Salam can you please advise on if one was in Saudi Arabia when Ramadan started so they are fasting from a day earlier and they came back on the 9th. Now if the Ramadan has full 30 days are they supposed to fast for 31 days?
Bismillahi Ta’ala
Walaikum Assalam Warahmatullah
The question of travelling while fasting to another locality or another country has been previously addressed. Please see below (along with my additional notes at the end):
Question:
- If a person is travelling from a place where they are fasting to a place where there would be Eid For example person travelling from Edmonton to Toronto on the morning of the 29th fast and muslims are celebrating Eid in Toronto, would this person break fast and celebrate Eid with the people in Toronto or complete their fast?*
- Also what if It was the 28th fast in Edmonton and the 29th in Toronto? After which they are celebrating Eid, Would the person complete 29 fasts and then celebrate Eid one day later or would such person complete the fast after Ramadan has ended?
Answer:
Bismillahi Ta’ala
If the travel is within country like Canada (or another country), where there are normally 2 Eids because of those who follow calculations, and those who follow sighting, then:
- Once the individual reaches Toronto, he should find the locality who are doing Eid according to how he had started. If he started in Edmonton with a mosque that followed calculation, and then goes to toronto, he can perform his Eid along with those who followed calculation. [whether this is correct position or not should not affect him as he has already made his discretion to follow such a Mosque which follows calculation instead of sighting]
Similarly, if he has started his ramadhan with masajid opting for sighting instead of calculation, he should stick to masajid following sighting in Toronto as well.
He may not change lanes and move over to calculation simply because his family there happen to be following calculation or vice versa. Religion is not a play thing.
Question:
Assalaamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatu. I’m also interested in the answer to this as I’m currently in Pakistan where it’s the 28th Sha’ban & the 29th Sha’ban in Calgary. Unless tomorrow ends up being the 30th of Sha’ban in Calgary, it’s quite likely that when I return to Calgary on Apr 19, all my Muslim friends will be one fasting day ahead of me. So I’m also curious about what happens if Ramadan is 29 days in Calgary when Eid comes & I’ll be fasting my 28th fast. I’m assuming that if Ramadan has 30 days in Calgary then it would be fine if I’m only on fast 29. But maybe I’m wrong about that. Please help me to understand what the rules are. Jazakallah khayr
Answer:
Contrary to the situation in the previous question where both countries / cities had 2 Eids due to difference of opinions:
- If you are traveling to a country which follows a government based Islamic announcement for Ramadhan and Eid, which would mean there will be one sanctioned announcement, then you must follow the decision of the country you are in. So if you started your fast in Canada in anycase, and then went to Pakistan, then you will do your Eid according to Pakistan. If this means that you would have fasted 31 days in total, then so be it. You will still do Eid with Pakistan. However, if it means you fasted 28 days, then you will do Eid with Pakistan, and then make up an additional fast afterwards in Shawal.
- If you are travelling from Pakistan on towards Canada or another country having 2 Eids, then find the locality which coincides with the Pakistani beginning or Ramadhan, or the later of the two. And thereafter make up any missed fast you may have had. In your case, if your Ramadhan happens to be 28 days due to this, then you will make Eid with locals in Calgary, and then make another fast up afterwards in Shawal.
Wallahu A’lam
Faisal al-Mahmudi
In your situation, if you started your fast with Saudia (in Saudia), as some of the local masajid here also did, then when you return back to Edmonton you should continue to fast as normal. Upon the sighting of the moon, chances are both may coincide and you would not have to worry.
However, keeping in mind that the reason fasting becomes compulsory is witnessing the month of Ramadhan. Upon your return, Ramadhan will continue until the crescent for Shawal has been sighted and accepted for Edmonton.
Hence, if the sighting of the moon (or its adoption here in Edmonton) does not coincide with your fasting starting time in Saudia, then you will still do your eid according to the moonsighting here even if your fasts become 31 due to this.
Practically, in such a case you should see how the people of Edmonton do their Eid. If their Eids coincides, then Alhamdulillah you would not have to worry. But if the Eids do not coincide, then you will follow the valid moonsighting announcement.
Wallahu A’lam
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mufti Faisal al-Mahmudi