The Traveller and Fasting

Fasting during Travel

Question :

Is it a condition for the concession of the traveller to break his fast during Ramadhan that his journey be on foot or on an animal or is there no difference between travel on foot and riding an animal or in a car or an airplane? Is it a condition that the travel must be tedious to the extent that the fasting person cannot bear fasting? Is it better for the traveller to fast if he is able to or is it better for him not to fast?

Answer:

It is permissible for the traveller who is travelling on a journey in which it is permissible for him to shorten his prayers to break his fast during his journey. It makes no difference whether he is walking or riding, and it makes no difference whether he is riding in a car or an airplane or something else. It also makes no difference whether he becomes fatigued on his journey to such an extent that he cannot bear fasting or he is not fatigued. It does not matter whether he is suffering from hunger and thirst or he is not affected by any of that. This is because the Islamic law has unrestrictedly given permission to break his fast for the traveller who is travelling on a journey in which it is permissible for him to shorten his prayers, and other similar things from the concessions of travelling. The Islamic law has not restricted that to any mode of transportation, nor has it restricted it to fear of fatigue or hunger or thirst. Indeed the Companions of the Messenger of Allâh used to travel with him on his war expeditions during the month of Ramadhan and some of them would fast and some of them would not fast. Yet, they would not reprove each other concerning it. However, the traveller should certainly break his fast during the month of Ramadhan if the fasting becomes difficult for him due to intense heat or a defective road or a difficult distance and the journey is continuous, for example. It is reported from Anas that he said: "We were with the Messenger of Allâh on a journey and some of us fasted and some of us did not fast. So, those who were not fasting fastened their belts and worked while those who were fasting became too weak to work. Then the Prophet said:
'Those who broke their fast have taken the reward today."

Breaking the fast on a journey may be obligatory for an emergency situation that necessitates that, like in the Hadith of Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri when he said: "We travelled with the Messenger of Allâh to Makkah while we were fasting. So, we settled at a place and the Messenger of Allâh said:
Verily, you all have approached your enemy and breaking the fast is better for your strength.'

So, it was a concession, and among us were those who fasted and among us were those who did not fast. Then we stopped at another place and he said:
'Verily, you all will meet your enemy in the morning and breaking the fast is better for your strength, so break your fast. '

This was a decisive order, so we broke our fast. Indeed I saw us fasting with the Messenger of Allâh after that on journeys." Muslim recorded this. Likewise, there is the Hadith of Jabir bin Abdullah when the Messenger of Allâh was on a journey and he saw a man whom the people had gathered around. Some shade was set up over him, so the Prophet said:
"What is wrong with him?"

They said: "He is a man who is fasting." So the Messenger of Allâh said:
"It is not from righteousness that you all fast while on a journey. "
Muslim recorded this.

Fasting while on a Journey

Question :

As you all know, the means of comfortable transporta- tion are numerous, and all praise is due to Allâh. And the traveller does not find any difficulty in fasting. So, is it better for him to fast or break his fast?

Answer:

The traveller is given the choice between fasting and breaking the fast. The apparent meaning of the Islamic evidences shows that breaking the fast is better, especially if the fast is difficult upon the person. This is due to the Prophet's statement:
"It is not from righteousness to fast during travel."

And his statement:
"Verily, Allah loves that His concessions are taken just as he hates for disobedience of Him to be done."Ahmad no. 2:108.

Whoever fasts there is no sin upon him if the fast is not difficult for him. If the fast is difficult for him, then that is disliked for him (to fast). And Allâh is the Giver of success.

If the Traveller arrives in the Land (of his destination) does he abstain?

Question :

If I was travelling in Ramadhan and I was not fasting during my journey, and when I reached the land where I was going to stay for a number of days, I abstained by fasting for the rest of that day and for the following days. Do I have permission or not to break the fast in the daytime during these days while I am in a land that is not my original land?

Answer:

If the traveller passes through a land that is not his land and he is not fasting, he does not have to abstain (from eating and drinking, etc.) if his stay is going to be for four days or less. However, if he decided to stay in that land for more than four days, then he completes (the fast of) that day during which he arrived and he makes up for it (after Ramadhan). He is also obliged to fast the rest of the days, because with this intention of his that has been mentioned, he has the same ruling as the residents and he does not have the ruling of the travellers according to the majority of the scholars. And Allâh is the Giver of success.

The ruling on the Fast of one who is not a Resident

Question :

If I was on a journey for the sake of some business work and I arrived in the land that I intended during the end of the month of Sha'ban, then I stayed in this land until the middle of Shawwal, is it permissible for me to break the fast or not?

Answer:

It is not permissible to break the fast of Ramadhan except with an excuse, like the difficulty of travel and illness, even though it is better for the traveller to fast, and that is what the Prophet did most of the time. However, if there is difficulty (on the traveller), he may break the fast, taking the concession of Allâh. In reference to the person who is staying in a land other than his own, if he prepared to leave, he may shorten his prayers and break his fast. Likewise, if he is not settled in the land, but he has only set up a tent outside the land or he stays in his car, then he is bothered by the heat, the sun, the wind and going back and forth to relieve himself. However, if he has settled firmly in the land and he stays in an air- conditioned hotel or in fancy castle or a building or anything similar, and his needs and luxurious accommodations are fulfilled while he enjoys what the residents enjoy of furnishings, beds, food, air conditioners and complete service, then in this situation he is considered a resident. He is not truly considered on a journey, which is a piece of the torment. I do not think that this type of person may break his fast or shorten the prayer. Rather, he is like the residents. And Allâh knows best.

It is obligatory to abstain after the cause for breaking the fast ends

Question :

If I was on a journey and I broke my fast during this journey of mine, then during one of the days I arrived back to my family before 'Asr time, is it obligatory on me to abstain (from food, drink, etc.) or do I break my fast?

Answer:

Yes, abstaining (from food, drink, etc.) is obligatory upon the person whose reason for breaking the fast has ended. So, if the journey has ended during the daytime, it is obligatory to abstain for the rest of the day, because Allâh said:
"Or on a journey"

And the journey has ended (in this case). The same is said concerning the sick person if he breaks his fast and then he gets better and recovers during the day. He must abstain for the rest of the day, as the excuse has ended. Along with this, it is obligatory to make up for that day completely, like others.

The Fast of Bus Drivers

Question :

Is the ruling of the traveller applied to the drivers of cars and buses due to their continuous work outside of the cities during the daytime in Ramadhan?

Answer:

Yes, the ruling of travel is applied to them. They may shorten and combine the prayers and break the fast. If someone says, "When do they fast since their work is continuous?" We answer, "They fast during the days of winter, because its days are short and cool." In reference to drivers who work inside of the cities, they do not have the ruling of the traveller and it is obligatory on them to fast.

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