What is the ruling on feeling hesitant about taking the dispensation to break the fast while traveling, even if it leads to hardship, and is it permissible for me to break my fast openly so that I make this dispensation clear to people?
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The questioner : He says:The questioner : Perhaps part of his question was already addressed by the honorable Shaykh. It is well known that if a person intends to travel and it coincides with the month of Ramadan, especially during the day, we know that he has a dispensation to break his fast. However, I feel hesitant about taking this dispensation, even if it causes me hardship. I also feel that I am neglecting what Allah has commanded, for Allah has commanded that His dispensations be taken. I find myself wanting to take the dispensation and announce it openly so that I make it clear to people that this is the dispensation in this matter. Am I on the right path, despite the hesitation that overcomes me?
The Shaykh : What I understood from this question is that this man is fasting while traveling, even though fasting is difficult for him, and this is a mistake. If fasting becomes difficult for a person while traveling, he should break his fast. This person who fasts while traveling, despite the difficulty of fasting, is not doing what Allah intends, because He says: [Al-Baqarah 2:185]. And I say that a group of scholars of the Ummah have stated that if a traveler fasts, his fast is invalid and he must make it up, because Allah said: [Al-Baqarah 2:185]. Thus, He made the obligation of the traveler to be a number of other days. If he fasts during his journey, it is as if he fasted Ramadan in Sha'ban, meaning before its time has entered. This is the view of the Zahiriyyah, but it is a weak view, because it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he fasted while traveling in Ramadan. It is also established that the Companions with him included those who fasted and those who broke their fast, and the one who fasted did not blame the one who broke his fast, nor did the one who broke his fast blame the one who fasted. But I mentioned this so that no one who is overly strict or seeks excessive depth will say, "I must fast," even though fasting is difficult for him. We say: Do not fast if fasting is difficult for you, for Allah has prescribed that you break your fast.
The questioner : He asks: Is it permissible for me to break my fast openly so that I make this dispensation clear to people in this matter?
The Shaykh : Yes, you will be rewarded for this. If you announce that you are breaking your fast while traveling in order for people to know that this is the preferred course when there is hardship, then you will be rewarded for this. This is part of calling people to guidance and the right path.
The Shaykh : What I understood from this question is that this man is fasting while traveling, even though fasting is difficult for him, and this is a mistake. If fasting becomes difficult for a person while traveling, he should break his fast
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) saw a crowd and a man who had been shaded, so he asked, "What is this?" They said, "He is fasting, O Messenger of Allah." He said, "Fasting while traveling is not among the acts of righteousness."
رأى النبي صلي الله عليه آله وسلم زحاما ورجل قد ظلل عليه فقال ما هذا ؟ قالوا : صائم يا رسول الله، قال : ليس من البر الصيام في السفرAllah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship
يريد الله بكم اليسر ولا يريد بكم العسرand whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days
ومن كان مريضا أو علي سفر فعدة من أيام أخرThe questioner : He asks: Is it permissible for me to break my fast openly so that I make this dispensation clear to people in this matter?
The Shaykh : Yes, you will be rewarded for this. If you announce that you are breaking your fast while traveling in order for people to know that this is the preferred course when there is hardship, then you will be rewarded for this. This is part of calling people to guidance and the right path.