Prayer and Fasting Time for Nordic Countries

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Prayer and Fasting Time for Nordic Countries
N O R W A Y
Trondheim

• by
• Abdillah Suyuthi
• Former member of Imam Office MST
• Imam of Dar El Eman Islamic Center
• Trondheim, Norway

Oslo
Presented in the Monthly Seminar II
MST Trondheim, 05 February 2011
Muslim Society in Trondheim
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Presentation in front of the students at
17.12.2010 NTNU, Trondheim.
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Presentation in front of the students at
17.12.2010 NTNU, Trondheim.
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Meeting and discussion at IRN (Islamsk Råd Norge)
at 21.01.2011 in Oslo.

• Attended by board members of IRN and Imams Masjid
  in Oslo.

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Meeting and discussion at IRN (Islamsk Råd Norge)
at 21.01.2011 in Oslo.

• Giving presentation and fielding questions.

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First of all, let us realize the extremities
location of the Nordic countries
Where is Norway?
gt57North
Its indeed located at very top of the world!

• There are consequences
• The length of the day
• The time for twilight rise/set sun rise/set
• The time difference between twilight rise/set
  sun rise/set

twilight ashfaq
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Consequence 1 The Length of the Day
21.06
Realize the extremities location
21.12
Note The length of fasting is few hours longer
than the length of the day.

• Trondheim
• The shortest 4.5 hours.
• The longest 20.6 hours.

• Makkah
• The shortest 10.8 hours.
• The longest 13.5 hours.

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Consequence 2 The Time for Twilight Rise/Set
Time
Realize the extremities location
Twilight Sun Rise Time
Twilight Sun Set Time

• There is a period of time, when the twilight
  never disappear from the night ? NO perfect night.

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Consequence 3 The Time Difference between
Twilight Rise/Set Time and the Sunrise/Set Time
Realize the extremities location
There is a period of time, when the twilight
never disappear from the night ? NO perfect night.

• Applying 1.5 hours time difference between the
  twilight rise/set time and the sunrise/set time
  for us here could be questionable.

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From old prayer time schedules (during normal
period)...
It is a fixed 90 mnts!
90 mnts
90 mnts

• While according to the shariah

It is a fixed degree!
Soloppgang
Solnedgang
Time Difference between Twilight Rise/Set Time
and the Sunrise/Set Time
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But, why Umm Al-Quraa in Makkah decides to use a
fixed 90 mnts, instead of fixed degree?
Correction
?

• Umm Al-Quraa only uses a fixed 90 mnts between
  Maghrib and Isha, NOT between Shubh and Sunrise.

Difference between Shubh Sunrise
This is understandable, because

• In Makkah, a relatively constant difference (lt 90
  mnts) between Maghrib and Isha.
• Umm Al-Qura assumes that all muslims pray
  Maghrib in the beginning of the time, not when
  the end of the time.

The problem comes when the fixed 90 mnts was
brought to the extreme latitude (Oslo,
Trondheim), because

• The difference between Maghrib and Isha is vary
  throughout the year.
• The difference is gt 2.5 hours!
• It means setting up a fixed 90 mnts, leads to
  let muslims pray Isha before the time comes!

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It is understandable that Umm Al-Quraa does not
fixed 90 mnts between Shubh and Sunrise, because

• It could lead to pray Shubh before the time
  comes.
• It also related to the start of fasting, such
  that the muslims do not start their fasting
  earlier (unnecessary burden).

The problem comes when the fixed 90 mnts was
brought to the extreme latitude (Trondheim),
because

• The difference between Shubh and Sunrise is vary
  throughout the year.
• The difference is gt 2.5 hours!
• It is OK for having Shubh at 90 mnts before
  Sunrise, because it is still in Shubh time.
• But, it also means muslims start their fasting
  after Imsha (the forbidden-time) comes!

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Now, we all realize the extremities location of
the Nordic countries and its consequences
gt57North
Norway

• There are consequences
• The length of the day
• The time for twilight rise/set sun rise/set
• The time difference between twilight rise/set
  sun rise/set

twilight ashfaq
In turn, this lead us to the awareness of the
period division throughout the year NORMAL
period and DIFFICULT period.
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Normal period vs difficult period

• Normal day night
• Normal sunrise/sunset, and/or
• Normal twilight rise/set

• NO normal day night
• NO sunrise/sunset, and/or
• NO twilight rise/set

NORMAL PERIOD
DIFFICULT PERIOD
Twilight Sun Rise Time (Trondheim)
13.04
31.08
NORMAL
NORMAL
NO twilight rise/set
DIFFICULT
The limit of difficult period is determined based
on the existence of the red-twilight throughout
the night.
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Normal period vs difficult periodNow, what
Muslim scholars said about the NORMAL period?

