Have you ever wondered how do Muslims living in Norway and other northern countries fast during the holy month of Ramadan?
Norway experiences very long nights during the winter and very long days during the summer. From May to July, the sun barely descends below the horizon for 20 hours and from November to January the daylight hours are very short in most parts of the country. During Ramadan, a Muslim usually breaks his fast when the sun sets, and therefore, Muslims in most countries around the world usually fast for an average of 8 hours a day. So how do Muslims in Norway fast and for how long? If Ramadan happens to be in winter, do they fast for as many as 20 hours or as little as 2 hours if it is summer?
How long should a Muslim fast for during Ramadan?
In 1982, the Egyptian embassy in the Norwegian capital, Oslo, received a letter from the Iftar House of the Ministry of Justice in Cairo stating that Muslims should fast for a maximum of 16 hours and a half and along similar hours as those Islamic countries of close proximity. This statement called for a celebration by Muslims in Norway and northern countries since they were relieved from a”sticky” situation.
However, not all Muslims in Norway believed in this Fatwa. The minority who did, stuck with the same hours for suhur and during summer and winter without adding or subtracting a minute. As a result, they no longer exhausted themselves with lengthy fasts or confused themselves with a 3 or 4 hour fast.
Islam for every place and time
Those who refused to follow thisfatwa believe that there’s Islam for every place and time. The majority of Muslims in Norway break their fast a few hours before suhur and sit with their families till midnight, hit by fatigue and waiting for the iftar. It’s common in these cases for children to cry and complain as their calls for a sip of water may go unanswered by a strict father. Wives can feel extreme nausea while preparing food for their families when it’s past their usual bedtime and they should be in a deep sleep getting ready for a new day with a fresh mind, body, and soul. On the other hand when Ramadan falls in the middle of winter, they enjoy the “luxury” of only having to fast for only 3 to 5 hours.
Many try to find a solution for this issue by themselves, by using the same fasting times as those of the closest Islamic country.
In the end there are only more questions…
What’s interesting about the situation for these Norwegian Muslims is that it raises puzzling questions not just for them but for many Muslims, such as: “Is there an Islamic country or an Islamic nation? Is Albania an Islamic country, or Bosnia and Herzegovina? Is an Islamic country that which is ruled by Muslims or that of a Muslim majority?”
Some red lines cannot be simply crossed by Muslims or they will be involved with the world of sin or takfeer. What if there was a unified time for every Muslim in Europe to break their fast? I would imagine that such a fatwa calls for courage, and courage calls for faith that can move mountains.
Yet one question remains unanswered for me, and I welcome your thoughts on this one: Wouldn’t you feel peace, wellness and security if you could sit at the iftar table knowing that every fasting Muslim from Ankara, Geneva, Toulouse, Helsinki, Stockholm, Berlin, Budapest is doing the same thing?
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
For some reason I don’t agree with following the nearest Islamic country because in my openion Islam is not confined with boarders. I don’t agree neither with Fatwa from Saudi Arabia that if Ramadan comes in the summer for northern countries & we feel fasting hours are too long to skip Ramadan alltogether & resume our fasting during Winter because this lacks the Islamic unification worldwide. I personally feel that the fatwa issued at Norway for fasting max 16.5 hours during summer is fine because it is managable and it achieves unification among muslims in all northern hemisphere countries. I only would like to suggest to have these hours cut from the beginning of the day not towards the sunset which gives opportunity to have a breakfast before school or work time and same time enjoy the Iftar at the same time with the sunset. At the end Islam is Yossr not 3ossr.. As far good intentions and best of ability has been done to fulfill God’s command, that should be Ok In shaa alla
What if we were to migrate to another counrty for Ramadan where is timings for fasting is moderate?
Fasting In The Quran?
Year in and out, the followers of the Arab religion perform the rituals of going hungry and thirsty in the ninth month of the fallacious Hijrah calender – Ramadan.
This month-long ritual of abstaining from food and water from dawn to dusk in the so called month of ‘ramadan’ is said to have been ordained by the God in His revelations – The Quran.
The ramadan ritual is based upon the Arabic word “syiyam”, which has been translated and defined as fasting (as in not eating and drinking). Upon careful and detailed study of the relevant verses, it revealed that a mistranslation has taken place in the Qurannic verses of Chapter 2 (al-Baqarah) verses 183 – 187.
An ad-verbatim re-translation of the said verses was undertaken to uncover those word/s, which were obliterated, or smeared by translators and conspirators alike:
(note: the Arabic word ’syiyam’ is purposely left untranslated)
* 2:183 O you faithfuls, “asshiyaamu” is programmed for you, as it was programmed for those before you, so that you are observant.
* 2:184 A few specific days, therefore those who fall ill, or on assignments, so schedule it on other days. And for those who find difficulties in doing it, substitute the feeding of a poor person. Hence, whoever works goodness, so it would do him good, and that you “tasyuumu” is better if you know
[2:185] manifest heat which was sent within it, the Quran a guidance for the people, and explanations from the guidance, and the criterion. Therefore, whoever amongst you experiences the manifestation shall “yasyumhu”. And those who are ill, or on assignments may therefore, account an equal number of other days. God wishes convenience for you, and He does not impose hardship upon you; and so that you could fulfill the schedule, and you shall glorify God for guiding you, so that you be appreciative.
* 2:186 And when My servants ask you about Me, I am always near, I respond to the call of any caller who calls on Me. Therefore, they shall respond to Me, and be faithful to Me, that they may be guided.
* 2:187 You are permitted during the nights of “asshiyaami” to mix with your women. They are your confidantes, and you are their confidants. God knew that you have betrayed yourselves, and therefore He redeemed you and pardoned you. Henceforth, mix with them, and seek you of what God has programmed for you, and savour* it until its clear for you as that of a white thread distinguishable from a black thread is apparent. Then fulfill “asshiyaama” to the night. And you shall not mix with them whilst retreating in the institutions. These are the bounds of God; therefore you shall not be near them. God thus clarifies His revelations for the people, that they become observant.
A reading of the above re-translated verses placed “syiyam” in its proper context, and paints a somewhat different picture than what is currently portrayed in the Arab religion. I will not try to expound, or define the Arabic “syiyam”, but rather I would leave it to you (for the purpose of this exercise) to determine it for yourself as to what it is.
However, some important questions arise from the above verses:
Where is the command line for the prohibition on eating and drinking?
A prohibition is usually imposed on a serious matter, especially when the nature of an action/inaction poses grave consequences to the doer or persons around. The prohibition will usually (in any language) be proclaimed in very clear plain words, not metaphorically, and never in an ambigous manner so as to create confusion on the matter. The commands would usually begin with “You shall not”, “You are prohibited from…”, “You shall stop…”, or “You shall refrain from…”, and in this case we were unable to detect any such prohibitive commands in the verses pertaining to eating and drinking.
*[There is a phrase "Wakuluu waasyrabuu", which literally is "And eat and drink..." though, and which is a metaphor for 'savour*' which, in this instant is in the context of mixing with your women.]
It is only prudent to also note that in 2:187:
“…then fulfill “asyiyaama” to the night (ila llaili)…” is being mistranslated in mischief by all translators as “…untill the night…”
Hence, “syiyam” whatever one makes it out to be, is to be performed at night and NOT in the daytime! Anyway, the word day, or daytime is not even present. This mischief moulded the form of fasting that you get today in the Arab religion.
Should “syiyam” be defined as fasting (not eating/drinking), and now that we read it as to take place at night…what’s the big deal? People do sleep at night (at least most people and some animals do), don’t they? And it looks like its being done naturally and unwarily by everyone and some animals on Earth. Sleep and therefore, no food and water, and the fast is done!
Why would you then need a special dedicated month for that? Is this some kind of a practical joke the God is pulling on man? No. I don’t think so.
Well…come Ramadan, what you will see in Saudi Arabia, and most of the other Arab countries is that, they stay the fasting nights awake, drinking and consuming food like gluttons. And guess when do they sleep? Bravo! No prize though for your correct answer – they sleep all day (err…and fasting, of course) until before dusk! Transforming themselves into nocturnals is a perfect solution don’t you think, for an otherwise daunting task to stay ‘alive’ under the spells of hunger and thirst of daytime? Now this is a joke! The Arabs are trying to pull a fast one on their little god!
cease-fire
And did you know that if they are at war during this time, they would negotiate with their advesaries for a pause in fighting for a month-long cease-fire, and to be continued after that? I’d be damned if I’d agree to that and missed the opportunity to wipe them little devils off!
My point and question is, isn’t anyone aware of the Arabs and their idiosyncracies?
The current fasting for one month in the month of Ramadan, is also inconsistent with the Quran, as the verse stated “ayyaaman ma’duudatin…” (2:184), which means ‘a few specific days’.
“shahru ramadhaana…” (2:185) is mistranslated as ‘the month of ramadan’. The quran lexicon defined “ramadan” as ‘intense heat’ and is not a proper noun. Hence, the Arabic word “syahru” here, in context would, rather appropriately be ‘manifest’, which is also another definition of “syahru” . Re-translated to “manifest heat”.
Insisting that “syahru ramadhaana” is the month of Ramadan of the Hijrah calendar, will pose a reconciliation problem with “ayyaaman ma’duudatin”. Because, it will then mean “fasting a few specific days in Ramadan (and at night)”?
Further reading of other relevant verses might add more light to what actually is “syiyam”, perhaps presenting something slightly different contextually. Chapter – Maryam, verses 25 – 29 :-
* 19:25 And shake towards you the palm tree, it will drop ripe fruits.
