Ramadan 2026: How Muslims fast in countries where sun does not set

Doha, Qatar: At the far reaches of the northern hemisphere, where seasons overlap and conventional measures of time are disrupted, Muslims face a uniq...

Doha, Qatar: At the far reaches of the northern hemisphere, where seasons overlap and conventional measures of time are disrupted, Muslims face a unique test each year when the month of Ramadan falls during the summer. 

In cities such as Kiruna in Sweden, Tromso in Norway, and parts of Canada and Alaska, the sun does not set, remaining visible in the sky for extended periods. In areas north of the Arctic Circle, weeks may pass without sunset, placing Muslim communities before both a jurisprudential and physical challenge. If fasting were to depend strictly on direct visual sunset and sunrise, it would mean fasting for months without breaking the fast, which is a matter that is neither religiously nor practically feasible. 

Given the relatively small number of Muslims and the vast distances in such regions, collective iftar meals at Islamic centers become a vital outlet. Immigrants from different parts of the world gather there to share dates and laban at a time when city streets remain quiet and surrounding communities continue their daily routines as usual. 

The experience of fasting in the far north stands as a clear testament to the flexibility of Islamic law and its ability to adapt to the harshest geographical conditions. 

In an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), Director of the Finnish Institute for the Arabic Language and Islamic Sciences and Imam of the Islamic Association in Helsinki, Dr. Mohammed Al Shaar, said that Muslims in northern countries primarily prepare for Ramadan by organizing their work schedules to enable them to perform prayers on time, particularly the Taraweeh prayer. He added that Islamic centers work to provide one or more imams to lead Taraweeh and Tahajjud prayers and to deliver lessons between prayers, noting that some centers organize iftar meals throughout the month or on selected days.