The Lajnah Daa’imah was asked the following question:

Question:

“A fasting person on a plane finds out by glancing at the watch or being informed by phone that it is time to break Sawm (Fast) in the country over which the plane is flying; may they break their Sawm although they can still see the sun because of the altitude of the plane? What is the ruling in case a person breaks Sawm in a given country but when the plane takes off they still can see the sun?”

Answer:

“If a fasting person is on a plane and learns either by checking the time on their watch or being informed by a phone call that it is time in the country over which the plane is flying to break Sawm, but they can still see the sun because of the altitude at which the plane is flying, it is not permissible for them to break Sawm because Allah (Exalted be He) says:

…then complete your Saum (fast) till the nightfall

The time limit (i.e. Nightfall) specified by this Ayah is not met in the case in question, since the sun continues to be seen. However, if a fasting person breaks Sawm in a given country after the setting of the sun, but when the plane takes off they still can see the sun, they should retain their state of having broken Sawm because they fall under the same ruling as the residents of the country from which they took off, where the sun has set while they were there.

May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.

The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta'”. End quote. [Reference]

Also, the Lajnah Daa’imah was asked the following question,

Question:

“What is the time of breaking fast for the person on board of an aircraft during Ramadan?”

Answer:

“If a fasting person is on board of an aircraft during the daytime of Ramadan and wants to complete fasting till night, then it is not permissible for him to break his fast before sunset.

May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.

The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta'” End quote. [Reference]

Ash-Shaykh Abdur-Rahman Al-Baraak, hafidaho-Allah, said,

… وإنْ قُدِّرَ أنه رأى بزوغَ الفجرِ وهو في الطائرة فلما هبطتْ وجدَ أنه قد بقيَ على الأذان قليلٌ؛ فلا يلزمُه إمساكُه؛ لأنه دخلَ في حكم البلدِ التي وصل إليها

“… If by chance he were to see the break of dawn while he is on the plane, but when the plane lands he comes to find out that there is some time left before the adhaan, then [(in this case) it is not necessary upon him to withhold from eating and drinking since he has entered into the ruling of the city which he has arrived to”

Ash-Shaykh Abdur-Rahman al-Baraak, hafidaullah, also said,

إذا أقلعتْ قُبيلَ طلوعِ الفجرِ فلما ارتفعتْ رأوا بزوغَ الفجرِ؛ فيلزمُ من أرادَ الصومَ الإمساكُ

“If the plane takes off shortly before Fajr and when he is in the air in comes to see the break of dawn, then it is necessary upon to refrain from food and drink for he who wishes to fast.”

– وإذا فُرضَ أنه ركبَ طائرةً عند طلوعِ الفجرِ مُتّجهًا إلى المغرب فدخلَ في الليل؛ فإنه لا يلزمُه الإمساكُ،

“And if he were to board the plane during Fajr time, head towards the west [via plane] and enter into the night, then it is not necessary upon him to refrain from food and drink.”

Translated by

AbdulFattaah Bin Uthman
Abu Fajr

Mentioned by

AbdulFattaah Bin Uthman
Abu Fajr