* 19:26 So savour* it, and relax, and when you see anyone, then say, “I have pledged to the Almighty a “syauman”; therefore I shall not converse, today to anyone.’”
* 19:27 She went with it to her people, carrying him. They said, “O, Mary, you have committed indecency”.
* 19:28 “O sister of Aaron; your father was not evil, nor was your mother unchaste.”
* 19:29 Hence, she pointed at him; they said, “How could we converse with the messiac (Mahdi) infant?”
From the above verses it is easy to figure out what Mary was saying, and what her actions were in keeping with her pledge. Was she ‘fasting’ in the ordinary way?
In light of the above, perhaps its time to free ourselves from mental bondage by igniting our intellect on a re-evaluation excercise of everything that was defined for us. This is simply that little exercise to do just that. Who knows what will turn out, maybe instead of doing what is not ordained by the God, but by some idiots, we would instead be doing the opposite, a something good perhaps, and which would serve more purpose and meaning to our lives and the people around us, such as feeding the hungry, or giving aid to the less fortunate.
Define, do not be defined.
“We did not give them bodies that required no food, nor were they immortal.”
(Q21:8)
Tanty and all,
It is just simple, and people try to complicate it.
1- Fasting purpose is to control your desires and training for the soul and the will to abstain from all possible temptations, hence the day time timing when people are going about there daily life.
2- God has given all those who observe the holy month the possibility of not going through with and the options available for that, and states clearly that God does not want to torture his followers and give them extreme hard time.
3-I think Muslims should stop identifying others by Arabs, Persians etc… All are Muslims and equal in the eyes of God. All will be judged by what good and bad they did in their lives !
4- In my opinion the religious scholars from all the Muslim world have failed Muslims worldwide. They have done that by not doing their job in guiding the people on such issues. They keep on holding on the old teachings, even if some of them might be in contradiction with the Quran itself.
5- I think you need to be more understanding of the language of the original text and the circumstances that it came in to be able to judge on why and what has been said. In the end God has given us brains to think with and decide for our selves and be accountable for our decisions.
Making things simple and reasonable is what this life is about, so don’t complicate it and over analyze things. Those who go in these depths are either trying to get Phd’s which would be understandable, or dont have strong faith in their believe and trying to convince themselves.
And God knows best
Peace Marwan and all,
While i do not agree on everything that tanty has narrated, there are some critical points that you need to consider yourselves, and the most important is this:
* learn the language (Arabic), and study AlQuran by the Arabic, don’t rely upon translations, *it is your duty to verify yourself*, everything that you take as guidance.
Look at all the nations which claims to be following “Islam”, look at their direction. And look at where they are now. If they are not doing it right, then they are simply not *following* it right. So why must you follow it the way they follow?
The true direction is indeed the *protection, sustenance of life*, and when this true, Sacred direction is being concealed through a certain set of irrelevant, even misleading teachings … you know what happens, the sacredness of life is being violated everywhere.
As you said, it is easy, until *certain people* try to complicate it. Stay honest and God will bring us to light.
Again, study AlQuran with an open mind and honesty, and with a strong will to understand the message. Don’t let anyone avert you from its true message. Read whole chapters, not random chunks of verses taken to support traditional views. And carefully watch inconsistencies for in the translations.
some tools that will aid you in your study :
http://corpus.quran.com
http://www.studyquran.co.uk/PRLonline.htm
“Shahr”, “ramadana” (2:185) they are not proper nouns. The meaning is closer to “an incident of scorching/intense heat”– think about wars, conflicts, controversies — Such incidents are *the thing* that must be restrained/abstained from happening or continuing. Anyone in any part of the earth is ordained to restrain from such “scorching/intense heat” (ramadan), not only abstaining from it, but also make effort to *stop* it. *Anywhere, Any time*. Each of the violation must be retraced back, retributed with equal measure (2:194). Hence, AlHajj.
“AlShahr” is a proper noun. “AlHajj” is for overcoming such well-known incident (2:197) through a mediated discussion/argumentation. In the discussion/argumentation, we must restrain ourselves from three events: no foul-speech, no malice and no quarrelling (2:197) and carry it in the best manner possible, again, to overcome The Incident where violations had happened.
Is this something complicated? To prevent violations of the Sacred life from happening on earth? No — it is simple. It is an inherent part of the nature of the true peace.
But when their true meanings are changed into something else, you see what’s happening in the world right now. Each year, Muslims “fast” a month. each year, Mecca is filled with people circumambulating the black building, wearing white garments. And each year, *violations* of the Sacred life continue to happen right in their own countries (hint: watch human rights news more often), not to mention their fellowmen’s countries. Have their “fasting” and their “visit to Mecca” contributed to the establishing of peace?
So if it then became complicated, as you said, then let’s ask: who are the ones who made it complicated? And what is the true simple way, that will make our life filled with The Ease (2:185) — not The Hardship ?
Peace