As we enter the ninth day of the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims in Saudi Arabia are increasingly focused on accurately tracking prayer times to organize their day in accordance with the rituals of fasting and worship. Determining the time for beginning the fast (Imsak) at dawn and the time for breaking the fast (Iftar) at sunset are among the most important times that those observing the fast anticipate daily.
The month of Ramadan holds a special place in the hearts of Muslims worldwide. It is the month of fasting, prayer, and reciting the Quran, and it is the month in which the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam, during which Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn until sunset, in a spiritual practice aimed at self-discipline, increased piety, and drawing closer to God.
The importance of accuracy in prayer times during Ramadan
Prayer times take on added importance during Ramadan, as they are directly linked to the validity of the fast. The start of the fast (Imsak) is linked to the Fajr (dawn) prayer, while its end (Iftar) is linked to the Maghrib (sunset) prayer. Due to the vast area and diverse terrain of Saudi Arabia, these times vary by a few minutes from one city to another. Therefore, official bodies such as the National Center for Meteorology rely on precise astronomical calculations to determine these times and announce them to citizens and residents, ensuring uniform adherence to religious observances throughout the country.
Imsak and Iftar times for Thursday, the 9th of Ramadan
The National Center for Meteorology announced the times for Imsak (pre-dawn meal) and Iftar (breaking the fast) for Thursday, the ninth of Ramadan, in a number of major cities in the Kingdom, as follows:
- Riyadh: Imsak 5:00 AM – Iftar 5:54 PM
- Mecca: Imsak 5:28 AM – Iftar 6:24 PM
- Madinah: Imsak 5:29 AM – Iftar 6:23 PM
- Jeddah: Imsak 5:30 AM – Iftar 6:27 PM
- Dammam: Imsak 4:47 AM – Iftar 5:40 PM
- Abha: Imsak 5:16 AM – Iftar 6:15 PM
- Tabuk: Imsak 5:41 AM – Iftar 6:32 PM
- Buraidah: Imsak 5:11 AM – Iftar 6:04 PM
- Hail: Imsak 5:21 AM – Iftar 6:12 PM
- Al-Baha: Imsak 5:21 AM – Iftar 6:18 PM
- Arar: Imsak 5:23 AM – Iftar 6:12 PM
- Sakaka: Imsak 5:26 AM – Iftar 6:17 PM
- Jazan: Imsak 5:16 AM – Iftar 6:16 PM
- Najran: Imsak 5:09 AM – Iftar 6:09 PM
This list shows the clear time difference between the east and west of the Kingdom, and its north and south, which confirms the importance of following the local time of each city to ensure that the fasting obligation is performed in the best possible way.
