Epigraph:
The month of Ramadan is that in which the Qur’an was sent down as a guidance for mankind … Therefore, whosoever of you is present at home in this month, let him fast therein. But whoso is sick or is on a journey, shall fast the same number of other days. Allah desires to give you facility and He desires not hardship for you. (Al Quran 2:186)
Guardian: When Ramadan starts on Thursday, the faithful in St Petersburg and elsewhere in northern Russia will face an obstacle that the prophet surely didn’t envision: in June, the sun never truly sets.
These are the celebrated “white nights”, the period lasting from roughly late May to early July when a few hours of twilight is the closest it gets to true night. Although they are observed across the far north, white nights have the strongest association with St Petersburg, the northernmost city with a population of more than 1 million and Russia’s unofficial cultural capital.
For the city’s Muslim population, it’s an exacting time. The Qur’an makes exceptions to the Ramadan fast for people suffering from illness, travellers and women who are menstruating or pregnant. But it does not give explicit instructions on observing the fast in the far north.
According to some St Petersburg Muslim authorities, the long-lasting daylight in the city at this time of year is simply an extra challenge to their faith.
A Palace in St. Petersburgh
“In St Petersburg, Muslims see this as a test. In the time that is now starting they will observe the fast,” said an employee of the St Petersburg and Northwest Regional Muslim Spiritual Centre, who declined to give his name. “Those Muslims who are observing the fast will wait 21-22 hours to break the fast, they will eat for only three hours.”
Categories: Accepting Islam, Answers to Anti-Islam, Europe and Australia, Fasting, Russia
Every one will agree that fasting cannot be zero hours or 24 hours. So I believe we can interpret other durations also. Fasting is supposed to be a discipline but not a hardship.
The Holy Prophet said that religion should be made easy and not difficult and the same is implied in the verses of the Holy Quran about fasting:
I would like to see easy choices as regards the duration of fasting mentioned in this article. I suggest two:
1. Where there is no sunset the duration should be set as 12 hours or as long as in Saudi Arabia.
2. Those who find the duration to be very long, for example in St. Petersburg or in other neighboring areas should be offered the option number 1 as a possibility, rather than completely fore-going fasting.
Additional Reading:
Why Muslims in Anchorage will fast 9 hours more than Muslims in Cape Town