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By Hajar Jannad
Rabat - Ramadan is the holy month for Muslims worldwide and one of the five pillars of Islam, which is observed as a sacred month of praying and fasting from before Fajr (Dawn) to Maghrib (sunset).
According to Islamic teachings, Muslims should observe Ramadan after the visual sightings of the crescent moon, which is generally announced by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs.
In midsummer, which coincides this year with Ramadan, the fasting hours would be much longer than in previous years. Fasting for long hours would be unbearable for some Muslims living closer to the North Pole compared to their counterparts in other parts of the globe. This has some Islamic scholars to pass a Fatwa to moderate the fasting hours or to follow fasting times in Mecca. However, some conservative Muslims are expressing their readiness to face the long fasting hours, saying that they have to abide by the Shariaa (Islamic laws).
Another challenge for Muslims this year is the hot weather, especially for those living in the scorching desert, such as some areas in Saudi Arabia, southern Africa, and southern Morocco. Muslims in the northern hemisphere will observe Ramadan in m low summer temperatures not exceeding 25 degrees Celsius.
At its longest, the fasting time can last for more than 20 hours as in the northern hemisphere countries such as Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland. In European countries such as Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, and Poland, Muslims will have to fast more than 20 hours.
At its shortest, Muslims in southern hemisphere countries such Argentina and Chile will have to fast only for 9 to 9.5 hours. As for the Middle East, the fasting time will last between 16 to 18 hours, but with high temperatures.
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Graphic by Nahla Bendefaa/ Morocco World News[/caption]
The post Ramadan: the Shortest and Longest Fasting Hours around the Globe appeared first on Morocco World News.
