Pilots Assigned to Patrol Duties: Do They Follow the Ruling for Travel?
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Fatwa No. ( 14913 )
Q: In light of the approaching blessed month of Ramadan, and given that the First Army Aviation Battalion in the Northern Region is tasked with patrol duties on the northern borders, which requires flying for at least six hours during the day, resulting in significant exertion by the pilots in performing the mission and an inability to fast due to safety factors, and noting that flying requires morning and evening shifts, and sometimes there is an additional flight on request, we therefore hope to refer this to the competent authorities to guide us on obligating the pilots to break their fast in order to perform the mission and preserve lives and property.
A: First: If a pilot assigned to patrol duties on the northern borders is at a distance from his residence that qualifies for shortening the prayer, which is approximately eighty kilometers, he is permitted to break his fast if he leaves the built-up area, and if necessity requires him to break his fast before takeoff, there is no harm in that. Second: If one of them is at a distance less than this and it is necessary for him to perform the patrol duties to protect the interest of the Muslim community, and he cannot perform this mission unless he is not fasting, he is permitted to break his fast to realize the benefit and avert the harm. Third: If one of them returns to his residence during the day and will not return to perform this mission for the rest of the day, he must abstain from food and drink. Fourth: Each of these individuals must make up the missed fasts. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: In light of the approaching blessed month of Ramadan, and given that the First Army Aviation Battalion in the Northern Region is tasked with patrol duties on the northern borders, which requires flying for at least six hours during the day, resulting in significant exertion by the pilots in performing the mission and an inability to fast due to safety factors, and noting that flying requires morning and evening shifts, and sometimes there is an additional flight on request, we therefore hope to refer this to the competent authorities to guide us on obligating the pilots to break their fast in order to perform the mission and preserve lives and property.
A: First: If a pilot assigned to patrol duties on the northern borders is at a distance from his residence that qualifies for shortening the prayer, which is approximately eighty kilometers, he is permitted to break his fast if he leaves the built-up area, and if necessity requires him to break his fast before takeoff, there is no harm in that. Second: If one of them is at a distance less than this and it is necessary for him to perform the patrol duties to protect the interest of the Muslim community, and he cannot perform this mission unless he is not fasting, he is permitted to break his fast to realize the benefit and avert the harm. Third: If one of them returns to his residence during the day and will not return to perform this mission for the rest of the day, he must abstain from food and drink. Fourth: Each of these individuals must make up the missed fasts. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.