1. by
Abdillah Suyuthi
Member of Imam Office
MST
Presented in the
Monthly Seminar II MST
Trondheim, 05 February 2011
Trondheim
N
O
R
W
A
Y
Prayer and Fasting Time for
Nordic Countries
Oslo
Muslim Society in Trondheim

2. First of all, let us realize the extremities
location of the Nordic countries…
Where is Norway?
>57°North
It’s indeed located at
“very top” of the world!
twilight = ashfaq
There are consequences:
1. The length of the day
2. The time for twilight
rise/set & sun rise/set
3. The time difference
between twilight
rise/set & sun rise/set

3. Consequence #1: The Length of the Day
21.06
22
Trondheim
20
Makkah
Realize the
extremities
location
18
16
21.12
14
12
10
ad eht fo htgneL
)ruoh(
8
6
4
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Trondheim:
-The shortest:
4.5 hours.
-The longest: 20.6 hours.
Makkah:
-The shortest: 10.8 hours.
-The longest: 13.5 hours.
Note:
The length of
fasting is few
hours longer
than the
length of the
day.

4. Consequence #2: The Time for Twilight Rise/Set Time
Realize the
extremities
location
Twilight & Sun Rise Time
10:00
08:00
06:00
04:00
02:00
00:00
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
24:00
22:00
20:00
18:00
16:00
14:00
Twilight & Sun Set Time
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Twilight rise/set Trondheim
ThereSunrise/set Trondheim when the twilight never disappear from the
is a period of time,
Sunrise/set Makkah
night  NO perfect night.
Twilight rise/set Makkah

5. Consequence #3: The Time Difference between
Twilight Rise/Set Time and the Sunrise/Set Time
Realize the
extremities
location
Time difference Trondheim
Fixed 90 mnts time
difference Makkah
Time difference Makkah
5
4
3
2
1
0
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
There is a1.5 hours time difference between the twilight rise/set time and the
Applying period of time, when the twilight never disappear from the
night  NOtime for night. could be questionable.
sunrise/set perfect us here

6. From old prayer time schedules (during normal
period)...
It is a fixed
90 mnts!
90 mnts
90 mnts
While according to the shari’ah…
EAST
WEST
evening
180
180
morning
It is a fixed
Soloppgang
degree!
Solnedgang
Time Difference between Twilight Rise/Set Time and the Sunrise/Set Time

7. But, why Umm Al-Quraa’ in Makkah decides to
use a “fixed 90 mnts”, instead of fixed degree?
Correction:
Umm Al-Quraa’ only uses a fixed 90 mnts between Maghrib and
Isha, NOT between Shubh and Sunrise.
?
Difference between
Shubh & Sunrise
This is understandable, because:
• In Makkah, a relatively constant difference (< 90 mnts)
between Maghrib and Isha.
• Umm Al-Qura’ assumes that all muslims pray Maghrib in the
beginning of the time, not when the end of the time.
The problem comes when the fixed 90 mnts was brought
to the extreme latitude (Oslo, Trondheim), because:
• The difference between Maghrib and Isha is vary
throughout the year.
• The difference is > 2.5 hours!
• It means: setting up a fixed 90 mnts, leads to let
muslims pray Isha before the time comes!

8. It is understandable that Umm Al-Quraa’ does not
fixed 90 mnts between Shubh and Sunrise, because:
• It could lead to pray Shubh before the time comes.
• It also related to the start of fasting, such that the muslims do
not start their fasting earlier (unnecessary burden).
The problem comes when the fixed 90 mnts was brought
to the extreme latitude (Trondheim), because:
• The difference between Shubh and Sunrise is vary
throughout the year.
• The difference is > 2.5 hours!
• It is OK for having Shubh at 90 mnts before Sunrise,
because it is still in Shubh time.
• But, it also means: muslims start their fasting after
Imsha’ (the forbidden-time) comes!

9. Now, we all realize the extremities location of
the Nordic countries and its consequences…
Norway: >57°North
There are consequences:
1. The length of the day
2. The time for twilight
rise/set & sun rise/set
3. The time difference
between twilight
rise/set & sun rise/set
twilight = ashfaq
In turn, this lead us to the awareness of the period division throughout the
year: NORMAL period and DIFFICULT period.

