Ruling on breaking Sawm before sunset in overcast weather

Question: The weather was overcast when the Mu’adhin (caller to Prayer) announced Adhan (call to Prayer) which caused people to break their Sawm (Fasting). But after breaking the Sawm it turned out that the sun had not yet set.

What is the ruling on Sawm under such circumstances?

Answer: The person to whom that happened should refrain from eating and drinking until the sun sets and has to make up for that day. This is the opinion of Jumhur (dominant majority of scholars). However, the person is not sinful if he broke his Sawm after doing his best to investigate whether or not the sun had set. The same applies to a person who did not observe Sawm early on the thirtieth day of Sha’ban and then later found out during the day that Ramadan had begun. In such a case, one should refrain from eating and drinking for the rest of the day, and should make up for that day. This is according to the Jumhur and he will not be sinful, because he did not know that it was Ramadan when he ate and drank. Actually, ignorance exempted him from being sinful. But he must make up for that day.

Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta’

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