What happens to Ramadan in the arctic circle (with no daylight)?

Question

I know that during Ramadan you´re not allowed to eat, drink, smoke or make love during daylight hours, so what happens if you live in e.g. Northern Sweden and Ramadan falls during the time of year when there is no daylight? Also, can Ramadan fall in summer? Then you would be in a very sorry state after one month without any night!

Answer 1

Great question! I'm Swedish, but not a Muslim, so I'm not sure. But I did read on one of the largest Islam sites in Sweden that Muslims who live in places where you can't distinguish between night and day follow the hours of the nearest city where such distinction can be made. That would still mean a lot of problems... if night only lasts an hour in that city. Of course, in the North it's far between cities. I read somewhere else that Muslims living in polar regions sometimes follow the calendar of Mecca, since "Ramadan stands for sacrifice, not suicide". Maybe Muslims who have the possibility take their summer vacation that month and go south! Or else they do what most people who practice a religion do - they find out a way that works for them, trying to stay faithful to the intention of the commandment rather than to the letter of it.

Answer 2

well 1st of all it never really occured to me as a muslim what would happen in a situation like the one u r giving (no daylight in sweden).. and yes ramadan may come in summer cz the islamic months are based on the moon.... you really made me eager to ask a sheikh (religious man) about no daylight month. but i think in that situation the person is allowed not to fast at the time but he can eithr fast these days some other time when he can or donate money to the poor....
nice question though

Answer 3

not too sure.. but yes ramadan can fall in the summer as each month in the islamic calendar lasts 29 or 30 days, and is lunar based, so the islamic year tends to be around 10 days shorter each year.. so each month moves forward around ten days a year, so in a few years time in the uk, ramadan will fall in the summer!! god, it will be really hard!! don't know how much sense that makes...

Answer 4

Dracula loves it in Northern Sweden: he can get out more and do all these things. And he doesn't mind what time of the month it is.

Answer 5

one would follow the country that is closest that has a day / night cycle.

Answer 6

i don't know, ask him.