The Ramadan Pole Paradox
From WikiIslam
This set of questions and answers explores Ramadan's relation to the North and South Poles. According to Islamic rules, the keeping and breaking of a fast is related to times of sunrise and sunset which do not occur near the Poles as they would on other places on the Earth.
Q: How long is the day and night in countries near the North & South Poles?
- A: As we get closer to the North or South Pole, the day or night might extend for up to several months each. On the Noth Pole itself, daylight lasts 24 hours during the summer months and darkness lasts for 24 hours during the winter months.
Q: How can a Muslim fast in Ramadan in these countries?
- A: A Muslim can not fast otherwise he/she will starve to death.
Q: Why can't a Muslim fast during Ramadan near the Poles?
- A: The Pious will start the fast in the morning and end it when the Sun sets. Considering the Sun will be up in the sky for days and weeks and month, the pious will have to starve to death. Our bodies can survive for multiple days without food but we will die without water.
Q: What solution did Islamic Scholars offer to the Pious?
- A: Islamic scholars offered the only Mickey Mouse solution they could offer. The scholars made a fatwa that the pious can follow the schedule of his original country or the schedule of the closest country with a distinguishable day & night. One Islamic Scholar declared that a Muslim must fast for 20 hours. [1]
Q: Why it is not a valid solution to follow the schedule of our original country?
- A: What if the Muslim was born near the Poles? And why do I have to follow the schedule of another country? What kind of solution is this anyway?
Q: Why it is not a valid solution to follow the schedule of the closest country where day & night can be distinguished?
- A: Again, why do I have to follow the schedule of another country? And what does the 'Closest Country' mean? The closest country will still have a day or a night that will extend for 23 hours.
Q: Why do you think Islam did not take into consideration Muslims living near the Poles?
- A: We can understand some desert dwellers not knowing about the poles, but the Creator of the Universe should have known better.
Q: Don't you think the rules for Ramadan were imposed by a Divine Entity?
- A: Impossible. Whoever made these rules either believes that the Earth is Flat, or the Earth is in a Perfect perpendicular tilt relative to the Sun. A real Creator would not make such an astronomical blunder in regards to his/her Creation.
Q: Many People believe the Qur'an is Satanic. Do you agree?
- A: Absolutely not. Satan would not have made such an astronomical blunder either. Satan would know that the Earth is a tilted sphere relative to the Sun. Satan would not have made this mistake.
Q: What do you think Muslims should do about the Ramadan Paradox?
- A: They should stop believing in fairy tales.
Q: How long does a Muslim need to fast in countries which are close to the pole, like Norway?
- A: Read the following list and learn. Remember, fasting begins at sunrise and ends at sunset.
| COUNTRY | DATE | SUNRISE | SUNSET | LENGTH OF DAY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norway | Jun 23, 2009 | 3:54 AM | 10:44 PM | 18h 50m 08s (almost 19 hours without food & water) |
| Alaska | Jun 25, 2009 | 4:22 AM | 11:42 PM | 19h 20m 08s (Almost 19 and a half hours without food & water) |
| Iceland | Jun 14, 2009 | 2:58 AM | 11:59 PM | 21h 00m 54s (Yes, 21 hours without food & water) |
So Muslims; if you go to Iceland will you fast 21 hours a day for 30 consecutive days?
Q: Did Muhammad fast Ramadan?
- A: Muhammad, got himself and all the prophets before him an exemption from having to fast, because the weight of the revelations is too heavy. Muslims should get an exemption for themselves too.
Q: What if a Muslim astronaut (e.g. Anousheh Ansari[2]) goes in space (orbit, moon or outer space to other planets) and wants to pray salat or keep a fast?
- A: A Muslim astronaut wont be able to face Mecca if they are in orbit or at the moon. Allah didn't take care of this situation because he never believed that Muslims would end up in space so they had to take matters into their own hands by creating a handbook called Guidelines for Performing Islamic Rites (Ibadah) at the International Space Station. It must be mentioned that if a Muslim astronaut would spend time praying to Allah and keeping the fast on the moon, he/she would most likely be putting the mission in danger.
[edit] References
- ↑ "Indeed, the fasts may be twenty hours long, but this is something one will have to adhere to." Fasting in extreme latitudes - Sunnipath.com Q&A
- ↑ First Female Muslim Astronaut Could Help Bridge U.S.-Iran Gap
[edit] External links
- How to pray and fast in countries where the day or night is continuous - Fatwa response from IslamQ&A team
