Difficulty fasting in Norway due to long days
16/09/2007| IslamWeb
Question:
I use to make a fasting in every Monday and Thursday but the problem is during summer when days are longer sometimes we pray Maghrib 10 o'clock in the night, now what can I do? Please help me. Even Fajr we pray 2 or 3 o'clock midnight. I need your prayers because I am facing a very difficult been staying here in Norway as a Muslim to get working permit or resident permit is hard so please help me with prayers.
Fatwa:
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 is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.
Fasting on Mondays and Thursdays is a Sunnah and not an obligation. So there is no harm if you do not fast due to hardship in fasting, the length of time, or other reasons.
As regards the obligatory fasting, like the month of Ramadan and other obligatory fasting, [like in the case a person has to make up some missed days of Ramadan] then one has to fast as long the day and night are distinguished by the setting of the sun and the beginning of Fajr time. In any country where day and night are distinguishable, fasting should be from the beginning of Fajr time to sunset, as Allah says (which means): {"… and eat and drink until the white thread (light) of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread (darkness of night), then complete your fast till the nightfall…"}[2:187]. There is no difference whether the day is long or short.
However, if the fasting person finds hardship to an extent that he is harmed, then it is permissible for him to break the fast and make up for that day whenever he is able to do so. Allah says (which means): {Allah burdens not a person beyond his scope.}[2:286]. Allah also says (which means): {And has not laid upon you in religion any hardship.}[22:78].
As regards the difficulty that you are facing, then we ask Allah to make a way out for you from all difficulties and to rectify your affairs. We advise you to fear Allah, as this is the key for all good. Allah says (which means): {And for those who fear Allah, He (ever) prepares a way out for him and He provides for him from (sources) he never could expect. And whoever fears Allah, He will make for him of his matter ease. That is the command of Allah, which He has sent down to you; and whoever fears Allah, He will remove for him his misdeeds and make great for him his reward.}[65:2-5].
Allah knows best.
Fatwa answered by: The Fatwa Center at Islamweb