, (and it lasts) as long as the time for the afternoon prayer has not come; the time for the afternoon prayer is as long as the sun has not become pale; the time of the evening prayer is as long as the twilight has not ended; the time of the night prayer is up to the middle of the average night and the time of the morning prayer is from the appearance of dawn, as long as the sun has not risen; but when the sun rises, refrain from prayer for it rises between the horns of the devil.
وقت الظهر إذا زالت الشمس، وكان ظل الرجل كطوله ما لم يحضر العصر، ووقت العصر ما لم تصفر الشمس ووقت صلاة المغرب ما لم يغب الشفق، ووقت صلاة العشاء إلى نصف الليل الأوسط، ووقت صلاة الصبح من طلوع الفجر ما لم تطلع الشمس، فإذا طلعت الشمس فأمسك عن الصلاة؛ فأنها تطلع بين قرني شيطانAllah the Exalted said:
And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night]. Then complete the fast until the sunset.
وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا حَتَّى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الأَسْوَدِ مِنَ الْفَجْرِ ثُمَّ أَتِمُّوا الصِّيَامَ إِلَى اللَّيْلِSo whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days
فَمَنْ شَهِدَ مِنْكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ وَمَنْ كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَAllah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity
لاَ يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلا وُسْعَهَاand has not placed upon you in the religion any difficulty
وَمَا جَعَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ مِنْ حَرَجٍpray the five prayers in every twenty-four hours, and to estimate their times and determine them, relying on the nearest country to them where the times of the obligatory prayers are distinguished from one another; due to what is established in the hadith of the Night Journey and Ascension from
Allah the Exalted made fifty prayers obligatory upon this Ummah, every day and night. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) kept asking his Lord for relief until He said: “O Muhammad, they are five prayers every day and night, and for each prayer there are ten, so that is fifty prayers.”
أن الله تعالى فرض على هذه الأمة خمسين صلاة، كل يوم وليلة، فلم يزل النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يسأل ربه التخفيف حتى قال: يا محمد إنهن خمس صلوات كل يوم وليلة لكل صلاة عشر فذلك خمسون صلاةA man of the people of Najd with dishevelled hair came to God’s messenger. We could hear the sound of his voice, but could not understand what he was saying till he came near God’s messenger and we realised that he was asking about Islam. God’s messenger said, “Five times of prayer each day and night.” He asked, “Must I observe any more than them?” He replied, “No, unless you do it voluntarily.”
جاء رجل إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم من أهل نجد ، ثائر الرأس، نسمع دوي صوته، ولا نفقه ما يقول، حتى دنا من رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، فإذا هو يسأل عن الإسلام، فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: خمس صلوات في اليوم والليلة فقال: هل علي غيرهن؟ قال: لا، إلا أن تطوعAnd what is established from the hadith of Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him), he said:
We were forbidden to ask the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) about anything, so it pleased us when a man from the Bedouins, who was intelligent, would come and ask him while we listened. A man from the Bedouins came and said: “O Muhammad, your messenger came to us and claimed that you claim that Allah sent you.” He said: “The truth.” … Until he said: “And your messenger claimed that five prayers are required of us in our day and night.” He said: “The truth.” He said: “By the One who sent you, did Allah command you to do this?” He said: “Yes.”
نهينا أن نسأل رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عن شيء، فكان يعجبنا أن يجيء الرجل من أهل البادية العاقل، فيسأله ونحن نسمع، فجاء رجل من أهل البادية فقال: يا محمد: أتانا رسولك فزعم أنك تزعم أن الله أرسلك، قال: صدق.. إلى أن قال: وزعم رسولك أن علينا خمس صلوات في يومنا وليلتنا، قال: صدق، قال: فبالذي أرسلك آلله أمرك بهذا؟ قال: نعمThe Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) told his Companions about the Messiah al-Dajjal. They said: “How long will he remain on earth?” He said: “Forty days: a day like a year, a day like a month, a day like a week, and the rest of his days like your days.” It was said: “O Messenger of Allah, is the day that is like a year sufficient for us to pray one day’s prayer in it?” He said: “No, estimate its measure for it.”
أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم حدث أصحابه عن المسيح الدجال، فقالوا: ما لبثه في الأرض، قال: أربعون يومًا: يوم كسنة، ويوم كشهر، ويوم كجمعة، وسائر أيامه كأيامكم، فقيل: يا رسول الله: اليوم الذي كسنة أيكفينا فيه صلاة يوم؟ قال: لا، اقدروا له قدرهhours, and they are ordered to distribute them over their times, considering the time intervals between their times in the normal day in their countries. It is obligatory for Muslims in the countries responsible for determining the times of prayers to determine their prayer times, relying on the nearest country to them where night is distinguished from day, and the times of the five prayers are known by their Shari'ah signs in every twenty-four hours. Likewise, it is obligatory for them to fast the month of Ramadan, and they must estimate their fasting, determining the beginning and end of the month of Ramadan, and the beginning of abstention and breaking the fast in each day of it, by the beginning and end of the month, and the rising of the dawn and the setting of the sun in the nearest country to them where night is distinguished from day, and the total is twenty-four hours; due to what preceded in the hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) about the Dajjal, and his guidance to his companions in it on how to determine the times of prayers in it, as there is no difference in that between fasting and prayer. And by this, the invalidity of what came in the aforementioned Secular Calendar is known, and its contradiction with the explicit texts from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and its corruption of the prayers and fasting of Muslims. It is obligatory to beware of it and not follow it.
And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.