on the different timetablesdistributed by the various mosques of the
same town or city. Would it be a 'safer' practice if one was to follow
the earliest of those times for the purpose of Imsaak (abstaining from
eating, drinking, etc.)?
It is permissible to eat, drink, etc. until one is certain of the time
of Fajr (interpretation of the meaning): "…eat and drink until the
time wherethe 'white' and'black' thresholds of Al-Fajris evident to
you…" [Soorat-ul Baqarah]
So, this means it is permissible to continue eating and drinking
unless it is evident for onethat it is time for Fajr. Fajr can be
defined as the 'white' lightspreading across the horizon from the
eastern side. If one was unable to sight Al-Fajr and there was no one
else who could tell him about it through means such as raising the
Azaan (The call to prayers),then one should follow the timetable
that, according to the best of his knowledge, is the most accurate.
This accuracy is usually established through experience or by asking
experts or the earlier Muslim residents of the area.