Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalamoalaikum wa rahmatullah.

If a person starts Fasting in the Month of Ramadan at one place, later on he moves to another place where Ramadan started 1 or 2 days later. In that case the Month could be last for more than 30 days. So what should he do after completing 30 days fasting? Can he perform Eid while Ramadan is going on at that place? 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Fast for 31 days in Ramadhan

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 185:

185 Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an as a guide to mankind also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong). So everyone of you who is present (or witnesses) the month should spend it in fasting but if anyone is ill or on a journey the prescribed period (should be made up) by days later. Allah intends every facility for you He does not want to put you to difficulties. (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance ye shall be grateful.

The Lord Most High absolutely clearly Commands that every believer who witnesses the month of Ramadan should spend the month in fasting. Thus if the person has started fasting in a particular place and subsequently moves to another country where Ramadan started a day or two later, the person should continue his fasts in that country, for he is present and a witness to the month of Ramadan in that particular place.

The believer must complete the fasts until the end of Ramadan in the place he is present, even if the number of his fasts exceed 29 or 30 days, and celebrate Eid only with the believers in that country. The extra fasts that the believer performed will be added to his voluntary and supererogatory deeds of worship.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verses 183-184:

183 O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you that ye may (learn) self-restraint.

184 (Fasting) for a fixed number of days; but if any of you is ill or on a journey the prescribed number (should be made up) from days later.

But in the reverse scenario where a person starts his fasting of Ramadan in one place, and then subsequently moves to another country where Ramadan has started a day or two earlier; and he is only able to complete 27 or 28 days of fasts until the believers celebrate Eid in that country, then the person should celebrate Eid with the believers and make up the missed number of days at any other time of the year. Because the Lord Most High has prescribed fasting for a fixed number of days, it is absolutely imperative that at least 29 days, which constitute the minimum number of days in a lunar month, must be observed in fasting.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan