How does one pray and fast if one resides in a land where the sun does not rise for a long period?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh, and your knowledge: What is the rule for residents of countries where the sun does not set for a long period of the year, or for a traveler on a plane where the day may become very long or very short? What is the rule for the one who is fasting or praying in this situation?
The Shaykh : The rule is that if there is night and day, then the night and day are considered as they are, whether long or short. Even if, for example, the night is four hours and the day is twenty hours, the night is considered night and the day is considered day. As for when there is no night and day, as in the polar regions, then it is estimated. As for the first case, the evidence for it is the generality of the saying of Allah the Exalted regarding fasting:[Al-Baqarah 2:187] and the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family): .
As for the second case, its evidence is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) spoke about the Dajjal, he spoke about the Dajjal, and that the first day in which the day will be like a year, so Allah enabled the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) to speak, and they said: So for those who have six months of night and six months of day, we say: estimate it. But by what do we estimate? Do we estimate by the average and say: twelve hours, consider it day, and twelve hours, consider it night, because when the specific designation is removed due to the absence of the difference, we return to the middle? Or do we consider the nearest lands to this region that have night and day? Or do we consider Makkah, because Allah the Exalted named it the Mother of Cities? There are three opinions, and there is nothing definitive that one of these three is more correct. But the closest thing to me, and Allah knows best, is to consider the nearby lands that have night and day.
The questioner : But the person who resides in those lands, for example, does he have a reason to try to move to places with opportunities?
The Shaykh : It is not necessary, it is not necessary, and he remains in the land where he is.
The Shaykh : The rule is that if there is night and day, then the night and day are considered as they are, whether long or short. Even if, for example, the night is four hours and the day is twenty hours, the night is considered night and the day is considered day. As for when there is no night and day, as in the polar regions, then it is estimated. As for the first case, the evidence for it is the generality of the saying of Allah the Exalted regarding fasting:
until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night]. Then complete the fast until the sunset
حَتَّى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمْ الْخَيْطُ الأَبْيَضُ مِنْ الْخَيْطِ الأَسْوَدِ مِنْ الْفَجْرِ ثُمَّ أَتِمُّوا الصِّيَامَ إِلَى اللَّيْلِWhen the night approaches from here—and he pointed to the east—and the day recedes from here—and he pointed to the west—and the sun sets, then the fasting person breaks his fast.
إذا أقبل الليل من هاهنا -وأشار إلى المشرق- وأدبر النهار من هاهنا -وأشار إلى المغرب- وغربت الشمس فقد أفطر الصائمAs for the second case, its evidence is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) spoke about the Dajjal, he spoke about the Dajjal, and that the first day in which the day will be like a year, so Allah enabled the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) to speak, and they said:
How do we pray, O Messenger of Allah? He said: Estimate it for it.
كيف نصلي يا رسول الله قال : اقدروا له قدرهThe questioner : But the person who resides in those lands, for example, does he have a reason to try to move to places with opportunities?
The Shaykh : It is not necessary, it is not necessary, and he remains in the land where he is.