Fatwa ID: 06613

Answered by: Mufti Syed Johir Miah

Question:

My mother lives in Bangladesh. This year she starts Ramadan in Bangladesh but she is coming to the UK during Ramadan. In Bangladesh, Ramadan always starts at least 1 day after the UK.

The question is, how she should count her Ramadan? If Ramadan is 29 days in the UK then she ends up fasting for 28 days. What’s the ruling in such a scenario?

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

Fasting during the month of Ramadan is mandatory.

Allah (عز و جل) says in the Holy Quran;

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ

“O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may develop God-consciousness.” (Surah Baqarah, Verse 183)

Since your mother is travelling from Bangladesh to England during the month of Ramadan and the people of Bangladesh start their fast one day after the people of England, she will end up missing one fast.

Hence, in the aforementioned case, your mother would have to do Qada (make up for) that one fast after Eid.

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Mufti Syed Johir Miah

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham