The ruling on one who travels during the day of Ramadan while fasting and then wishes to break his fast.

The Shaykh : A man fasted in his hometown, then traveled during the day. Is it permissible for him to break his fast, given that he has already fasted and intended to fulfill the obligation? Is it permissible for him to break his fast or not? Some scholars said: It is not permissible, because once he has entered into the obligation, completing it becomes obligatory. The jurisprudential principle is: "Whoever enters into an obligation must complete it". Therefore, it is not permissible for him to break his fast. Other scholars said: Rather, it is permissible for him to break his fast. This is the correct opinion: that one who travels during the day while fasting may break his fast, whether fasting is difficult for him or not. Pay attention, my brother, to the evidence: The reasoning given by those who prohibit it is strong; he has entered into an obligation and cannot exit it except out of dire necessity. But we say we have evidence: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) broke his fast while traveling, and he was fasting. There is no doubt that we have a good example in the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). So, if he travels during the day while fasting, he may break his fast and there is no blame on him. Now, if we assume his wife is with him, may he have intercourse or not? Yes, he may have intercourse, because whenever eating and drinking become permissible, intercourse becomes permissible. They are paired in the Noble Qur'an: Therefore, if the time for prayer enters while you are in your hometown, and then you travel before praying, do you pray four rak'ahs or two? You pray two rak'ahs, because you are now traveling. If someone were to say: The prayer became obligatory for him as four rak'ahs because the adhan was called while he was in his town, we would say: Yes, it became obligatory for him as four rak'ahs, but now he is traveling. And Allah the Exalted said: So he prays two rak'ahs, just as if it were the reverse: if he returns from travel and the time for prayer enters while he is still traveling, and then he arrives in his hometown, how much does he pray? He prays four rak'ahs. The criterion is the performance of the prayer. If a questioner asked: For the fasting person who traveled for 'Umrah, is it better to perform the 'Umrah during the day, but he cannot do so without breaking his fast and strengthening himself with food and drink? Or is it better that when he arrives in Makkah, he waits until the end of the day, and when he breaks his fast and strengthens himself, he performs the 'Umrah? Which is better? The first is better. We say: Break your fast and perform the 'Umrah as soon as you arrive in Makkah, because the one performing 'Umrah should not put anything before the 'Umrah from the moment he arrives in Makkah. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would even dismount his mount at the mosque before going to his lodging to perform the 'Umrah. So we say: This is better. The example I mentioned now may not be needed today, because the day is cold now, and a person can perform his 'Umrah as soon as he arrives without hardship. But years ago, it was very difficult for a person to perform 'Umrah while fasting. And the matter, praise be to Allah, is broad.