How to Determine the Time of the Dawn

Question:
This questioner says: In the city of London in Britain, the Islamic centers differ in determining the time of abstaining from food and drink in Ramadan, with some setting it an hour and a half before sunrise, and others two hours, and so on. Please inform us of what should be done in this difference between the Islamic centers, knowing that the clouds in London and other British cities prevent distinguishing the white thread from the black thread. So what is to be done in this difference?

Answer:
They should act on the preponderant opinion; the preponderant opinion is sufficient for the dawn, in determining it in each place according to its circumstances. If they did not see the dawn because of clouds and there is no clear weather, they act on the preponderant opinion, which is what they know to be the time when the dawn appeared. As for if it is clear with no clouds, they look for the dawn. And if the clock is accurate, praise be to Allah, they act by it.
The countries differ, but one looks at the condition of clear weather, and what is the case in clear weather is the closest, meaning in clear weather, how much is there between the rising of the sun and the appearance of the dawn, so that the accuracy of the estimate is known. If he does not have insight, he acts with the precaution that says two hours; he acts with precaution from the perspective of precaution. If there is doubt in the matter in London or elsewhere, he acts with precaution and praise be to Allah. And if there is knowledge of the interval between the sun and the appearance of the dawn, in the case of clear weather, he acts by it, and in the case of clouds, he acts by the clock.