Fasting on Arafah India Date or Following Saudi Arabia

Question

If the Day of ʿArafah in my country is on a different date than in Saudi Arabia, when should I fast?

Bottom Line

Fast according to the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah in your own country, based on your local moon sighting.

Quick Answer

The Day of ʿArafah is the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah, tied to moon sighting, which differs by location. You fast according to your country’s sighting, not Saudi Arabia’s. Scholars compare this to prayer times: every place follows its own timings.

Key Takeaways

• Islamic dates depend on local moon sighting, which can vary between countries.
• The correct day for fasting is your own 9th of Dhul-Hijjah, not Saudi Arabia’s calendar.
• Scholars such as Ibn ʿUthaymeen confirm that moon sighting is local, like prayer times.

Detailed Answer

The day of ‘Arafah and the fast thereon is the ninth day of the month of Dhu’l-Hijjah, which is defined for each country according to its sighting of the new moon of Dhu’l-Hijjah. So it may be on Thursday for the people of Makkah, and for others it may be on Wednesday or Saturday. It is not essential to follow the people of Makkah when there are differences in the sighting of the new moon. This is the most correct of the scholarly views, that each country has its own sighting when there is a difference concerning that.

The Principle of Local Sighting

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“When you see the new moon, fast, and when you see it, break your fast.”

Sahih Muslim 1081b

This hadith establishes that fasting is based on local sighting, not another country’s announcement.

Scholarly Explanation

Shaykh Ibn ʿUthaymeen explained that moon sightings differ by place, so each land follows its own. Al-Lajnah al-Da’imah also issued fatwas confirming this principle. Just as prayer times vary across the world, so do Islamic dates.

Practical Example

If in India the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah falls one day later than in Saudi Arabia, you fast with India’s 9th. The pilgrims in Makkah stand on ʿArafah according to their calendar, and you fast according to yours. Both are valid acts of worship.

What This Means for You

In India, Pakistan, or anywhere else, you should fast on the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah according to your own local moon sighting, even if it differs from Saudi Arabia.

And Allah knows best.

References

Primary Sources

Hadith

1. Sahih Muslim 1081b: Fasting and breaking fast depend on local moon sighting.

Secondary Sources

2. Ibn ʿUthaymeen, Majmooʿ Fatawa: Each land follows its own moon sighting.
3. Al-Lajnah al-Da’imah, Fatawa 10/391: Ruling on local sighting versus Saudi Arabia.