With Ramadan just around the corner, Muslims across the globe are preparing for fasting hours that vary significantly depending on geography, daylight duration, and seasonal changes, making planning essential for worshippers. The holy month is expected to begin on February 19, though moon sighting could move it a day earlier, to February 18. Compared to last year, fasting hours in Pakistan will be generally shorter, offering a relatively easier experience for worshippers this year.
In northern regions such as northern Russia, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Finland, fasting hours are expected to be among the longest, often exceeding sixteen hours daily. Some locations may see fasts approaching twenty hours due to extended daylight, testing endurance and requiring careful preparation for meals and rest. Despite the challenge, worshippers in these areas often embrace longer fasts as a spiritual opportunity to enhance patience, self-discipline, and devotion during Ramadan.
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Conversely, countries closer to the equator or in the southern hemisphere will have shorter fasting durations ranging between eleven and fourteen hours. Nations like Brazil, South Africa, Chile, New Zealand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Kenya will experience more manageable fasts, allowing believers to balance daily routines with worship. Shorter daylight hours in these regions provide extra recovery time between iftar and suhoor, easing physical strain during work, study, and family activities.
Islamic scholars have advised flexibility for Muslims living in extreme daylight regions where fasting hours may be unusually long or short. In such cases, worshippers are allowed to follow the fasting schedule of Makkah or a nearby moderate city, ensuring that obligations remain spiritually fulfilling yet physically manageable. This guidance highlights the principle of ease and compassion in Islam, making the observance of Ramadan accessible to all believers, regardless of location.
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In Pakistan, the upcoming Ramadan will feature shorter fasting hours compared to last year, making the month relatively easier for millions of worshippers across the country. Authorities and religious scholars encourage people to maintain proper nutrition, hydration, and rest to maximize spiritual rewards while protecting health. Preparations are underway nationwide, with families, communities, and mosques organizing schedules and programs to observe the sacred month safely and meaningfully.