Sheikh Uthaimin on Fasting Times in Ramadan

The great scholar Sheikh Ibn Uthaimin (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked the following question: "May Allah reward you with the best for your advice, the questioner says: 'In the month of Ramadan, there are disagreements among the imams of various mosques regarding the determination of the Fajr dawn. It should be added that a prayer timetable is available in these mosques, which was created by astronomers commissioned by the Ministry of Religious Affairs. Nevertheless, there are some imams who do not follow this calendar. Especially for the Fajr prayer, they delay the call to prayer by an average of slightly more than a quarter of an hour compared to the calendar. This is done considering the fact that the Fajr dawn cannot be observed due to electric lights. What is your advice regarding these imams, and what is your view concerning the astronomers? May Allah reward you.'"

The honorable Sheikh Ibn Uthaimin (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "There is no doubt that the astronomers are knowledgeable in their field, but Allah (the Exalted) says: 'And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread!' {Surah 2:187}. I.e., as long as the dawn (Fajr) is not visible, one can eat and drink. The problem today is that the inhabitants of cities and villages where electric lights are present are unable to observe the Fajr dawn from the very beginning; this is caused by the presence of lights. To be on the safe side, one should stop drinking and eating at the onset of Fajr according to the prayer timetable. As for the prayer, however, to be on the safe side, one should perform it in such a way that it is not carried out too early. Waiting to pray, praise be to Allah, to be certain about the time, is not counted as delaying the prayer outside the prescribed time. Caution in this case refers to fasting, so we say: Caution (when fasting) means adhering to the prayer timetable. Regarding the prayer, one should delay it until the Fajr dawn is observed."