Why is fasting not
observed in Ramadaan at the north & south poles?
By: Shahid Bin Waheed شاهد
بن وحيد
بسم
الله الرحمن
الرحيم
الحمدلله
رب العالمين
والصلوة
والسلام على اشرف
الانبياء
وسيدالمرسلين
نبينا محمد صل
ا لله عليه
وعلى آله
واصحابه
وازواجه
اجمعين - امابعد
All the praises and thanks be
to Allaah, Sustainer of the Universe, and blessing and salutation to be the
most distinguish of the Messengers and foremost among the Prophets, our Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of
Allaah be on him and on his wives, children and Companions.
The days and nights are extended at the TWO Poles for SIX months.
The answer explained in detail, which is as follows.
When the sun is over the equator, it throws its light on both, the
North Pole and the South Pole. Just as it is move to the north of the equator,
its light moves away from the South Pole and towards the North Pole, heralding
day there and leaving the night at the South Pole. It takes
three months to travel from the equator to the tropic of the Cancer at the
northern verge (23,028) N. The return journey is another three months. During
these six months, the North Pole is bright with sunlight while the South Pole
misses it during this long period. Then, for the next six months the sun
travels to the southern hemisphere to verge of the Tropic of Capricorn (23,028)
S, and returns to the equator. The South Pole benefits during this period from
sunshine and the North remains bereft of it, there being day time at the South
Pole and night at the North Pole. IN other words, from March 21st to September
22nd, the sun remains in the northern hemisphere so that it is daytime all
these months at the North Pole and night at the South Pole.
So, how should fasting be observed at a
place where a day lasts SIX months and a night as long. It is beyond a man to
fast that long waiting six months for sun to set and going without food and
drink all this time. For instance, if anyone goes to
ANSWER: The Glorious
Qur’aan has not looked over the question of fasting of the TWO Poles or
FA- MAN SHAHIDA MIN -KUM ASH- SHAHR FA- LI- YAS.UM
So whoever of you sights
(the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadan i.e. is present at
his home), he must observe Suam (fasts) that month,
[Glorious Qur’aan 2:185]
Thus, when the opportunity of Ramadaan
does not arrive, and the month of Ramadaan is not
seen at all, then there is NO obligation to fast. The same applies to Prayers (Salaat) at such places because Allaah (SWT) says,
'
Verily, the prayer is enjoined on the believers at fixed hours.
[Glorious Qur’aan 4:103]
So, when these hours are not found, no prayer is prescribed. The
month of Ramadaan is according to *Lunar* calendar.
Allaah (SWT) after prescribing fasting,
SHAHR RAMAD.AAN 'ALLADHE UNZILA FE -HI
AL- QUR'AAN
The month of Ramadan in
which was revealed the Qur’ân, [Glorious Qur’aan 2:185]
It is clear that Ramadaan is a Lunar
month. Each lunar month is made up of twenty-nine days and twelve hours and
twenty-four minutes (29 days, 12 hours, 24 minutes), therefore, WHERE THE
*LUNAR* MONTH IS NOT FOUND THERE IS NO FASTING!
Salaat is a time related obligation, so, when these hours
are not found in South or North Poles, no prayer is prescribed. Let me give an
example:
It
is a prescribed punishment that the hand of a thief must be amputated. A Muslim
and/or one who converted to Islaam may be subject to this punishment for the
theft crime he or she committed; resulting in no hands at all or one hand, but
he or she can pray, right? The Glorious Qur’aan tells us that both hands must
be washed and/or wiped when performing ablution or Tayyamum.
But, if a person does not have hands or a hand, how will he/she wash them? In
the same way, when there is no Ramadan, what it means to observe fasting in
Ramadan? This is the opinion of some Ullama, other
opines that the underlying purpose is fasting and prayer time is appointed
where it is possible. If it is not possible to determine the timetable then the
required worship will not be omitted. Worshipers will have to reckon a
timetable and then observe fasting and prayers. It is safer to go by this
opinion.
If
anyone on the other hand argues that the said verse is not enough to decide
this question and the Glorious Qur’aan does not provide an answer to this
problem, then my answer is that generally people do not inhabit the two Poles
especially Muslims, because of glaciers and ice making it almost impossible to
live there. Therefore fasting is not obligatory where there is no possibility
of human life.
Let
me make another point that a King’s commands are imposed where his subjects are
found. If there is not one of King’s subjects living at a/any place, his
commands are not imposed at all.