What is the Islamic midday? How do I calculate it?

Question: What is the Islamic midday? How do I calculate it?

Answer:

Bismi Llahir Rahmanir Rahim

Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatuLlahi wa barakatuhu

The Islamic midday is the halfway point for the total number of hours between the entering of the Fajr prayer time and the entering of the Maghrib prayer time of the fasting day. It does not mean noon, nor does it mean the zawāl.

For example, Fajr enters at 5 am and Maghrib enters at 5 pm. The total number of hours between Fajr and Maghrib is 12 hours. Half of 12 hours is 6 hours. By adding 6 hours to the Fajr time of 5 am, the Islamic midday is known. In this example, the Islamic midday would be at 11 am.

When Is It Used

For current Ramadan fasts, as well as voluntary fasts, it is permitted to make the intention up until the Islamic midday. This is due to narrations of the Prophet ﷺ doing it himself. For these two types of fasts, the allotted time frame begins from the entering of Maghrib the night before the fast up to before the Islamic midday of the fasting day.

Knowing how to calculate the Islamic midday can be useful for a sick person who is unsure if she can fast the next day. She may delay making the intention to fast that day of Ramadan until just before the Islamic midday.

However, this exception is conditioned by her not engaging in any of the fasting nullifiers after Fajr entered. If she ate or drank after Fajr, she cannot make the intention to fast for that day. Likewise, a woman must be free from menstruation and lochia (post-natal bleeding) when Fajr enters, or else her intention to fast will not count.

It must be noted that even though it is permitted to make the intention to fast after Fajr enters for that day in Ramadan, it is best to make the intention before Fajr enters.

Check out our FREE Fasting For Women course for more details related to the rulings of fasting.

Jazak Allah khayran

Naielah Ackbarali

References:

Imam Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah

Naielah Ackbarali

Naielah Ackbarali is the founder and CEO of Muslima Coaching. Naielah is a qualified CBT therapist, an experienced Muslim marriage counselor of over 10 years, and an Islamic studies teacher for over 15 years. She obtained a Master of Arts (Level 7) in Counseling & Psychotherapy Practice at Bath Spa University, earning a Distinction. She also received a Postgraduate Certificate (Level 7) in Psychological Therapies at Queen Mary University of London. She has a Master Practitioner Diploma in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). She has also completed training in the Gottman Method for Couples Therapy and gained a Diploma in Counseling Skills. Naielah is a trained strategic relationship coach, certified life coach, and a certified NLP Master Practitioner. Combined with her knowledge from Islamic studies, coaching experience, and personal marriage of almost 20 years, she offers faith-based marriage coaching to couples, wives, and singles. She has helped hundreds of women and couples with almost a decade of coaching experience with clients from all over the world (USA, Canada, UK, Europe, Australia, Africa, & the Middle East). She is an author of several marriage books and has been featured on the Islam Channel and British Muslim TV. She was also selected to do an exclusive interview with BRAINZ Magazine.