• The hadith scholar, Ibn Hajar al-'Asqalani,
  mentioned in Fath al-Bari (2/62) "The primary
  texts pertain to common and normal circumstances
  and not to what is uncommon."
• In the same book (2/199), he cites Imam Abu
  al-Fath ibn Sayed al-Nas al-Ya'mari, "Rulings are
  contingent upon what is common and not on what is
  uncommon."
• The luminary and Hanafi scholar, Ibn 'Abdin,
  wrote in Rad al-Muhtar 'ala al-Dur al-Mukhtar
  (2/123) " the general texts are construed in
  reference to what is prevalent and common and not
  in reference to what is uncommon and unknown.
• Sheikh Ibn Taymiyah, the Hanbali scholar,
  mentioned in Mukhtasar al-Fatawa al-Misriyyah
  (1/38) "The prayer times, which Jibril (pbuh)
  taught the Prophet pbuh, and which the Prophet
  pbuh taught his community, are those which the
  scholars mentioned in their books, and which
  refer to normal days.

Source fatwa from Dar Al-Ifta Al Misriyyah
08.08.2010
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Thus, regarding the great Muslim scholars saying
about normal period, we may conclude

• CONCLUSION
• During NORMAL period ? use the ruling mentioned
  in the primary text, i.e.
• An-Nisa 103,
• Al-Isra 78,
• Hud 114,
• Thaahaa 130, and
• Hadith Jibril other hadiths.
• Please click this link if wanted to observe it!

?
What is the astronomical phenomena related to the
timing for prayer?
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The prayer time according to the shariah and
corresponding astronomical phenomena.
During NORMAL period

• Fajr or Subh corresponds to the first appearance
  of a white light that spreads laterally across
  the horizon true dawn (fajr shadiq).
• Sunrise corresponds to the appearance of the
  highest point of the sun's disk on the eastern
  horizon.
• Dhuhr corresponds to the sun passing its zenith -
  the highest point it will reach that day. This
  corresponds to the shortest shadow of an object
  for that day.

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The prayer time according to the shariah and
corresponding astronomical phenomena.
During NORMAL period
ASR

• Ashr corresponds to the position of the sun such
  that
• LS length of the shadow.
• LSZ length of the object's shadow when the sun
  is at its zenith.
• LO length of the object.
• The corresponding angle changes with respect to
  time and place.
• An alternative time for Ashr, considering Ashr
  prayer as Wustha prayer, is the middle between
  Dhuhr and Maghrib.

LS LSZ LO LS LSZ 2xLO
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Considering Ashr prayer as Wustha prayer based on
the following hadith.
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????? ? ? ?????????? ??????????????? ??????????
?????? ?????????? ??????? ???? ?????? ????
???????? ???? ???????????? ???? ??????? ????
????? ??????? ??????? ????????? ????? ???????????
????????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ???? ????????
????? ????????? ????????? ????? ???????? ??????
???????? ????????? ????????? ????? ????????????
???????????? ?????????? ???????? ???????????
?????????? ?????????? ??????? ????????? ?????
???????????? ???????????? ?????????? ?????????
????????? ????????? ??????? ?????????? ?????????
??????????? ???? ??????? ??????? ?????? ???????
???????? ????????? ????? ??????? ???? ????????
????? ????? ?????? ????? ??????? ?????? ???????
Qutaibah had told us, from Malik bin Anas, he
said Al Anshari had told us, Ma'nu had told us,
Malik had told us, from Zaid bin Aslam, from Al
Qa'qa' bin Hakim from Abu Yunus ex-servant of
'Aishah, he said 'Aishah radliallahu 'anha
ordered me to write a mushaf for her, she said
When you arrive at this ayat, tell me Keep all
of (your) prayers and (keep) Shalat Wustha. QS.
Al Baqarah 238. When I arrive at the ayat, I told
her. She dictated me Keep all of (your) prayers
and (keep) Shalat Wustha and Asr prayer, stand up
for Allah (in your prayer) with khusyu. Aishah
saidI heard this from Rasulullah shallallahu
'alaihi wasallam. In this matter, there is
similar hadith from Hafshah. Abu Isa said this
hadith is hasan shahih.

• narrated by Imam Tirmidzi

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Considering Ashr prayer as Wustha prayer based on
the following hadith.
?????????? ????????? ?????????? ?????? ??????????
??????? ???? ????????? ???? ????????? ????
??????? ?????? ??????? ?????? ???? ??????????
?????? ??????? ???????? ????????? ??????? ?????
?????? ??????????? ?????? ??????? ??????????
??????????? ????????????? ?????? ????? ??????????
???? ??????? ?????????? ?????? ??????? ?????????
Ishaq had told us, Rauh had told us, Hisyam had
told us, from Muhammad from 'Abidah from Ali ra
that the Prophet PBUH said at the War of Trench
"May Allah fulfill their houses and graves with
fire because they have occupied us until (unable
to perform) Al Wustha prayer (Asr) till sunset."

• narrated by Imam Bukhari in his Shahih

What about astronomically?
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The prayer time according to the shariah and
corresponding astronomical phenomena.
During NORMAL period

• Maghrib corresponds to the complete disappearance
  of the sun's disk below the Western horizon.
• Isha corresponds to the disappearance of red
  twilight. This corresponds to the sun being 18
  degrees below the western horizon.

