Controversy in Egypt for breaking Arafa Day fasting 5 minutes earlier

CAIRO- 31 July 2020: Over the last 24 hours, controversy was aroused in Egypt on social media platform when Muslims in Egypt knew that they broke their fasting five minutes before the time of the call of Islamic prayer.

On Thursday, where Muslims worldwide were fasting from dust to dawn to celebrate Arafa Day, millions of Muslims in Egypt broke their fasting when the Quran Radio telecast the call of Maghreb five minutes earlier, while others broke fasting on time as it was broadcasted by T.V. channels.

In remarks to Youm7 newspaper, head of the Quran Radio Mohamed Nour announced that an investigation has been launched into the incident, saying that malfunction or lack of coordination could be behind this mistake and those who are responsible for it would be held accountable.

Khaled Omran, the Secretary-General of Iftaa Department at the Dar al-Iftaa, announced that the fasting is religiously valid.

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— دار الإفتاء المصرية 🇪🇬 (@EgyptDarAlIfta) July 30, 2020

Religiously, it is preferred that Muslims worldwide, except for those who perform pilgrimage rituals, to fast on the day of Arafa, the day before the three-day festival of Al-Adha feast celebration.

Eid al-Adha, or the Grand Feast for the Muslims all over the world, is one of the two most important Islamic holidays. It lasts for four days and honors the willingness of Prophet Abraham to sacrifice his first-born son, Ismail, as an act of submission to God’s command.