10. Normal period vs difficult period…
Normal day & night:
NO normal day & night:
• Normal sunrise/sunset, and/or
• Normal twilight rise/set
• NO sunrise/sunset, and/or
• NO twilight rise/set
NORMAL DIFFICULT
PERIOD
PERIOD
10:00
13.04
Twilight &
Sun Rise
Time
(Trondheim)
31.08
08:00
06:00
04:00
02:00
00:00
NORMAL
Jan
Feb
Mar
NORMAL
NO DIFFICULT
twilight rise/set
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
The limit of difficult period is determined based on the existence of the redtwilight throughout the night.

11. Normal period vs difficult period…
Now, what Muslim scholars said about the NORMAL period?
• The hadith scholar, Ibn Hajar al-'Asqalani, mentioned in Fath
al-Bari (2/62): "The [primary] texts pertain to common and
normal circumstances and not to what is uncommon."
• In the same book (2/199), he cites Imam Abu al-Fath ibn
Sayed al-Nas al-Ya'mari, "Rulings are contingent upon what is
common and not on what is uncommon."
• The luminary and Hanafi scholar, Ibn 'Abdin, wrote in Rad alMuhtar 'ala al-Dur al-Mukhtar (2/123): " … the general texts
are construed in reference to what is prevalent and common
and not in reference to what is uncommon and unknown.“
• Sheikh Ibn Taymiyah, the Hanbali scholar, mentioned in
Mukhtasar al-Fatawa al-Misriyyah (1/38): "The [prayer] times,
which Jibril (pbuh) taught the Prophet [pbuh], and which the
Prophet [pbuh] taught his community, are those which the
scholars mentioned in their books, and which refer to normal
days.”
Source: fatwa from Dar Al-Ifta Al Misriyyah 08.08.2010

12. Thus, regarding the great Muslim scholars saying about
normal period, we may conclude…
CONCLUSION:
During NORMAL period  use the ruling mentioned
in the primary text, i.e.:
•
•
•
•
•
•
An-Nisa 103,
Al-Isra 78,
Hud 114,
Thaahaa 130, and
Hadith Jibril + other hadiths.
Please click this link if wanted to observe it!
?
What is the astronomical
phenomena related to the
timing for prayer?

13. The prayer time according to the shariah and
corresponding astronomical phenomena.
During NORMAL period
Eastern horizon
• Fajr or Subh corresponds to the
first appearance of a white light
that spreads laterally across the
horizon = true dawn (fajr shadiq).
• Sunrise corresponds to the
appearance of the highest point of
the sun's disk on the eastern
horizon.
180
FAJR/SUBH
5/60
SUNRISE
• Dhuhr corresponds to the sun
passing its zenith - the highest
point it will reach that day. This
corresponds to the shortest
shadow of an object [for that day].
DHUHR
Eastern horizon

14. The prayer time according to the shariah and
corresponding astronomical phenomena.
– LS: length of the shadow.
– LSZ: length of the object's shadow when
the sun is at its zenith.
– LO: length of the object.
– The corresponding angle changes with
respect to time and place.
• An alternative time for Ashr,
considering Ashr prayer as Wustha
prayer, is the middle between Dhuhr
and Maghrib.
LS
1x
LS = LSZ + LO
LS = LSZ + 2xLO
2x
wustha
LO
• Ashr corresponds to the position of
the sun such that:
LSZ
ASR
During NORMAL period

