# Muslims In Iceland During Ramadan
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muslims-in-iceland-during-ramadan/140278
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [December 3, 2002, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muslims-in-iceland-during-ramadan/140278 "2002-12-03T21:17:08Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Daoloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daoloth)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2002, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muslims-in-iceland-during-ramadan/140278/1 "2002-12-03T21:17:08Z")
I had a Muslim history teacher last year. One day, while bored, I asked him how Muslims in Iceland, or anywhere far north for that matter, do their Ramadan fasting. He was genuinely perplexed, and had no clue.
So, what’s the Straight Dope?
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### Author:  [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2002, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muslims-in-iceland-during-ramadan/140278/2 "2002-12-03T21:25:50Z")
Well, according to my Muslim friend (I asked her just this question last week, only change Iceland to Norway).
Anyhow - theres a formula that people above a certain line of latitude use to determine fasting times - its based on the times that are observed in Meca.
See - E-Z, PEE-Z.
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### Author:  [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2002, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muslims-in-iceland-during-ramadan/140278/3 "2002-12-03T23:48:25Z")
I’ve been told once exactly the same thing than [/a] alice \*\*. That the sunrise/sunset times of a particular place was used instead of the local time. I don’t remember what place, but Mecca seems a logical choice.
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### Author:  [@Bob\_Scene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob_Scene)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2002, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muslims-in-iceland-during-ramadan/140278/4 "2002-12-04T00:17:57Z")
I know a Moslem who lives in Alaska, and he says he and his family just use the local sunrise/sunset times, which means they only fast for a short time each day during Ramadan.
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### Author:  [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2002, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muslims-in-iceland-during-ramadan/140278/5 "2002-12-04T00:27:28Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Bob Scene \*
> \*\*I know a Moslem who lives in Alaska, and he says he and his family just use the local sunrise/sunset times, which means they only fast for a short time each day during Ramadan. \*\*
Ramadan is at a different time every year. This year it’s pretty easy but in a few years Alaskans will face Ramadan during the summer.
Haj
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### Author:  [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2002, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muslims-in-iceland-during-ramadan/140278/6 "2002-12-04T00:33:41Z")
From [here](http://www.columbia.edu/cu/msa/files/sightingfiqh.html):
> [@](#):
>
> 1. Is a sighting in one area binding on Muslims in other areas?
> This is a point on which scholars have differed. According to the Shafi`i school, the sighting is not binding beyond 81 km, as stated by both Rafi`i and Nawawi. The authentic view of the madhhab is that it is binding on a strip of thickness 81km in either direction of the place of the sighting. This strip extends from the North Pole to the South Pole.
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### Author:  [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2002, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muslims-in-iceland-during-ramadan/140278/7 "2002-12-04T02:24:04Z")
Yep there is a ruling on this.
You estimate. Using the times at Mecca is probably a good practice.