Observing the fast in Germany is hard as the day is too long; is there any solution? Can we fast according to Meccan times of fasting?

Answer

Praise Be to Allah and Peace Be Upon His Messenger.

Referring to your question, Allah enjoins fasting and fixes its times from dawn to sunset. Allah says: “It is made lawful for you to have sexual relations with your wives on the night of As-Saum (the fast). They are Libas [i.e. body cover, or screen, or Sakan (i.e. you enjoy the pleasure of living with them] for you and you are the same for them. Allah knows that you used to deceive yourselves, so He turned to you (accepted your repentance) and forgave you. So now have sexual relations with them and seek that which Allah has ordained for you (offspring), and eat and drink until the white thread (light) of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread (darkness of night), then complete your Saum (fast) till the nightfall,) Al-Baqarah: 187

Thus, as long as the dawn time and the sunset time are known, observing fast depending on such times is required; however, observing fast according to Meccan times can be allowed when the dawn and sunset times cannot be recognized in countries where daylight or even dark extends for months.

Shaikh Muhammad Ahmad Hussain, the General Mufti (Muslim Legal Scholar), in the Palestinian Legal Verdict Council, was once asked if a Muslim can break the fast if they live in a country where the dawn is at 3:00 a.m. and sunset is at 10:00 p.m. He answered: “Islamic Shari’ah is applicable through different ages and in different places. Allah says: “and eat and drink until the white thread (light) of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread (darkness of night) and eat and drink until the white thread (light) of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread (darkness of night).” Al-Baqarah: 187. To conclude, all those who are asked to fast must fast according to the times of fast and Iftar regardless of the number of hours of daylight in any country. Nevertheless, if anyone finds it too hard to fast because of the long day, they can break the fast and then make it up.