All praise is due to Allah and may His peace and blessings be upon the Prophet Muham
The beginning of summer engenders great confusion amongst many Muslims living in the UK, North America, Canada and some other European countries concerning the correct time for the commencement of the isha', maghrib and fajr prayers. Muslims frequently enquire about the best time to pray isha' since it starts very late. In this fatwa (ruling) I will explain the different opinions that scholars have adopted in dealing with this problem. Thereafter, I will discuss these opinions, their evidences and any respective criticisms made against them. Finally, I will explain the best practical opinion taking into consideration the diversity of Muslims residing in these countries, as well as the abnormality of the situation they face.
INTRODUCTION
Firstly, it is essential to state that isha' begins once twilight disappears. This is based on many prophetic traditions, such as the statement narrated in Sahih Muslim by 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr, of the Prophet, upon whom be peace, who said:
"[A]nd the time for maghrib continues until twilight disappears."
Secondly, both Muslim and non-Muslim astronomers disagree on the time twilight disappears in areas of extreme latitude such as Canada and many European countries. Some believe that twilight never completely disappears during a certain period of the summer, whilst others believe it does disappear, but extremely late. This disagreement is a result of different opinions concerning two main factors:
The linguistic interpretation of the disappearance of twilight.
The astronomical interpretation of the disappearance of twilight.
Linguistically, whilst the vast majority of scholars believe that it is the disappearance of the redness of twilight that truly signifies its disappearance, hanafi scholars believe that it is the disappearance of the whiteness.
Concerning the second issue, Muslim scholars differ on which astronomical interpretation should be adopted to determine the disappearance of twilight. The resolution of the 9th Muslim World League Conference held in 1406H (March 1996) holds that 17 degrees is the correct interpretation for the disappearance of twilight. If we adopt this opinion, which is the opinion of the majority of Muslim scholars as well as astronomers, then all countries located above 49 degrees latitude (for example, the UK which has a latitude of between 50 to 60 degrees) may well observe the phenomenon of persistent twilight until the break of dawn.
The beginning of summer engenders great confusion amongst many Muslims living in the UK, North America, Canada and some other European countries concerning the correct time for the commencement of the isha', maghrib and fajr prayers. Muslims frequently enquire about the best time to pray isha' since it starts very late. In this fatwa (ruling) I will explain the different opinions that scholars have adopted in dealing with this problem. Thereafter, I will discuss these opinions, their evidences and any respective criticisms made against them. Finally, I will explain the best practical opinion taking into consideration the diversity of Muslims residing in these countries, as well as the abnormality of the situation they face.
INTRODUCTION
Firstly, it is essential to state that isha' begins once twilight disappears. This is based on many prophetic traditions, such as the statement narrated in Sahih Muslim by 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr, of the Prophet, upon whom be peace, who said:
"[A]nd the time for maghrib continues until twilight disappears."
Secondly, both Muslim and non-Muslim astronomers disagree on the time twilight disappears in areas of extreme latitude such as Canada and many European countries. Some believe that twilight never completely disappears during a certain period of the summer, whilst others believe it does disappear, but extremely late. This disagreement is a result of different opinions concerning two main factors:
The linguistic interpretation of the disappearance of twilight.
The astronomical interpretation of the disappearance of twilight.
Linguistically, whilst the vast majority of scholars believe that it is the disappearance of the redness of twilight that truly signifies its disappearance, hanafi scholars believe that it is the disappearance of the whiteness.
Concerning the second issue, Muslim scholars differ on which astronomical interpretation should be adopted to determine the disappearance of twilight. The resolution of the 9th Muslim World League Conference held in 1406H (March 1996) holds that 17 degrees is the correct interpretation for the disappearance of twilight. If we adopt this opinion, which is the opinion of the majority of Muslim scholars as well as astronomers, then all countries located above 49 degrees latitude (for example, the UK which has a latitude of between 50 to 60 degrees) may well observe the phenomenon of persistent twilight until the break of dawn.
