Calculating Prayer and Fasting Times in Polar Regions

Question

In countries near the North and South Poles, there are months where it is either perpetual darkness with no sunlight for months, or continuous daylight with no sunset for months. How do they calculate the days and prayer times during these periods?

Answer 1

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.

Ayatollah al-Uzma Sayyid Sistani (may God protect him):

If a person is in a place where the day lasts six months and the night lasts six months, for example, it is obligatory for them to observe the nearest places that have day and night within each twenty-four hours. They should perform the five daily prayers according to their times with the intention of absolute proximity. As for fasting, they must move to a country where they can fast either during the month of Ramadan or afterward. If they are unable to do so, they must provide a compensation instead of fasting.

If they are in a country that has day and night within each twenty-four hours—even if the day lasts twenty-three hours and the night lasts one hour, or vice versa—the ruling for prayer depends on the specific times there. As for fasting during the month of Ramadan, they must perform it if they are able. If they are not able and it becomes excessively difficult for them due to the long day and overwhelming thirst, for example, it is obligatory for them to abstain from dawn with the intention of absolute proximity and not to break their fast during the day except when continuing to fast becomes excessively burdensome. In such a case, it is obligatory to limit eating or drinking to what is necessary and to abstain for the rest of the day.

If fasting becomes harmful to them, their ruling is like that of a sick person, and fasting is exempted from them. If they can make up for it later, they must do so; otherwise, they must provide compensation, which is to give a measure of food to the poor for each day.

Source: Minhaj al-Salihin, Vol. 1, New Issues » (23) New Issues in Prayer and Fasting, Issue 88

May you be successful in all good.