ISLAMABAD: Fasting hours during Ramadan in 2016 will be the longest in Sweden and Denmark and shortest in Argentina and Australia, according to the latest maps recording fast timings 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 fewest hours – 9 hours and 30 minutes, according to the BBC. Scandinavian countries typically have the longest fasting hours; Iceland, Sweden and Norway average around 20 hours each day.
The Netherlands and Belgium’s fasting period lasts 18 hours and 30 minutes, Spain 17 hours and 30 minutes and while England and Germany at 16 hours and 30 minutes. Those fasting in the US, France and Italy will be without nourishment for 16 hours.
Not far behind Argentina, where Muslims will fast for the least number of hours, is Australia (10 hours), South Africa (10 hours and 30 minutes), Brazil (11 hours), and Mexico (13 hours and 20 minutes) this Ramadan. The Indian subcontinent along with the Arab states will observe fasting hours between 14 hours to a maximum of 16 hours and 30 minutes.
In Pakistan, Muslims fast 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 Fajr 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 Dhaka, Fajr prayers in first week of June is at 03:45 am and Maghrib at 06:42 pm.
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, 15 hours and 30 minutes. Fasting times will be 15 hours and 18 minutes in Dammam, and 15 hours and eight minutes in Riyadh. In Yemen, the 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, 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 undergoes a scorching heat wave. While India is facing the hottest ever summer this year, it is predicted that temperature in some parts of Saudi Arabia may touch 60oC.
