Finishing sehri at the last minute following an incorrect clock

Q:

1) Zaid followed his faithful bedroom clock for many years and he used to complete eating his sehri at the last minute based on the time on this clock. He recently compared his clock with the BBC time and found it to be 3 minutes slow. Is he muqallaf of following this time and repeating his fasts considering the possibilty that the BBC or any other central bureau time may also be incorrect.

A: Precaution requires that for the future he stops at least five to six minutes before the time. Since he is not clear he will not have to keep the qadha.

And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

 

Answered by:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)