ISLAMABAD: Fasting hours during the Holy month of Ramazan in 2016, set to begin from June 06 or 07 based on moon sighting reports in different parts of the world, will be the longest in Sweden and Denmark and shortest in Argentina and Australia, according to the latest maps recording fasting hours across the world.
While Muslims in Denmark will observe the longest fasting period in the world for 21 hours, those in Argentina will fast the least number of hours – 9 hours and 30 minutes, BBC reported. As per the global map, other countries with long fasting hours include Iceland, Sweden and Norway of about 20 hours.
The Netherlands and Belgium with 18 hours and 30 minutes, Spain 17 hours and 30 minutes, while England and Germany at 16 hours and 30 minutes. Those in the US, France and Italy will fast for 16 hours.
Besides Argentina where Muslims will fast for the least number of hours, Australia will observe fast for 10 hours, South Africa 10 hours and 30 minutes; Brazil 11 hours; Mexico 13 hours and 20 minutes this Ramazan.
The Indian subcontinent along with the Arab states will observe medium fasting hours – which varies from a minimum of 14 hours to a maximum of 16- and-a-half hours. In Pakistan, Muslims will observe fasting for about 15-16 hours whereas in India fasting hours during this year’s Ramadan will be around 14 hours and 30 minutes.
In Pakistan capital Islamabad where Fajar prayers is scheduled at 03:16 am and Magrib at 07:14 pm in first week of June when Ramadan starts this year, fasting hours will be around 16 hours.
Bangladesh will have fasting hours of about 15 hours. In capital Dhaka, Fajar prayers in first week of June is at 03:45 am and Maghrib at 06:42 pm. Based on this, the country will have about 15 hours of fasting.
Those in Egypt will fast up to 16-and-a-half hours; and people in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Palestine for 15 hours. Tabuk and Haql cities in Saudi Arabia will have the longest fasting hours, that is 15 hours and 30 minutes. The fasting time will be 15 hours and 18 minutes in Dammam, while it will be 15 hours and eight minutes in Riyadh.
In Yemen, fasting period will be 14 hours and 50 minutes; in Qatar 14 hours and 40 minutes; Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, Syria and Algeria, Morocco and Libya, Sudan will observe 14 hours.
For northern hemisphere dwellers, at least this year Ramadan won’t cover summer solstice, the longest day of the year, but the days will steadily get longer as the month goes on.
According to astrologers, the northern hemisphere will observe not only the longest fasting period but also the most heat in at least 33 years during this Ramadan.
This is because of the Sun passing over the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere, making it the peak of summer in the northern hemisphere and winter in the southern hemisphere.
This year’s Ramadan is also said to be the hottest in recent history as most of the world are under scorching heat. While India is facing the hottest ever summer this year, it is predicted that temperature in some parts of Saudi Arabia may touch 65 degrees.
