Fatwa No : 46133
Beginning and ending the fast upon hearing the siren

Beginning and ending the fast upon hearing the siren

Must one begin his fast upon hearing the siren, or can he continue eating and drinking until the Azan is given? Secondly, should one end the fast upon hearing the siren, or must he wait until he hears the Azan?

الجوابُ حامِدا ًو مُصلیِّا ً

Sehri and Iftari are connected to the time of beginning and ending the fast respectively, not the Azan, nor the siren. For this reason, one should, out of precaution, stop eating a few minutes before the beginning of the time of Fajr, and end his fast upon the entering of the time of Maghrib (i.e. after sunset), regardless of whether the Azan has been given or not. Nonetheless, if in the questioner’s locality, the siren is sounded at an appropriate time for starting or breaking the fast, then there would be no harm in starting or breaking one’s fast upon hearing the siren.
And Allah knows best.

مأخَذُ الفَتوی

کما في الدر المختار:(إمساك عن المفطرات)الآتية(حقيقة أو حكما)كمن أكل ناسيا فإنه ممسك حكما (في وقت مخصوص) وهو اليوم (من شخص مخصوص) اھـ
وفي رد المحتار:(تحت قوله: وهو اليوم)اي اليوم الشرعي من طلوع الفجر إلى الغروب اھ-(371/2) والله اعلم بالصواب