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Ramadan mubarak... as long as you don't live in Iceland, where fasting lasts 21 hours | Ramadan mubarak... as long as you don't live in Iceland, where fasting lasts 21 hours |
(7 months later) | |
Ramadan began on Wednesday evening for 1.6bn Muslims around the world, who will have to fast during daylight hours. | Ramadan began on Wednesday evening for 1.6bn Muslims around the world, who will have to fast during daylight hours. |
The holy month is in high summer this year and for Muslims in the Northern Hemisphere, abstaining from food and drink is that much more gruelling. | The holy month is in high summer this year and for Muslims in the Northern Hemisphere, abstaining from food and drink is that much more gruelling. |
Especially when you get really far north. | Especially when you get really far north. |
In the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik, for example, there will be 21 hours of daylight on Thursday - the first day of fasting. | In the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik, for example, there will be 21 hours of daylight on Thursday - the first day of fasting. |
Sunrise was at 2.55am, and sunset at two minutes past midnight. | Sunrise was at 2.55am, and sunset at two minutes past midnight. |
Muslims in Anchorage, Alaska, must fast for 19 hours, and in Helsinki for 18 hours. In wintry Buenos Aires, by contrast, there will be just nine hours of daylight. | Muslims in Anchorage, Alaska, must fast for 19 hours, and in Helsinki for 18 hours. In wintry Buenos Aires, by contrast, there will be just nine hours of daylight. |
Or do they? | |
Observant Muslims must fast during Ramadan because it is one of the five pillars of Islam, according to the Quran. Liquids, sex and cigarettes are also off-limits. | Observant Muslims must fast during Ramadan because it is one of the five pillars of Islam, according to the Quran. Liquids, sex and cigarettes are also off-limits. |
But there are exeptions. The elderly, sick, or pregnant can usually get away with eating and drinking on medical grounds. | But there are exeptions. The elderly, sick, or pregnant can usually get away with eating and drinking on medical grounds. |
And those in the far north may fast for more a "moderate" length of time - 12, 14 or 16 hours, say - if they need to, according to a fatwa published by Sheikh Dr Usama Hasan, a British Islamic jurist who works for the Quilliam Foundation counter-extremism think-tank. | And those in the far north may fast for more a "moderate" length of time - 12, 14 or 16 hours, say - if they need to, according to a fatwa published by Sheikh Dr Usama Hasan, a British Islamic jurist who works for the Quilliam Foundation counter-extremism think-tank. |
Other scholars disagree, however. Imam Khalid Latif, the Executive Director at the Islamic Centre at New York University, told the Quartz website that "to have a broad-based assumption that longer fasting days should be shortened is problematic." | Other scholars disagree, however. Imam Khalid Latif, the Executive Director at the Islamic Centre at New York University, told the Quartz website that "to have a broad-based assumption that longer fasting days should be shortened is problematic." |
Some fatwas suggest fasting for the daylight hours of Mecca - around 13.5 hours. | |
For those struggling to abstain, Google has launched the My Ramadan Companion site, complete with sunrise and sunset times, and entertainment and recipe for suggestions for sundown. | For those struggling to abstain, Google has launched the My Ramadan Companion site, complete with sunrise and sunset times, and entertainment and recipe for suggestions for sundown. |
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