Q: Two people from Al-Dammam traveled by airplane. Ten minutes before the sunset during Ramadan, it took off from Al-Zhahran airport bound for Jazan. The airplane flew at about 29000 feet from the surface of the earth, after 35 minutes of flying over Riyadh. This timing coincided with the time of breaking Sawm in Riyadh but the passengers could still see the sun and for more than 15 minutes the sun was present. Would it have been permissible for the passengers to break their Sawm? Please answer us, may Allah reward you!

(Part No. 10; Page No. 295)  A: The basic principle is that everyone should adhere to the ruling of the timings of refraining from eating and drinking and breaking Sawm and the times of Prayer that are applied to the land or air where they are present. For instance, if someone is in Zhahran airport while the sun is setting, they may break their Sawm and offer Maghrib (the sunset) Prayer, and when a plane heading west takes off and they still see the sun, they should not have refrained from eating and drinking or performing Salah. This is based on the rule that they should follow the times of breaking Sawm and Salah that are applied to the land where they are present. If the plane takes off a few minutes before the sunset, they would not be allowed to break their Sawm or to offer Maghrib Prayer until the sun sets in the air where they are present. This is applicable even if they are above a country whose people are breaking Sawm and offering Maghrib prayer. This is similar to the case with the two people who were fasting and the plane rose in the air above Riyadh at the time of breaking Sawm while the passengers could still see the sun. The Shar`y (Islamic legal) proofs support this matter. Among them is Allah's saying, ...and eat and drink until the white thread (light) of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread (darkness of night), then complete your Saum (fast) till the nightfall. And Perform As-Salât (Iqamât-as-Salât) from mid-day till the darkness of the night (i.e. the Zuhr, ‘Asr, Maghrib and ‘Ishâ’ prayers), and recite the Qur’ân in the early dawn (i.e. the morning prayer). Verily, the recitation of the Qur’ân in the early dawn is ever witnessed (attended by the angels in charge of mankind of the day and the night). Moreover, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, When night falls from this side and the day vanishes from this side and the sun sets, then a fasting person should break his Sawm. However, when they land in a place where the sun is setting, (Part No. 10; Page No. 296) they should follow the conduct of the people of that place concerning the ٍSawm and Salah during their stay in that place.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and Companions!