Ramadan 2017: Fasting hours worldwide

CAIRO – 18 May 2017: In less than two weeks, the Holy month of Ramadan will come to enlighten some Muslims' hearts. Given the fact that Ramadan occurs during the summer season this year, fasting will prove to be a very challenging task, yet equally inspiring and revitalizing. It is assumed that this is the last fasting during the summer season for around 15 years.

Muslims living in Greenland will be fasting for an estimated 21 hours throughout this month, which means that they will only have about three to five hours between Iftar (the breaking fast meal at sunset) and Suhoor (the pre-dawn meal). Muslims' population in Greenland is estimated to be about 1000 people.

Muslims in the Middle East and South East Asia usually fast for approximately 12 hours. This is due to location as well as the time of year. Muslims in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United States, China will fast for 16 hours. Muslims in Sweden, Norway, Russia and Finland will fast for 20 hours.

On the other hand, some Muslims will fast only for 10 hours such as in Kenya and Indonesia.

Every year the European Council for Fatwa and Research issues fatwa linked to fasting in countries where the afternoons are extremely long. It gives the Muslims in these countries a license to perform the fasting according to Mecca time for both Iftar and Suhoor.

The starting date of Ramadan relies on a lunar sighting in most of the Muslim countries, atop of them Egypt and Saudi Arabia. If the new moon has been sighted there, it immediately applies on a worldwide scale regardless of the time zone difference.

Egypt holds a ceremony in the evening of the last day of Sha'baan month when the lunar sighting is monitored by the concerned authorities affiliated to Al-Azhar. The President of Egypt blesses the event and usually gives a speech on this occasion.

Once the starting day of Ramadan is announced, streets, hotels, stores, and balconies are enlightened. Joy spreads all over the country. Children start playing with their new Fanous (Lantern).

Most of the Muslim expatriates prefer to experience Ramadan in Egypt. The uniqueness of Ramadan in Egypt stands from any other place around the world.

It is prominent for the family gatherings, Ramadan's special deserts, Fanous, and Taraweeh prayers. Not only the Muslims await Ramadan from year to year, but also Egypt's Copts enjoy it too. They share the same joyful taste with the Muslims.
Happy Ramadan everyone!