🔺Note: The Jews and Christians break their fast when the stars appear, and this is also a practice of the Rāfiḍhah.

Q5. If the skies are gloomy and there's no way to ascertain whether the sun has set, can people break their fast based on reasonable surety (Ghalabah Adh-dhann)? Yes, this is permissible - especially if there's no way of being certain. The proof for this is the ḥadīth of Asmā' bint Abi Bakr raḍhiyallāhu ’anhā, who said: “We broke our fast on a cloudy day during the time of Allāh's Messenger (ﷺ), then (after breaking the fast) the sun appeared.” [Bukhāri] 🔺Note: Ghalabah Adh-dhann in our time would be to use astronomical calculations for sunset, or to estimate according to previous days' time of sunset. Q6. What should one eat when breaking their fast? The Sunnah is to break the fast with fresh dates (Ruṭab). If that's not possible, then dry dates. If that's not possible, they should drink some water. The evidence for this is the ḥadīth of Anas ibn Mālik raḍhiyallāhu ’anhu, that the Prophet ﷺ used to break his fast with fresh dates before praying. If he did not find fresh dates, he would eat dry dates. Otherwise, he would sip some water. [Tirmidhi - authenticated by Sheikh Albāni and Sheikh Muqbil] 🔺Note: This indicates that the Sunnah is to break the fast with something light so as to offer Ṣalāh in congregation - in the case of men. 🔺Note: If the options mentioned in the above ḥadīth are not available, a person should break his fast with whatever is available. And if a person doesn't have anything to break his fast with, he can intend to break his fast and this will suffice him. Q7: Supplication at the time of Ifṭār You should say Bismillāh as you would before any meal. As for the following three du’ās, then they are all weak: 1st Du’ā: ((اللهم لك صمنا، وعلى رزقك أفطرنا، فتقبل منا إنك أنت السميع العليم)) “O Allāh, for You we have fasted and with Your provision we have broken our fast, O Allāh accept [this fast] from us for You are the All-Hearing, All-Knowing.” [Reported by Dāraquṭni] This ḥadīth contains two defects: (1) ’AbdulMālik ibn Hārūn ’Antarah is Matrūk, and (2) his father, who he reports this ḥadīth from, is weak. 2nd Du’ā: بسم الله، اللهم لك صمت، وعلى رزقك أفطرت In the Name of Allāh, O Allāh, for You I have fasted and with Your provision I have broken my fast. [Reported by Aṭ-Ṭabarānī in Al-Awsaṭ] This ḥadīth contains two defects: (1) Ismā’ēl ibn ’Amr is weak, and (2) Dāwūd ibn Az-Zabarqān is Matrūk. 3rd Du’ā: ((ذهب الظمأ، وابلت العروق، وثبت الأجر إن شاء الله تعالى)) “The thirst is gone, the veins have been moistened and the reward is assured, if Allāh wills.” [Reported by Abū Dāwūd] This chain of narration contains Marwān ibn Sālim Al-Muqaffa’ who is Majhūl Al-Ḥāl. 🔺Note: The ḥadīth which states that the du’ā of a fasting person is answered at the time of Ifṭār is not authentic, rather his du’ās are answered throughout the day. Q8: When do they break their fast in countries where the sun doesn't set at all? If within a 24 hour period they witness nightfall, even if lasts for just an hour or two, then they have to fast during the daytime, based on the general evidences. However, if nightfall continues for several days and there's no daytime whatsoever, they should fast and break their fast according to the closest country which has daylight. [Sheikh ’Uthaymīn raḥimahullāh -his Majmū’ (19/239)] Q9: If one hastens to break their fast, then it becomes clear to them that the sun has not yet set, what must they do? They have to continue fasting until the sun sets, and the correct opinion is that they don't have to make up for this day, because (1) they broke their fast unknowingly, and (2) the basic rule (Aṣl) is Qaḍhā' is not obligatory unless there's evidence to prove otherwise. Q10: if someone breaks their fast at the correct time on land, then boards a plane and sees the sun in the horizon, must they stop eating?