Title: Start & End Time for Fasts Question: I want to know about how the time of keeping and then breaking the fast is determined. And how is it linked with the Maghrib time? Can you please help me understand the verse 187 of Surah Al-Baqrah in this context? 'Eat and drink until you can tell a white thread from a black one in the light of the coming dawn. Then resume the fast till nightfall and do not approach them, but stay at your prayers in the mosques.' Answer: First of all, I do not agree with the way in which the verse has been translated. According to my understanding, the correct translation is as under: "... and eat and drink till the white lining of the morning [sky] becomes distinct to you from the black lining of night. Then complete your fast till the night." - Al Baqarah 2: 187 If you deliberate over the verse, you will see that there is a difference in the way that the starting time has been mentioned as compared to that in which the ending time is mentioned. The verse says that the fast is to be started with the first indication of light in the sky, which is the time of dawn. Subsequently, according to the verse, the fast is to be completed till the beginning of the night, which is signified by sunset, when the day ends. Thus, fasts are started at dawn and ended at sunset. I hope this helps. Moiz Amjad February 28, 2005