Sheikh Uthaimin on Fasting Times in Ramadan

The eminent scholar Sheikh Ibn Uthaimin (may Allah have mercy upon him) was asked the following question: "May Allah reward you with the best for your advice, the questioner says: 'In the month of Ramadan, disagreements arise between the imams of various mosques regarding the determination of the Fajr dawn. It should be added that a prayer timetable is available in these mosques, which was created by astronomers commissioned by the Ministry of Religious Affairs. Nevertheless, there are some imams who do not follow this timetable. Particularly with the Fajr prayer, they delay the call to prayer by an average of just over a quarter of an hour compared to the timetable. This happens in view of the fact that the dawn of Fajr cannot be observed due to electric lights. What is your advice regarding these imams, and what is your view concerning the astronomers? May Allah reward you.'"

The honourable Sheikh Ibn Uthaimin (may Allah have mercy upon him) said: "There is no doubt that the astronomers are knowledgeable in their field, but Allah (the Exalted) says: 'And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread!' {Surah 2:187}. i.e. As long as the dawn (Fajr) is not visible, one may eat and drink. The problem nowadays is that the inhabitants of cities and villages where electric lights are present are not able to observe the dawn of Fajr from its onset; this is caused by the presence of lights. To be on the safe side, one should stop drinking and eating at the start of Fajr according to the prayer timetable. For the prayer, however, as a precaution, one should perform it in such a way that it is not carried out too early. Waiting for the prayer, praise be to Allah, to be certain about the time, is not counted as delaying the prayer beyond its prescribed time. Caution in this case relates to fasting, so we say: Caution (when fasting) means adhering to the prayer timetable. Regarding the prayer, one should delay it until the dawn of Fajr is observed."