The fast begins at Fajr (true dawn) and ends at Maghrib (sunset). The pre-dawn meal is suhoor; eating it is recommended even if a small amount, and the timing reaches its limit at the start of Fajr. The breakfast at sunset is iftar; the recommended practice is to begin iftar promptly when Maghrib arrives.
Imsak — the cautious early stop
Some communities observe an "imsak" 10–15 minutes before Fajr as a precaution against eating into the fast. This is a personal precaution, not a religious requirement; the actual fast begins at Fajr. QiblaWeb city pages display Fajr; if your mosque publishes an "imsak" time, it is typically 10–15 minutes earlier.
Iftar in different latitudes
At normal latitudes, iftar is straightforward: break your fast at sunset (Maghrib). At very high latitudes during summer, sunrise and sunset can be very close together, or twilight may not end. Two common approaches:
- Mid-of-night rule — split the night between Maghrib and Fajr in half; if methodologically Fajr would not occur, treat the midpoint as the limit. QiblaWeb defaults to this rule for high-latitude prayer times.
- Nearest moderate latitude — follow the timetable of a city closer to the equator. This is a community decision; ask your local imam.
Source
Suhoor / iftar guidance summarised from IslamQA — When does the fast begin? (retrieved 2026-05-09).