15. Considering Ashr prayer as Wustha prayer
based on the following hadith.
َ‫ اَ ثَّ اَ ا‬
َ‫ اَ ثَّ اَ اَ ع ُ اَ نْ اَ ع ُ اَ نْ اَ أ ِ أ ِ نْ أ ِ اَ اَ ق ٍ اَ ا‬
Qutaibah had told us, from Malik bin Anas, he said: ‫حدثن ا قتيبة عن م الك بن أنس ق ال ح و حدثن ا‬
ِ ‫ اَنْ نْ اَ أ ِ ُّ اَ ثَّ اَ اَ اَ نْ ع ٌ اَ ثَّ اَ اَ اَ أ ِ ع ٌ اَ نْ اَ نْ أ ِ نْ أ‬
Al Anshari had told us, Ma'nu had told us, Malik had ‫النص اري حدثن ا معن حدثن ا م الك عن زيد بن‬
َ‫ اَ نْ اَ اَ اَ نْ نْ اَ نْ اَ أ ِ نْ أ ِ اَ أ ِ ق ٍ اَ نْ اَ أ ِ ع ُ ع ُ ا‬
‫أسلم عن القعق اع بن حكيم عن أب ي ينونس‬
told us, from Zaid bin Aslam, from Al Qa'qa' bin
َ‫ اَ نْ اَ اَ أ ِ اَ اَ اَ ا‬
‫منول ى ع ائشة ق ال‬
Hakim from Abu Yunus ex-servant of 'Aishah, he
َ‫ اَ اَ اَ نْ أ ِ اَ أ ِ اَ ع ُ اَ أ ِ اَ ثَّ اَ نْ اَ اَ نْ اَ نْ ع ُ اَ اَ ا‬
ُ ‫ع‬
said: 'Aishah radliallahu 'anha ordered me to write a ‫أمرتن ي ع ائشة رض ي الل عنه ا أن أكتب له ا‬
‫مصحف ا فق الت إذا بلغت هذه الية فذآذن ي‬
ِّ‫ع ُ نْ اَ اً اَ اَ اَ نْ أ ِ اَ اَ اَ نْ اَ اَ أ ِ أ ِ نْ اَ اَ اَ أ ِ ي‬
mushaf for her, she said: “When you arrive at this
َ‫ثَّ اَ اَ أ ِ اَ ثَّ اَ أ ِ نْ ع ُ نْ ا‬
َ‫ اَ أ ِ ع ُ اَ ا‬
ayat, tell me: “Keep all of (your) prayers and (keep) { ‫} ح افظنوا عل ى الصلنوات والصلة النوسط ى‬
‫فلم ا بلغته ا آذنته ا فأملت عل ي ح افظنوا عل ى‬
َ‫ اَ اَ ثَّ اَ اَ نْ ع ُ اَ اَ نْ ع ُ اَ اَ اَ نْ اَ نْ اَ اَ ثَّ اَ أ ِ ع ُ اَ ا‬
Shalat Wustha.” QS. Al Baqarah 238. When I arrive
ِ ‫ثَّ اَ اَ أ ِ اَ ثَّ اَ أ ِ نْ ع ُ نْ اَ اَ اَ اَة نْ اَ نْ أ‬
‫الصلنوات والصلة النوسط ى وصل أ ِ العصر‬
at the ayat, I told her. She dictated me: “Keep all ‫وقنومنوا لل ق انتين وق الت سمعته ا من رسنول الل‬
ِ ‫أ‬
َّ‫ اَ ع ُ ع ُ ثَّ اَ أ ِ أ ِ اَ اَ اَ اَ نْ اَ أ ِ نْع ُ اَ أ ِ نْ اَ ع ُ أ ِ ث‬
ِ ‫أ‬
َ‫ اَثَّ ثَّ اَ اَ نْ أ ِ اَ اَثَّ ا‬
‫صل ى الل عليه وسلم‬
ُ ‫ع‬
of (your) prayers and (keep)
‫وف ي الب اب عن حفصة ق ال أبنو عيس ى هذا‬
َ‫ اَ نْ اَ نْ اَ اَ اَ اَ اَ ع ُ أ ِ اَ اَ ا‬
َ‫ اَ أ ِ نْ ا‬
Shalat Wustha and Asr prayer,
ٌ ‫ اَ أ ِ ع ٌ اَ اَ ع ٌ اَ أ ِ ع‬
‫حديث حسن صحيح‬
stand up for Allah (in your prayer)
with khusyu’.” Aishah said:”I heard this from
Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam.”” In this
matter, there is similar hadith from Hafshah. Abu Isa
said this hadith is hasan shahih.
narrated by Imam Tirmidzi

