A note on the rulings regarding the times of prayer in countries where the day is long and the night is very short.

The Shaykh : We mentioned this, but the time has passed for discussing places where there are no prayer times. However, we can now speak briefly about them. There are places where there is neither day nor night in the sense that twenty-four hours pass entirely as day, or twenty-four hours entirely as night, or even more than that. What is our position regarding this? The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) clarified our position when he spoke about the Dajjal, stating that one of his days is like a year, meaning twelve months. Allah inspired the Companions to say: Based on this, we say to those who are in a place where there is no night and day within twenty-four hours: estimate the time for them. But is this estimate based on the nearest country to them that has day and night, or is it based on the middle, meaning where day and night are equal, or is it based on Makkah because it is the Mother of Cities? There are three opinions on this: Some say it is based on the nearest country to them that has day and night, which is normal. This is the closest opinion from an astronomical perspective. Others say it is based on the middle, meaning they make twelve hours night and twelve hours day and proceed on that basis. Their evidence for this is that they say: When the consideration of the local place falls away, it is necessary to return to the middle; it is necessary to return to the middle. The third opinion says that the standard is the time of Makkah because it is the Mother of Cities, as mentioned in the Noble Qur'an: Based on this, those people must have a connection with Makkah and use a schedule of prayer times according to the time of Makkah. These are three opinions that I accept from a scientific perspective. The closest of them, from an astronomical science standpoint, is the first: to consider the nearest country to them that has a consistent day and night within twenty-four hours. This is clear. Second: They say that in some countries, the time for 'Isha' prayer becomes very long, close to Fajr, and the twilight has not set. When do they pray? I mean the time of Maghrib, not 'Isha', the time of Maghrib, such that the twilight remains until close to Fajr. When do they pray? We say: As long as the twilight sets and appears, the standard is its setting, even if the period is long, because the Shari'ah has tied it to this, and it is not for us to exceed the limits. However, if it does not set except when Fajr rises from the eastern direction, then we say: estimate the time for them; estimate the time for them. Now, I will ask you: How do you imagine the sun for those whose night is six months or whose day is six months? Yes, how do you imagine it? Meaning, the reality is far from our imagination. We thought the sun would be on one side, but it does not set; it remains for six months, for example, on the eastern, northern, southern, or western side. But they say: It does not stay in the same place, meaning the region, but it moves. For example, it moves like this. This is something we do not imagine, but those who have seen it say: This is the reality. Do you now imagine it or not? There is no god but Allah. Do you know the rotation? It is a circle, and it moves in a circle. It moves from the horizon, going like this, like this along the horizon, like this, until it returns to its place. Yes, always. Glory be to Allah, Allah is the Greatest. May Allah reward you, if Allah wills, hopefully there is no pain.