If
one is in doubt whether or not the time of Fajr has begun or not, he
may continue to eat and drink until he is certain that it is Fajr.
He should not base his action on doubt or suspicion. Allah has
made the signs for beginning the daily fast very clear and
unambiguous. Allah enjoins (upon the believers) in the Qur'an:
“Eat and drink until the white thread of the dawn becomes distinct
from the black thread [of the night.]”
A man said to Ibn `Abbas: “I eat until I suspect that its time has
ended so I stop. Ibn `Abbas observed: "Continue to eat until
you are certain about the time." Abu Dawud reported that
Ahmad ibn Hanbal said: "If you have some doubt about Fajr, eat
until you are sure dawn has come."
This is the opinion of Ibn `Abbas, `Ata, Al-Awza`i, and Ahmad.
An-Nawawi wrote: "The followers of Ash-Shafi`i agree that one
may eat if he is uncertain whether dawn has come or not."
