Fatwa MWL 1986

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful "And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allah, and be not divided among yourselves."

The Muslim World League - Secretariat General -  Makkah Al-Mukarramah Administration of the Fiqh Council Session No. 9 -  1406 AH Decree No. 7

Regarding the issue of prayer and fast times in countries at extreme latitudes (far from the equator). All praise belongs to Allah alone, and may Allah’s Peace and Blessings be upon the Last Prophet, our master and prophet, Muhammad.

In the ninth session of the Fiqh Council in the Muslim World League Building in Makkah Al-Mukarramah, which lasted from Saturday 12 Rajab 1406 AH (23 March 1986) to Saturday 19 Rajab 1406 AH (13 March 1986) regarding times for prayers and fasting for those living in regions at extreme latitudes (far from the equator).

In consideration of the spirit of Islam, which is based on making matters easy, as well as information provided by the Council of Astronomers, the [Fiqh] Council decrees the following:

First:

In order to avoid the confusion and differing caused by multiple calculation methods, each prayer time is set using the astronomical phenomena corresponding to Islamic Law and that which has been clarified by the scholars of prayer times in converting these phenomena into astronomical calculations in terms of the position of the sun above or below the horizon as follows:

Fajr:

This corresponds to the first appearance of the white light that spreads laterally across the horizon. This is referred to as true dawn (Al Fajr Al Sadiq) and corresponds to when the sun is 18 degrees below the eastern horizon.

Sunrise (Shurooq):

This corresponds to the appearance of the top of the sun on the eastern horizon, which equates to when the sun reaches 5/6 of a degree below the horizon.

Dhuhr:

This corresponds to the centre of the sun passing its zenith – which is the highest point it will reach that day. This equates to the shortest that a given object’s shadow will be [for that day].

This corresponds to the position of the sun being such that the length of the shadow of an object is equal to the length of the object plus the length of the object's shadow when the sun is at its zenith. The corresponding angle changes according to time and place.

Maghrib:

This corresponds to the complete disappearance of the sun below the western horizon. This equates to the sun being 5/6 of a degree below the horizon.

Isha:

This corresponds to the disappearance of red twilight. This equates to the sun being 17 degrees below the western horizon.

Second:

It is sufficient to add two minutes to the times of: Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha, and to subtract two minutes from the times of Fajr and sunrise (Shurooq).

Third:

Extreme latitudes fall into three categories:

Region 1:

This is anywhere between latitudes of 45 to 48 degrees north or south of the equator. Whether long or short in duration, all necessary astronomical phenomena occur within a 24 hour period in this region

Region 2:

This is anywhere between latitudes of 48 and 66 degrees north or south of the equator. Some astronomical phenomena do not occur during some days of the year in this region, such as the twilight not ending, so the phenomenon marking the start of Isha does not occur. This means that Maghrib time runs into Fajr time.

Region 3:

This is anywhere between the latitude of 66 north or south of the equator and the corresponding pole. The necessary astronomical phenomena do not occur for large parts of the year.

Fourth:

The ruling regarding Region 1 is that those living there must abide by the prescribed times for prayers and fast between the appearance of true dawn and sunset according to Islamic Law. This is in accordance with Islamic legal texts regarding prayer and fasting.

Fifth:

The ruling regarding Region 2 is that the times for Isha and Fajr should be calculated by using the corresponding proportions for these prayers in the closest place in which the phenomena do occur. This Council recommends calculating this according to timings at a latitude of 45 degrees. The corresponding proportion of the night should be allocated for the location in question. For example, if Isha starts after one third of the night has passed at a latitude of 45 degrees, Isha also starts after one third of it has passed for the location in question. The same applies to Fajr.

Sixth:

The ruling regarding Region 3 is that the times for all prayers should be calculated according to their equivalents at a latitude of 45 degrees. The 24 hours in a day in this region should be divided up into the same proportions as at 45 degrees. For example, if the length of the night at 45 degrees is eight hours, the sun sets at 8:00 pm, and Isha is at 11:00 pm, then the equivalent should hold for the location in question. If, for example, if Fajr is at 2:00 am, it will be the same at the location in question. Fasting should start from this time until Maghrib time as per the same calculation method.

This conclusion is based on the analogous situation mentioned in the hadeeth pertaining to the Dajjal (False Christ), We said, "Oh Messenger of Allah, how long will he remain on earth?" He said, "Forty days: a day like a year, then a day like a month, then a day like a week..." We said, "Oh Messenger of Allah, in the day that is like a year, will the prayer of a day be sufficient?" He said, "No, use proportions to calculate the time." (Narrated by Muslim and Abu Dawood)

Allah is the One who give success

May Allah’s Peace and Blessings be upon the Last Prophet, our master and prophet, Muhammad, all of his family and all of his companions.

COUNCIL

 Dr. Abdullah Umar Naseef  Vice President [Signed] Abdulaziz ibn Abdullah ibn Baz President of the Fiqh Council [Stamped] Dr. Talal Umar Bafaqeeh Reporter of the Islamic Fiqh Council [Signed]

Members: • Muhammad ibn Jubayr [Signed] • Abdullah Aal Abdurrahman Al-Bassam [Signed] • Salih ibn Fawzan ibn Abdullah Al-Fawzan [Signed] • Muhammad ibn Abdullah ibn Subayyil [Signed] • Mustafa Ahmad Al-Zarqa' [Signed] [Handwritten note: I opine that the extremes of day and night for different seasons in Hejaz or the entire Arabian Peninsula form a basis for measurement of prayer times at extreme latitudes.] • Muhammad Mahmood Al-Sawwaf [Signed] • Salih ibn Uthaymayn • Muhammad Rasheed Qabbani [Signed] • Muhammad Al-Shathili Al-Nayfir [Signed] • Abu Bakr Joomy [Signed] • Dr. Ahmad Fahmy Abu Sinnah [Signed] • Muhammad Al-Habeeb ibn Al-Khojah • Dr. Bakr Abu Zayd [Signed] • Yusuf Al-Qaradhawi [Signed] • Muhammad Salim ibn Abdulwadood • Abu Al-Hasan Ali Al-Hasani Al-Nadawi

From the Council of Astronomers: Prof. Dr. Mohammad Hawari [Signed]