As we enter the tenth day of the blessed month of Ramadan, which falls on a Friday, Muslims throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are keen to follow the precise times for fasting and breaking the fast, given the importance of this month as a cornerstone of Islamic faith and an opportunity to draw closer to God through fasting, prayer, and other acts of worship. These times vary slightly between cities within the Kingdom due to its vast geographical area and differences in longitude and latitude.
The importance of the month of Ramadan and fasting times
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and the month of fasting, which is the fourth pillar of Islam. During this month, Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn (the time of Imsak) until sunset (the time of Iftar). Fasting is not merely about abstaining from physical things; it is also a school for self-discipline, as it involves increased devotion to acts of worship such as prayer, reciting the Quran, and giving charity, creating a unique spiritual atmosphere throughout the land.
Knowing the times for beginning and ending the fast is crucial for its validity, as the start and end of the fast depend on these religiously prescribed times. Reliable official bodies, such as the National Center of Meteorology in the Kingdom, are responsible for calculating these times astronomically and announcing them to citizens and residents to ensure the proper observance of religious rites at their correct times.
Imsak and Iftar times for Friday, the 10th of Ramadan
The National Center for Meteorology announced the times for Imsak (pre-dawn meal) and Iftar (breaking the fast) for the tenth day of Ramadan in a number of major cities in the Kingdom, as follows:
- Riyadh: Imsak (pre-dawn meal) at 5:00 AM - Iftar (breaking the fast) at 5:55 PM.
- Makkah Al-Mukarramah: Imsak (pre-dawn meal) at 5:27 AM - Iftar (breaking the fast) at 6:25 PM.
- Madinah: Imsak (pre-dawn meal) at 5:28 AM - Iftar (breaking the fast) at 6:23 PM.
- Jeddah: Imsak (pre-dawn meal) at 5:29 AM - Iftar (breaking the fast) at 6:27 PM.
- Dammam: Imsak (pre-dawn meal) at 4:46 AM - Iftar (breaking the fast) at 5:40 PM.
- Abha: Imsak (pre-dawn meal) at 5:16 AM - Iftar (breaking the fast) at 6:16 PM.
- Tabuk: Imsak (pre-dawn meal) at 5:40 AM - Iftar (breaking the fast) at 6:33 PM.
- Buraidah: Imsak (pre-dawn meal) at 5:11 AM - Iftar (breaking the fast) at 6:05 PM.
- Hail: Imsak (pre-dawn meal) at 5:20 AM - Iftar (breaking the fast) at 6:13 PM.
- Al-Baha: Imsak (pre-dawn meal) at 5:20 AM - Iftar (breaking the fast) at 6:19 PM.
- Arar: Imsak at 5:22 AM - Iftar at 6:13 PM.
- Sakaka: Imsak at 5:25 am - Iftar at 6:17 pm.
- Jazan: Imsak (pre-dawn meal) at 5:15 AM - Iftar (breaking the fast) at 6:17 PM.
- Najran: Imsak (pre-dawn meal) at 5:09 AM - Iftar (breaking the fast) at 6:09 PM.
This official and popular interest reflects the great status that the month of Ramadan enjoys in the Kingdom, as it is the heart of the Islamic world and the cradle of the message, to which the eyes of Muslims turn and where life pulsates with a special spirituality during this holy month.
