The Length and Shortness of the Day in Ramadan
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Fatwa No. ( 1442 )
Q: The Muslim World League received a letter from the ShaykhMuhammad Dir Manjaits envoy inCopenhagen - Denmark- stating that in some parts ofthe Scandinavian countries, the day is much longer than the nightthroughout the year, where the night is only three hours, while the day is twenty-one hours. He mentioned that if Ramadan happens to fall in winter, the Muslims there fast for only three hours, but if Ramadan falls in summer, they leave off fasting because they are unable to do so due to the length of the day. The ShaykhShaykh Muhammad Dir Manjaa fatwa specifying the times for breaking the fast and the pre-dawn meal, and the duration for which the month of Ramadan is fasted, to be announced to the Muslims in these countries. I request that you kindly issue a legal statement on this matter so that I may, based on it, respond to the aforementioned with what is necessary.
After the Committee studied the question, it answered as follows: The Shari'ah of Islam is complete and comprehensive. Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Ma'idah 5:3] And Allah the Exalted said: [Al-An'am 6:19] the verse. And Allah the Exalted said: [Saba 34:28] And Allah addressed the believers regarding the obligation of fasting, saying: [Al-Baqarah 2:183] And He specified the beginning and end of fasting, saying: [Al-Baqarah 2:187] He did not restrict this ruling to a specific country or a specific type of people, but He legislated it as a general law. Those about whom the question is asked are included in this generality. And Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) is gentle with His servants; He legislated for them ways of ease and simplicity to help them perform what is obligatory
upon them. Thus, He legislated for the traveler and the sick person, for example, to break the fast in Ramadan to remove hardship from them. Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Baqarah 2:185] the verse. Therefore, whoever witnesses Ramadan among those who are accountable must fast, whether the day is long or short. If one is unable to complete the fast of a day and fears death or illness for himself, it is permissible for him to break the fast with what satisfies his hunger and removes the harm from him, then he must abstain for the rest of the day, and he must make up the days he broke in other days when he is able to fast. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Q: The Muslim World League received a letter from the ShaykhMuhammad Dir Manjaits envoy inCopenhagen - Denmark- stating that in some parts ofthe Scandinavian countries, the day is much longer than the nightthroughout the year, where the night is only three hours, while the day is twenty-one hours. He mentioned that if Ramadan happens to fall in winter, the Muslims there fast for only three hours, but if Ramadan falls in summer, they leave off fasting because they are unable to do so due to the length of the day. The ShaykhShaykh Muhammad Dir Manjaa fatwa specifying the times for breaking the fast and the pre-dawn meal, and the duration for which the month of Ramadan is fasted, to be announced to the Muslims in these countries. I request that you kindly issue a legal statement on this matter so that I may, based on it, respond to the aforementioned with what is necessary.
After the Committee studied the question, it answered as follows: The Shari'ah of Islam is complete and comprehensive. Allah the Exalted said:
This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion.
الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الإِسْلامَ دِينًاSay, "What thing is greatest in testimony?" Say, "Allah is witness between me and you. And this Qur'an was revealed to me that I may warn you thereby and whomever it reaches.
قُلْ أَيُّ شَيْءٍ أَكْبَرُ شَهَادَةً قُلِ اللَّهُ شَهِيدٌ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكُمْ وَأُوحِيَ إِلَيَّ هَذَا الْقُرْآنُ لأُنْذِرَكُمْ بِهِ وَمَنْ بَلَغَAnd We have not sent you except comprehensively to mankind as a bringer of good tidings and a warner
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلا كَافَّةً لِلنَّاسِ بَشِيرًا وَنَذِيرًاO you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous -
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَAnd 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 اللَّيْلِupon them. Thus, He legislated for the traveler and the sick person, for example, to break the fast in Ramadan to remove hardship from them. Allah the Exalted said:
The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So 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. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنْـزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِنَ الْهُدَى وَالْفُرْقَانِ فَمَنْ شَهِدَ مِنْكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ وَمَنْ كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلاَ يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.