When Should One Commence Fasting?

Question

The Quran is very clear on when to stop eating for Suhur. “Until you see the white thread (true dawn) and when the dawn is visible, stop eating.”

I’m not sure about the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) using the degree calculation method for dawn and sunrise as we use now. Many scholars use the dawn calculation of 18,15, or 12-degree calculations of when to stop eating depending on where they are located worldwide. The three twilights – are Astronomical Twilight (Full darkness Ends), Nautical Twilight (First Light), and Civil Twilight (Dawn).

So, according to Quran, we should stop eating when civil twilight kicks in. The Masjid goes before Nautical twilight kicks in. When should we stop eating?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

May Allah alleviate our difficulties and guide us to that which is pleasing to Him. Amin.

Please refer to this comprehensive “Reader” on the Fiqh of Fasting according to the Shafi‘i School.

According to all Muslim scholars, the beginning time for the Fajr prayer is the start of the time for fasting. The basis of this consensus is the verse, “And eat and drink until the white thread (light) of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread (darkness of night), then complete your Fast till the nightfall.” [Quran, 2:187]

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) instructed the Companions, “The adhan (call to prayer) of Bilal should not prevent you from eating Sahur (predawn meal) because he gives adhan at night, therefore keep eating and drinking until you hear the adhan of ‘Abdullah Ibn Umm Maktum. He (‘Abdullah Ibn Umm Maktum) gives adhan when the Fajr comes out.” [Bukhari; Muslim]

The Fajr referred to in the hadith is the true Fajr: al-Subh al-Sadiq. Samra Ibn Jundub (Allah be pleased with him) related that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) stated, “The vertical light (Zodiacal Twilight which is the false Fajr) should not prevent you from eating (Sahur). You can eat and drink until the light appears to spread (al-Fajr al-Mustatir – the true dawn). [Tirmidhi]

How Do We Decide on How to Ascertain the Correct Time for Fajr?

The following is an extract from our article by Shaykh Jamir D. Meah, linked above.

Although most scholars agree on the Shar‘i signs given in the sacred text concerning the start of Fajr, they disagree on interpreting the Shar‘i signs as actual astronomical phenomena.

These differences of opinion center on what degree is used to measure dawn scientifically. Others reject scientific use. While some of these opinions may or may not be valid, this does not help the lay Muslim who wants to know when he can or can’t start his fast.

Among these opinions, the one which stands out as the soundest and most practical, supported by many qualified scholars, is that 18 degrees is the best way to know the accurate Fajr time. Shaykh Nuh Keller (may Allah preserve him), who has considerable experience in this field of research, has written a specific article on this. The Muslim World Fiqh Council and the Committee of Astronomers have agreed that 18 degrees concur with the Muslim Fajr times. However, during the summer months (in northerly countries, including the UK), there is a period in which there is no point at which the sun is 18 degrees from the horizon (making Fajr time difficult to determine). So a solution to this is needed.

Below is a quote from Shaykh Nuh Keller’s article, which presents perhaps the best option available now for Muslims in the UK (Muslims in other countries would have to research their own similar centers for reliable dawn times, following the same practical steps outlined below):

“Commence fasting at the time of the last accurate 18-degree time for one’s location, and then begin to fast at that time until there is an accurate 18-degree time again. For example, the last 18-degree time in Birmingham was on 17 May, when dawn entered at 1:27 a.m. In this case, people should start fasting at 1:27 a.m. until 25 July, when true dawn begins again. From 25 July onwards, one follows the 18-degree time for one’s location.

Whose 18 Degrees?

A second question might arise concerning “whose 18 degrees?” Different timetables list different times for 18 degrees. In the United Kingdom, one should follow the times calculated by Her Majesty’s Nautical Almanac Office, which has been observing and calculating times for approximately two hundred years, and until recently, was part of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich. These times can be found here.

Regarding the time of nightfall prayer (Isha), people should determine its beginning when the red leaves the sky, relying on timing their observation of this on clear evenings and estimating from these timed observations for other days. Praying Isha after the red leaves the sky is a followable position in the Hanafi and Shafi‘i schools.”

In Practice:

1. Go to your most reliable information site for the dawn times calculated upon 18 degrees;
2. In those summer months when there is no 18-degree point for dawn, go by the last time there was one;
3. When there is an 18-degree point, then go by that;
4. One considers Isha coming in when “the red leaves the sky” for sure, delaying if uncertain.

I pray this is of benefit and that Allah guides us all.
[Shaykh] Irshaad Sedick
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Irshaad Sedick was raised in South Africa in a traditional Muslim family. He graduated from Dar al-Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah in Strand, Western Cape, under the guidance of the late world-renowned scholar Shaykh Taha Karaan.

Shaykh Irshaad received Ijaza from many luminaries of the Islamic world, including Shaykh Taha Karaan, Mawlana Yusuf Karaan, and Mawlana Abdul Hafeez Makki, among others.

He is the author of the text “The Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal: A Hujjah or not?” He has served as the Director of the Discover Islam Centre and Al Jeem Foundation. For the last five years till present, he has served as the Khatib of Masjid Ar-Rashideen, Mowbray, Cape Town.

Shaykh Irshaad has thirteen years of teaching experience at some of the leading Islamic institutes in Cape Town). He is currently building an Islamic online learning and media platform called ‘Isnad Academy’ and has completed his Master’s degree in the study of Islam at the University of Johannesburg. He has a keen interest in healthy living and fitness.