Fasting Times in Countries With Extremely Long Days
In Scandinavia and northern Canada, summer days can last 20+ hours. How do Muslims fast in these regions, and what do scholars say?
In some parts of the world, particularly at very high latitudes, summer daylight can last 20 hours or more. In extreme cases, the sun may barely set or may not set at all for certain periods of the year.
This creates a unique challenge for Muslims observing Ramadan, since the daily fast traditionally begins at Fajr (dawn) and ends at Maghrib (sunset). When daylight stretches unusually long — or when sunrise and sunset become difficult to define — scholars have developed guidance to help Muslims observe the fast in a practical and religiously valid way.
This guide explains why extreme daylight occurs, which regions are affected, and how Islamic scholars recommend determining fasting times in these situations.
Why Some Regions Have Extremely Long Days
The unusual daylight patterns in northern regions occur because of the tilt of the Earth's axis.
During the summer months in the Northern Hemisphere, the top half of the Earth tilts toward the sun. This causes areas far from the equator to receive sunlight for much longer periods each day.
In places close to the Arctic Circle, the sun may remain visible for nearly the entire day during summer.
Cities in countries such as:
can experience days lasting 18 to 24 hours during certain parts of the year.
This phenomenon is commonly known as the midnight sun.
The Challenge for Fasting
Ramadan fasting normally follows the natural daily cycle:
- Fast begins at Fajr (pre-dawn)
- Fast ends at Maghrib (sunset)
However, in high-latitude regions several complications can occur:
- Sunset may happen very late at night
- Dawn may appear very shortly after sunset
- In extreme cases, twilight never fully disappears, making it difficult to determine Isha and Fajr
This can lead to fasting periods that extend 20 hours or longer, which can be physically demanding.
Because of these challenges, Islamic scholars have studied how the traditional fasting rules should be applied in such regions.
Scholarly Approaches to Extreme Daylight
Islamic jurists and modern religious councils have proposed several approaches for Muslims living in areas with unusual daylight patterns.
1. Following the Local Sunrise and Sunset
Some scholars maintain that fasting should still follow local dawn and sunset times, regardless of how long the day becomes.
Under this approach:
- Fasting begins at the local Fajr
- Fasting ends at the local Maghrib
Many Muslims in northern regions follow this method when sunrise and sunset still occur normally, even if the day is very long.
2. Following the Closest Moderate City
If sunrise or sunset becomes difficult to determine, some scholars suggest using the prayer times of the nearest city with normal day-night cycles.
This method ensures that fasting times remain connected to real solar patterns while avoiding extreme durations.
For example, someone living in a very northern location might follow the prayer timetable of a nearby southern city where sunrise and sunset remain clearly defined.
3. Following the Times of Mecca
Another scholarly opinion allows Muslims to follow the timetable of Mecca.
This approach is sometimes used when local solar indicators become unreliable or when twilight never fully disappears.
Because Mecca maintains consistent day-night cycles throughout the year, its timetable can serve as a stable reference point.
4. Following a Standardized Schedule
Some Islamic councils recommend adopting fixed prayer schedules or calculated approximations when natural signs disappear entirely.
Organizations such as the European Council for Fatwa and Research have discussed methods for determining prayer and fasting times in regions with extreme daylight conditions.
These methods aim to balance religious authenticity with practicality, ensuring that Muslims can observe Ramadan without unreasonable hardship.
The Principle of Avoiding Hardship
Islamic law includes a well-known principle that religious obligations should not impose unmanageable hardship.
This principle allows scholars to interpret fasting rules with flexibility when natural circumstances make standard practice difficult.
For example, the Qur'an provides allowances for people who cannot fast due to illness or travel. Scholars use similar reasoning when addressing unusual environmental conditions such as extremely long days.
The goal is always to preserve the spirit and purpose of fasting while remaining faithful to Islamic teachings.
How Modern Prayer Apps Handle These Regions
Prayer time apps and Islamic calendars often include special adjustments for high-latitude locations.
These systems may:
- Apply high-latitude calculation rules
- Use twilight angle adjustments
- Approximate dawn and night when twilight never fully disappears
Users in northern regions can usually select these settings manually within their prayer time apps.
Real-World Fasting Durations
Even when following local sunset times, fasting durations in northern regions can still be very long.
For example, in cities like:
- Tromsø (Northern Norway)
- Reykjavík (Iceland)
summer fasting days may approach 20 hours or more when Ramadan falls near the summer solstice.
Despite the difficulty, many Muslims in these areas continue to fast according to the method recommended by their local scholars or mosques.
A Global Practice With Local Adaptations
Ramadan fasting is practiced by Muslims across every continent, including regions with very different daylight patterns.
While the basic rule remains simple — fasting from dawn until sunset — scholars have recognized that extreme environments sometimes require thoughtful adaptation.
By applying established principles of Islamic jurisprudence, Muslim communities in northern regions are able to observe Ramadan in a way that remains faithful to tradition while accounting for the realities of their environment.