If a man begins fasting in Algeria and then goes for 'Umrah, and the festival catches up with him there, and he has already fasted 28 days, what is the ruling in that case?

The questioner : Regarding the issue of fasting, there is a practical problem. For example, when the month is 29 days, the reality in our country, Algeria, is that the Saudis fast before us. For instance, they fast a day before us. So, the one who begins fasting with Algeria in his country, naturally, and then goes to perform 'Umrah—and this is very common, people go to perform 'Umrah—

The Shaykh : How does he begin fasting?

The questioner : With his country, meaning with it, because he was residing in Algeria, so he begins fasting with Algeria, and then he goes to perform 'Umrah in the last ten days of Ramadan, and this is very common. So, the festival catches up with him while he is in Saudi Arabia, and he finds that he has fasted 28 days. So, I do not know how this problem is resolved.

The Shaykh : There is no 28 days in a 29-day month or a 30-day month. In this case, if he remains in the country that celebrates the festival on the 29th day, as far as the Algerian is concerned, he must fast because he has not fasted the full month. As long as he began it in his country, he completes it according to his country, up to 29 days. But if his country fasted 30 days, he does not fast 30 days.

The questioner : And if it is the reverse, for example, he began fasting in Saudi Arabia and returned to Algeria, he finds that he may fast 31 days.

The Shaykh : There is also the same answer .