16. Considering Ashr prayer as Wustha prayer
based on the following hadith.
Ishaq had told us, Rauh had told us,
Hisyam had told us, from Muhammad
from 'Abidah from Ali ra that the Prophet
PBUH said at the War of Trench:
"May Allah fulfill their houses and
graves with fire because they
have occupied us until (unable to
perform) Al Wustha prayer (Asr)
till sunset."
narrated by Imam Bukhari in his
Shahih
‫حدثن ا إسح اق حدثن ا روح حدثن ا‬
َ‫ اَ ثَّ اَ اَ أ ِ نْ اَ ع ُ اَ ثَّ اَ اَ اَ نْ ع ٌ اَ ثَّ اَ ا‬
ْ‫أ ِ اَ ع ٌ اَ نْ ع ُ اَ ثَّ ق ٍ اَ نْ اَ أ ِ اَ اَ اَ ن‬
‫هش ام عن محمد عن عبيدة عن‬
ِّ‫ اَأ ِ ٍّ اَ أ ِ اَ ثَّ اَ نْ ع ُ اَ نْ ثَّ أ ِ ي‬
‫عل ي رض ي الل عنه عن النب ي‬
ُ ‫ع‬
َ ‫ اَثَّ ثَّ اَ اَ نْ أ ِ اَ اَثَّ اَ اَ ثَّ ع ُ ا َ ا َ ا َ َمْ ا‬
‫صل ى الل عليه وسلم أنه قلال يوم‬
ُ ‫ع‬
ْ‫َمْ ا َ َمْ ا َ ْمِ ا َ ا َ هَّ ا َ ا َ َمْ ْمِ َمْ ْمُ ْمُ ا َ ْمُ َم‬
‫الخندق مل الل عليهم بيوتهم‬
ُ‫ْم‬
ْ‫ا َ ْمُ ْمُ ا َ ْمُ َمْ ا َ اً ا َ ا َ ا َ ا َْمُ ا َ ا َ َم‬
‫وقبورهم نلارا كملا شغلونلا عن‬
ْ‫ا َ ا َ ْمِ َمْ ْمُ َمْ ا َ ا َ هَّ ا َ ا َ َم‬
‫صلة الوسطغ ى حتغ ى غلابت‬
ُ‫هَّ َمْ ْم‬
‫الشمس‬
Duhr
Ashr
Subh
Maghrib
What about astronomically?
Isha’

17. The prayer time according to the shariah and
corresponding astronomical phenomena.
During NORMAL period
5/60
•
•
Maghrib corresponds to the
complete disappearance of
the sun's disk below the
Western horizon.
Isha corresponds to the
disappearance of red twilight.
This corresponds to the sun
being 18 degrees below the
western horizon.
Western horizon
MAGHRIB
Western horizon
180
ISHA

18. However, there are different conventions for
calculating prayer times.
Convention
Fajr Angle Isha Angle
Muslim World League
18
17
Islamic Society of North America (ISNA)
15
15
Egyptian General Authority of Survey
19.5
17.5
Umm al-Qura University, Makkah
18.5
90 min after Maghrib
120 min during Ramadan
University of Islamic Sciences, Karachi
18
18
Institute of Geophysics, University of Tehran
17.7
14*
Shia Ithna Ashari, Leva Research Institute, Qum
16
14
European Council for Fatwa and Research
18
17
What about Norway? Which one we will adopt?

19. Normal period vs difficult period…
Now, what Muslim scholars said about DIFFICULT period?
• Sheikh Ibn Taymiyah, the Hanbali scholar, mentioned in
Mukhtasar al-Fatawa al-Misriyyah, “There is a different ruling
for the day of which the Prophet said will extend to the length
of one year. Concerning this day, he said, "Estimate [the
timings of prayer].“
• Imam Mohammed Abdou - the former Grand Mufti of Egypt(as cited by his student Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Reda in
Tafseer al-Manar [2/163]) said: “The Prophet [pbuh] specified
prayer times based on the hours that suit countries with
moderate hours and which constitute the greater part of the
world. This was the norm until Islam reached those countries
where day and night is longer than usual. Muslims living in
these countries may estimate prayer times depending on
their independent reasoning and in analogy to the timings
specified by the Prophet [pbuh] in the hadith of al-Dajjal. The
same applies to fasting.”
Source: fatwa from Dar Al-Ifta Al Misriyyah 08.08.2010

