Muslims across the globe are preparing to celebrate the holy
month of Ramadan. The ninth month of the Islamic calendar, Ramadan is the month
to observe a heightened level of spirituality by worshipping, giving charity to
the needy, and fasting – from sunrise to sunset!
Fasting in the month of Ramadan became obligatory in 2 A.H.
It is the fourth of the Five Pillars of Islam. During the 30-day period,
Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, and sexual acts for the whole day. Their
fast starts from the break of dawn- Fajr prayer
and ends with the call of prayers in the evening – Maghrib.
However, due to the difference in geography, the Muslims
living in the northern areas observe a longer period of fasting than their
counterparts living closer to the equator. For example, the residents of Oslo,
Norway observe a 19-hour fast while Muslims in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, fast for
approximately 13 hours and 30 minutes.
Similarly, Australia and New Zealand will also be among
countries experiencing the shortest fasting times this year, at 11.5
hours.
Northern countries often find the conditions of lunar forces
a bit unfair and have succumbed to alternative
solutions. According to a report by DerSpiegel, the northern town of Norway called Tromso has adopted the fasting
hours of Mecca and will observe a fasting period of approximately 14 hours and
30 minutes.
The following Infographic by Islamicfinder highlights the length of
fasting in various countries during Ramadan 2020.
