Fast According to Your Country

BismiLlahi r-Rahmani r-Raḥīm

May Ramaḍān be blessed and of barakah for you all, in shā’a Llāh. At the beginning of Ramaḍān, some people were a little confused again. Some started Ramaḍān a day before. Today is our first day, in shā’a Llāh.

We didn’t want to dwell on this matter too much yesterday, because everyone must start Ramaḍān according to their own country. They should break their fast and celebrate Eid accordingly. Here, since our day was different, we are subject to the rules of our country; there’s no problem with that.

There are also religious rulings. Our Prophet ṣallá Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam says, “Fast when you see it (the new moon) and break your fast when you see it, and if the weather is cloudy treat Sha‘ban as having thirty days.” [Ḥadīth]

How does this work? If it’s cloudy, they say, “The moon is not visible.” The religious ruling is: the month is completed to 30 days. But if a person is in another country, they fast according to that country. They must fast with the congregation.

Fasting alone or breaking the fast alone is not good. It would be a sin, God forbid. Since the Ramaḍān fast is obligatory, if it is knowingly violated, there is a penalty or a compensatory fast. Therefore, it is necessary to conform to the country you are in.

That’s why, we didn’t talk about this matter much yesterday, so that people wouldn’t get confused and say, “You didn’t fast, so we won’t either.” Wherever you are, the moon may appear earlier or later; those who are knowledgeable, the timekeepers, know this.

We are saying the same thing again. To avoid invalidating your fast, conform to what the government or country you are in says. Observe your fast and celebrate Eid accordingly.

Especially, it is absolutely unacceptable for you to break your fast and celebrate Eid a day earlier while the nation is fasting. You must certainly conform to the rules of the community, whichever country you are in.

May Allāh ﷻ bless it and make it of goodness. Wa min Allah at-Tawfiq.

Al-Fatiha.

•⁠ ⁠Mawlana Sheikh Muhammad Adil ar-Rabbaniق

19 February 2026/ 1 Ramadan 1447

Fajr Prayer – Akbaba Dergah, Istanbul

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