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However, there are different conventions for
calculating prayer times.
Convention Fajr Angle Isha Angle
Muslim World League 18 17
Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) 15 15
Egyptian General Authority of Survey 19.5 17.5
Umm al-Qura University, Makkah 18.5 90 min after Maghrib 120 min during Ramadan
University of Islamic Sciences, Karachi 18 18
Institute of Geophysics, University of Tehran 17.7 14
Shia Ithna Ashari, Leva Research Institute, Qum 16 14
European Council for Fatwa and Research 18 17
What about Norway? Which one we will adopt?
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Normal period vs difficult periodNow, what
Muslim scholars said about DIFFICULT period?

• Sheikh Ibn Taymiyah, the Hanbali scholar,
  mentioned in Mukhtasar al-Fatawa al-Misriyyah,
  There is a different ruling for the day of which
  the Prophet said will extend to the length of one
  year. Concerning this day, he said, "Estimate
  the timings of prayer.
• Imam Mohammed Abdou - the former Grand Mufti of
  Egypt- (as cited by his student Sheikh Mohammed
  Rashid Reda in Tafseer al-Manar 2/163) said
  The Prophet pbuh specified prayer times based
  on the hours that suit countries with moderate
  hours and which constitute the greater part of
  the world. This was the norm until Islam reached
  those countries where day and night is longer
  than usual. Muslims living in these countries may
  estimate prayer times depending on their
  independent reasoning and in analogy to the
  timings specified by the Prophet pbuh in the
  hadith of al-Dajjal. The same applies to
  fasting.

Source fatwa from Dar Al-Ifta Al Misriyyah
08.08.2010
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So, what are the Muslim scholars opinions about
the estimated time during DIFFICULT period?

• One opinion stated that the times for starting
  and ending a fast (and prayers) must be estimated
  based on the timings of the cities with moderate
  hours where religious rulings were prescribed
  (i.e. Mecca and Medina).
• Another opinion stated that the times for
  starting and ending a fast (and prayers) should
  be estimated according to the timings of the
  nearest country with moderate hours.
• This is problematic to be applied

Source fatwa from Dar Al-Ifta Al Misriyyah
08.08.2010
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Therefore
Sheikh Gad al-Haq, the former Grand Imam of
al-Azhar, said I call upon Muslims living in
Norway and other countries with similar
circum-stances to fast the same number of hours
as Muslims in Mecca or Medina.

• Modern scholars who has the same opinion,
  include
• Sheikh Mohammed Abdou, the first to hold the
  office of Grand Mufti of Egypt. He favored this
  opinion which he derived from juristic opinions
  on this issue as mentioned earlier. This is
  likewise the opinion that was implemented later
  by Dar al-Ifta al-Misriyyah.
• Sheikh Gad al-Haq Ali Gad al-Haq (in fatwa no.
  214 for the year 1981 CE).
• Sheikh Abdul Latif Hamza (in fatwa no. 160 for
  the year 1984 CE).
• Dr. Mohammed Sayed Tantawi (in fatwa no. 171 for
  the year 1993 CE and in fatwa no. 579 for the
  year 1995 CE).
• Dr. Nasr Farid Wasil (in fatwa no. 438 for the
  year 1998).
• Dr. Ali Goma Mohammed, the current Grand Mufti of
  Egypt.
• Dr. Mohammed al-Ahmadi abu al-Nur, former
  Minister of Endowments and member of the Islamic
  Research Academy, in the fatwa issued on 24 April
  1983 CE by the Fatwa Committee at al-Azhar in his
  capacity as president of the Committee.
• The luminary Sheikh Mustafa al-Zarka.
• Dr. Mohammed Hamidullah in his book Al-Islam.
• Sheikh Mahmud Ashur, former deputy to the Grand
  Imam of al-Azhar and member of the Islamic
  Research Academy.

Source fatwa from Dar Al-Ifta Al Misriyyah
08.08.2010
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So, how can we implement this fatwa?
DIFFICULT
NORMAL
NORMAL
?
?
?
?
Isha
13.04
31.08
Maghrib
Transition Period
Transition Period
Asr
Duhr
Sunrise
Subh
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This is the new prayer schedule for Trondheim
DIFFICULT
NORMAL
NORMAL
Isha
13.04
31.08
Maghrib
Transition Period
Transition Period
Asr
Duhr
Sunrise
Subh
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Finally, what are the features and benefits for
this new prayer schedule for Muslims in Trondheim?

• Fasting (shaum) length
• Maximum 14.9 hours (19-21 June)
• Minimum 7.9 hours (21-23 December)
• During winter time, the latest Subh time is at
  0642.
• You can pray Subh at masjid or at home easier (no
  need to pray Subh at work place or school).
• The latest Isha time throughout the year is at
  2137.
• It is easier to pray Isha and taraweh during
  Ramadhan if it comes on the summer time.
• No need to make generic schedule for Ramadhan
  in summer time.

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Alhamdulillah, jazakumullah khair

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