Timing of starting Sawm for residents in non-Muslim countries

 Timing of starting Sawm for residents in non-Muslim countries 

From ‘Abdul-’Aziz ibn ‘Abdullah ibn Baaz to the honourable sister in Islam, may Allah grant you success. Aameen!

As-salamu ‘alaykum warahmatullah wabarakatuh (May Allah's Peace, Mercy, and Blessings be upon you!)

I received your letter dated 6/10/1389 AH and understood what you meant. Many thanks for your congratulations on ‘Eid-ul-Fitr (the Festival of Breaking the Fast). May Allah accept our Sawm (Fast) and many returns for all Muslims hoping them all goodness and integrity. He is the Best One asked for help. 

With regards to your question about the permissibility of observing and breaking Sawm in Ramadan according to crescent sighting in Saudi Arabia during your stay in Spain, there is no harm in doing so. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “Start fasting on sighting the new moon (of Ramadan), and give up fasting on sighting the new moon (of Shawwal), and if the sky is overcast (and you cannot see it), complete the term as thirty (days of Sha’ban.)” This Hadith applies to all Muslims. Saudi Arabia is the most entitled country to be followed as it rules according to Shari’ah (Islamic law). May Allah grant it more success and guidance! There is nothing wrong with your act because Spain does not rule according to Islam and its people do not care about it.

Concerning the issue of combing two Salahs (Prayers), the matter is flexible. The Purified Shar’ (Islamic law) allows combining two Salahs at the time of the earlier one or at the time of the later one or in the in-between time. Due to lawful excuses (i.e., sickness and travel), the two combined Salahs can be performed at the same time. It is permissible, when it is necessary, to talk at the interval between the two combined Salahs. Time for Witr (Prayer with an odd number of units) starts after offering the ‘Isha' (Night) Prayer, even if it is combined with the Maghrib (Sunset) Prayer at the time of the Maghrib, and continues until the time for Al-Fajr-ul-Sadiq (true dawn) begins. I ask Allah to grant us and you comprehension of religion, let us adhere to it until we meet Him, and cure you and help you return home safely, for He is the Most Generous.

As-salamu ‘alaykum warahmatullah wabarakatuh 

Vice President of the Islamic University 

[Majmoo 'al-Fataawa Ibn Baaz, Vol.: 15; pp. 105 - 106]