When exactly is iftar time?

Detailed answer

Iftar time is the moment of sunset, when the whole disc of the sun has gone below the horizon. This is also the beginning of the time for the Maghrib prayer. As soon as the sun has set, the fast is complete and you may eat and drink, even if the sky is still bright.

What the Quran and Sunnah say

Allah says: "then complete the fast until the night" (Al-Baqarah 2:187). The Prophet (peace be upon him) explained what this means: "When the night comes from this side, and the day goes from this side, and the sun has set, then the fasting person may break the fast" (Bukhari and Muslim). So "night" begins at sunset, not when it is fully dark.

In practice

• Use a reliable local timetable. The Maghrib time in your mosque's timetable or a trusted app is the sunset time for your city. See the prayer times for your city and the Ramadan timetable for your country.
• The adhan from a local mosque that calls on time is a good signal. A broadcast from another city may not match your sunset.
• Do not wait for darkness or for stars. Waiting on purpose goes against the Sunnah; see why we break the fast quickly.
• Do not break early either. If you are unsure whether the sun has set, wait a moment until you are sure.

What if …

… I am high up, in a tall building or on a mountain? The sun sets later the higher you are. You break your fast when the sun has set where you can see it.

… I am on a plane? You break your fast when you see the sun set from the plane, not by the time at your departure or destination. See iftar on a plane.

… it is cloudy? Rely on the calculated timetable for your location.

Tips

Have your dates and water ready a few minutes before sunset so you can break your fast straight away, and use the moments before iftar for dua, which is a hopeful time for the fasting person.