Time to break the fast in extreme locations

[questioner]

Assalamualaikum, the actual time to break the fast during ramadan is at night time, not during the maghrib call to prayers.

Certain countries located close to the north and south poles of the Earth would sometimes experience a phenomenon where the sun never fully sets and therefore night time do not happen.

Please advise what is the correct approach to break the fast in these locations if Ramadan falls at the same time as the midnight sun season. Is it even probable?

Thank you.

[Zainab_M]

Walaikum As-Salaam.   Those of us residing in countries where the sun doesn't set or only sets momentarily like Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Finland, usually follow the sahoor and iftar timings of Mecca and Medinah, or the standard time of a nearest Muslim country.  Alternatively, they can also follow the sunrise and sunset times of the nearest European country which does not have continuous or near continuous daylight or darkness.  In other words, in such locations Muslims go by the clock rather than the brightness or darkness of the atmosphere.  In countries where at least 2 or 3 hours are available between sunset and sunrise, some Muslims are able to make it following the local time. 

And yes, you're absolutely right.  According to the Noble Quran, we must break our fast at nightfall (leil), not at maghrib.    Related post:  Right time to break the fast

[N. Truth Seeker]

Thirteen years ago a Muslim astronaut of Malaysia went to the international space station in the month of Ramadan, orbiting the earth and going through several day/night cycles every 24 hours, Subhan'Allah!  The legislation of Allah Almighty can be so marvelous and awesome!!  The senior jurists advised the astronaut that he could either offer qada fasts after returning to earth or he could follow the sahoor, iftar and salah timings of  Kazakhstan from where his space journey was launched.

[Zainab_M]

Thirteen years ago a Muslim astronaut of Malaysia went to the international space station in the month of Ramadan, orbiting the earth and going through several day/night cycles every 24 hours, Subhan'Allah!  The legislation of Allah Almighty can be so marvelous and awesome!!  The senior jurists advised the astronaut that he could either offer qada fasts after returning to earth or he could follow the sahoor, iftar and salah timings of  Kazakhstan from where his space journey was launched.

Alhumdulilah, ya Allah.

[questioner]

From the topic : Right time to break fast

The Noble Quran makes it crystal clear that fasting must commence from the time when the early light of dawn begins to appear upto the darkness of the night.  And darkness of the night comes after sunset.

Darkness of the night would mean when the sky is completely dark and devoid of sunlight, or when it is twilight when some light remains?

If its the former, would it mean the time to break fast would be closer to Isha prayers?

[Zainab_M]

The atmosphere generally gets dark between 30 and 50 minutes after Maghrib (sunset), depending on one's location.  By that time the sky looks quite dark with no bluish or reddish color.  This is nightfall (leil) and the right time for Iftar.   It's much before Isha.   Isha starts 1 hour and 20 or 25 minutes after Maghrib.

At Maghrib, we need to first offer Maghrib salat, and then will need to wait another 15 minutes or so to break the fast.

[questioner]

Ok, I thought I understood your timings but the statement of iftar time being much before isha is confusing me

Lets assume the location is Toronto, CA .

Today,
maghrib = 8:19pm
Isha= 9:50 pm

Secular timing (from dateandtime.com)
Sunset.= 8:19 pm
Civil twilight. = 8.20 pm to 8:51 pm
Nautical twilight.= 8:51 pm to 9:30 pm
Astronomical twilight = 9:30 pm to 10:14pm.
Night= from 10:14pm



Can you please suggest which stage of the secular time periods above does leil in the Quran corresponds to?
 

[Heba E. Husseyn]

As-Salam Alaikum Wr Br

It's all fairly simple.  I don't see the cause for so much confusion.  This is about the time bracket of fasting based on the devotion of our soul to The Almighty.  Having said that, it isn't a whole lot important to go into such depths of celestial and solar physics.  It really isn't relevant to count every little grain in the sky. 
 
Allah Almighty says: 

"eat and drink until the white thread becomes distinct to you from the black thread of the dawn. Then strictly observe the fast till nightfall"  (2:187)  Surah Al-Baqrah

So, we got to fast from fajr (dawn) to leil (nightfall), that is:

- when the sky has the slightest glimmer of blue (which will reflect on the atmosphere) is starting time;  
- and when the sky is dark or almost dark can by definition be called "leil" or nighttime if viewed by the naked eyes is the period to break the fast. 
 
If these are the descriptions you get looking at the atmosphere, it's fine to start and finish.   It's only when the sky is overcast you would need to guide yourself with the clock in accordance with the sunrise and sunset timings of that particular day. 
  
By definition nautical twilight is the very tail-end of sunset when the sky looks almost dark, and stars and the crescent or full moon also appear on cloudless evenings.   This isn't maghrib time, it's leil.  For sure, you can start Iftar at this time in accordance with the information in Verse 2:187. 
 
True, in Toronto for example Maghrib currently is at 8.20 evening;  we offer Maghrib @ 8.20 pm which may take approx. 15 minutes.  Then take a peek at the sky.  It will likely still look bright enough to be called sunset.  Wait for another 15 or 20 minutes and check again.  It normally looks fine for Iftar at this point, and it would be approximately 8.55 pm. 
  
With Maghrib @ 8.20 pm, Isha time would begin around 9.40 pm approx. which is 45 minutes after you start Iftar.   Mark the words, Isha 'begins' approx. 45 minutes later (if you start Iftar at 8.55 pm), but the time bracket for Isha is very long, therefore you needn't sit down for Isha dot at 9.40 pm and in the process rush your Iftar.   

Such timings aren't carved on stone.  They can vary by some minutes now and again depending on weather and various atmospheric conditions which is absolutely fine.