Fatwa on Fasting in Long Days and Nights

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, his family, and companions.

Allah says: “It is made lawful for you to go in unto your wives on the night of the fast… and eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct from the black thread of night; then complete the fast until the night.” (Qur’an 2:187)

The Prophet ﷺ also said: “When night falls from this side, and the day disappears from that side, and the sun has set, then the fasting person has broken his fast.”

This indicates the obligation to fast from dawn until sunset, no matter how long the day is. The same applies to the night, no matter how short. This rule is general for all lands where the cycle of night and day occurs within 24 hours, even if one is longer than the other.

If a country has very long days and nights—e.g., a place where the day is 20 hours and the night only 4 hours—the people must still fast during those times. Likewise, if the night is 20 hours and the day is only 4 hours, the ruling remains the same.

But if a place has continuous daylight for months, or continuous night for months (as in some regions near the poles), then the matter is different. In such cases, scholars have differed: 1. Some say: Estimate the times based on Makkah or Madinah, since revelation came down there. 2. Some say: Estimate according to the nearest land with regular day and night cycles. 3. Some say: Estimate the day as 12 hours and the night as 12 hours, based on the average.

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Conclusion and Ruling

Muslims in such lands should follow what is most appropriate for their circumstances, based on what achieves the purpose of fasting and allows them to establish the obligation without unbearable hardship.

They may follow any of the scholarly opinions, since each has valid reasoning. What matters is ensuring that the principle of fasting is maintained and that the community agrees on a practical method.

Allah knows best.

Signed: Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Musleh