20. So, what are the Muslim scholars opinions about
the estimated time during DIFFICULT period?
• One opinion stated that the times for starting and
ending a fast (and prayers) must be estimated based
on the timings of the cities with moderate hours
where religious rulings were prescribed (i.e. Mecca
and Medina).
• Another opinion stated that the times for starting
and ending a fast (and prayers) should be estimated
according to the timings of the nearest country with
moderate hours.
– This is problematic to be applied…
Source: fatwa from Dar Al-Ifta Al Misriyyah 08.08.2010

21. Therefore…
Sheikh Gad al-Haq, the former Grand Imam of al-Azhar, said:
“I call upon Muslims living in Norway and other countries with similar circumstances to fast the same number of hours as Muslims in Mecca or Medina.”
Modern scholars who has the same opinion, include:
1. Sheikh Mohammed Abdou, the first to hold the office of Grand Mufti of Egypt. He
favored this opinion which he derived from juristic opinions on this issue as
mentioned earlier. This is likewise the opinion that was implemented later by Dar
al-Ifta al-Misriyyah.
2. Sheikh Gad al-Haq Ali Gad al-Haq (in fatwa no. 214 for the year 1981 CE).
3. Sheikh Abdul Latif Hamza (in fatwa no. 160 for the year 1984 CE).
4. Dr. Mohammed Sayed Tantawi (in fatwa no. 171 for the year 1993 CE and in fatwa
no. 579 for the year 1995 CE).
5. Dr. Nasr Farid Wasil (in fatwa no. 438 for the year 1998).
6. Dr. Ali Goma Mohammed, the current Grand Mufti of Egypt.
7. Dr. Mohammed al-Ahmadi abu al-Nur, former Minister of Endowments and
member of the Islamic Research Academy, in the fatwa issued on 24 April 1983 CE
by the Fatwa Committee at al-Azhar in his capacity as president of the Committee.
8. The luminary Sheikh Mustafa al-Zarka.
9. Dr. Mohammed Hamidullah in his book Al-Islam.
10. Sheikh Mahmud Ashur, former deputy to the Grand Imam of al-Azhar and member
of the Islamic Research Academy.
Source: fatwa from Dar Al-Ifta Al Misriyyah 08.08.2010

22. So, how can we implement this fatwa?
NORMAL
24:00
22:00
?
DIFFICULT
?
NORMAL
20:00
18:00
16:00
14:00
12:00
10:00
08:00
06:00
04:00
02:00
00:00
Jan
Isha
Maghrib
Asr
Duhr
Sunrise
Subh
?
Feb Mar Apr May Jun
13.04
Transition
Period
Jul
Aug
31.08
?
Sep Oct Nov Dec
Transition
Period

23. This is the new prayer schedule for Trondheim
NORMAL
DIFFICULT
NORMAL
24:00
22:00
20:00
18:00
16:00
14:00
12:00
10:00
08:00
06:00
04:00
02:00
00:00
Jan
Isha
Maghrib
Asr
Duhr
Sunrise
Subh
Feb Mar Apr May Jun
13.04
Transition
Period
Jul
Aug
31.08
Sep Oct Nov Dec
Transition
Period

28. Finally, what are the features and benefits for this new
prayer schedule for Muslims in Trondheim?
• Fasting (shaum) length:
• Maximum: 14.9 hours (19-21 June)
• Minimum : 7.9 hours (21-23 December)
• During winter time, the latest Subh time is at
06:42.
• You can pray Subh at masjid or at home easier (no
need to pray Subh at work place or school).
• The latest Isha time throughout the year is at
21:37.
• It is easier to pray Isha and taraweh during Ramadhan
if it comes on the summer time.
• No need to make ”generic schedule” for Ramadhan in
summer time.

29. Alhamdulillah, jazakumullah khair…
Is there any question or suggestion?
• …