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Real Time to Start Fasting

Question

Today's Muslim world league calendar shows dawn prayer (Imsak) at 5:34 and sunrise at 7:12, Egyptian General Authority of Survey calendar shows Imsak at 5.26 and sunrise at 7:12 for Istanbul. 1- What's latest time to stop eating to begin fasting?2- What is the earliest time for Salat ul-Fjr?

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

Imsak, i.e., abstaining from anything that breaks the fast, begins from the rising of Fajr (dawn) as Allah Says (what means): {And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night].} [Quran 2:187]

And the time of breaking fast is when the sun sets, as Allah Says (what means): {Then complete the fast until the sunset.} [Quran 2:187]

As it is known, the time of Fajr and sunset varies from one place to another place and from one season to another season.
Basically, a person should rely on his own observation of Fajr and sunset. If one faces difficulty in doing so for any reason, then he should rely on a trustworthy Muath-thin (the person who calls the Athaan), otherwise he may follow a calendar issued from reliable Muslim authorities to know the times of prayers and fasting.

For more benefit on Imsak before Fajr, please refer to Fatwa 82474.

Allah knows best.

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