Some Common Doubts and Misconceptions Affiliated with the Laws of Fasting in Ramaḍān and Their Clarification
Doubt/Misconception 02: Fasting Commences and Ends with the Aẓān
Shaykh Muḥammad ibn Ṣāliḥ al-ʿUthaymīn (رحمه الله) was asked: “Is it necessary for the one intending to fast to cease eating and drinking upon the commencement or the end of the aẓān?”
He (رحمه الله) said:
This ruling is dependent upon the time of dawn; therefore, whether or not the aẓān was made, a person must cease eating and drinking whenever dawn comes. However, whether or not the aẓān was made, ceasing to eat and drink isn’t compulsory if dawn didn’t enter because of His statement:
“فَالْآنَ بَاشِرُوهُنَّ وَابْتَغُوا مَا كَتَبَ اللَّـهُ لَكُمْ ۚ وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الْأَسْوَدِ مِنَ الْفَجْرِ ۖ ثُمَّ أَتِمُّوا الصِّيَامَ إِلَى اللَّيْلِ ۚ وَلَا تُبَاشِرُوهُنَّ وَأَنتُمْ عَاكِفُونَ فِي الْمَسَاجِدِ ۗ تِلْكَ حُدُودُ اللَّـهِ فَلَا تَقْرَبُوهَا ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّـهُ آيَاتِهِ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ”
“So have relations with them now, and seek that which Allāh has decreed for you. Eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night]. Then complete the fast until sunset. Don’t have relations with them as long as you are performing I‘tikāf in the masjid. These are the limits set by Allāh, so don’t approach them. Thus, Allāh makes clear His ordinances to the people so they may become righteous” [Sūrah al-Baqarah, 2:187].
His statement:
“حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الْأَسْوَدِ مِنَ الْفَجْرِ”
“Until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night]”is evidence that an individual can eat and drink while being doubtful if dawn entered because the general principle is that the night continues, and if this is so, then the general principle isn’t abandoned, except in the case of certainty. Therefore, if the muʿazzin is known only to call the aẓān when dawn enters, then the individual must cease from eating and drinking as soon as he hears it because the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Bilāl (رضي الله عنه) calls the aẓān during the night, so eat and drink until you hear Ibn Umm Makhtūm (رضي الله عنه) calling the aẓān, for indeed, he doesn’t pronounce it until it is dawn.”
● [Majmū‘ Fatāwá wā Rasāʾil al-ʿUthaymīn]