The Status of the Traveler Regarding Fasting and Its Rulings
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The Shaykh : Know that the traveler has three states: a state in which fasting is extremely difficult for him, a state in which it is slightly difficult for him, and a state in which it is never difficult for him. If it is extremely difficult for him, then fasting is forbidden for him, because The second state is when fasting is difficult for him, but not extremely difficult. In this case, fasting is disliked and not forbidden, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Sunan Ibn Majah 1664Sahih (Darussalam) He said this when he saw a man who was fasting, with a canopy over him, and saw a crowd around him. He said, "What is this?" They said, "He is fasting." He said: Sahih al-Bukhari 1946
The third category is the one for whom it is not difficult at all. He is given the choice between fasting and breaking the fast. But which is better, fasting or breaking the fast? There is scholarly disagreement on this. Some scholars said that breaking the fast is better for him, and this is the well-known position in the school of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal. Others said that fasting is better, and this is the stronger opinion in my view compared to the first. If the traveler does not find fasting difficult, then fasting is better for him for three reasons:
The first is that this is the practice of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Abu al-Darda (may Allah be pleased with him) said:Sahih Muslim 1122a
The second is that if he fasts with the people, he will be quicker to clear his obligation, because if he breaks the fast, the fast remains a debt upon him.
The third is that it is easier for him, for a person’s fasting with the people is easier than his fasting alone. For this reason, you will find that a man who has missed fasts to make up finds it difficult and burdensome, to the extent that some people do not fast their make-up fasts until Sha'ban of the following year.
Now, if someone says, "If a man is in Makkah as a traveler for 'Umrah, and fasting is difficult for him, should he break his fast while in Makkah, especially if it is in the last ten days? What do you say, should he break the fast or not?" Glory be to Allah, what are we deciding now, after all this time? This is a man who is fasting and performing 'Umrah in Makkah, and fasting is difficult for him. Do we say he should break the fast or not? He should break the fast in Makkah, and in the last ten days of Ramadan.
The questioner : Is he a resident or a traveler, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : He is a traveler, a traveler who came only for 'Umrah. We say that breaking the fast is better, even in Makkah and in the last ten days of Ramadan. The evidence for this is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), who was the most God-fearing of people and the most reverent of them toward Allah, when he conquered Makkah, he conquered it in Ramadan and did not fast the rest of the month. He conquered it on the twentieth of Ramadan, or on the nineteenth, and did not fast the rest of the month. He remained in a state of breaking the fast, peace and blessings be upon him. And we do not know anyone more God-fearing than the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and yet he did not fast in Makkah. Meanwhile, we find some of the brothers now, in the middle of the day, coming to say, "I am thirsty, extremely thirsty, and tired. I have performed 'Umrah and I am exhausted. Should I break the fast or remain in extreme discomfort until sunset?" We tell him, "Break the fast, and there is no blame on you, because you are a traveler, and because our Imam, Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), broke his fast in Ramadan, in its last ten days. It is clear, my brothers, that the traveler has three states regarding fasting: the one for whom it is extremely difficult, so what is the ruling on fasting for him? It is forbidden. The one for whom it is slightly difficult, it is disliked. And the one for whom it is not difficult, he is given the choice. The scholars differed on which is stronger, whether he should fast or break the fast. We mentioned that the stronger opinion in my view is that he should fast, and we mentioned three causes or three reasons for this. And the brother is now indicating that the time for questions has arrived.
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was on a journey, and it was brought to him that the people had found fasting difficult and that they were waiting to see what he would do. So he called for a cup of water after the 'Asr prayer and drank it while the people were watching him. Then he was brought to and it was said to him that some of the people had fasted. He said: "Those are the sinners, those are the sinners."
النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم كان في سفر فأتي فقيل له إن الناس قد شق عليهم الصيام وإنهم ينتظرون ما تفعل فدعا بقدح من ماء بعد صلاة العصر وشرب والناس ينظرون إليه فأتي إليه وقيل له إن بعض الناس قد صام فقال: أولئك العصاة أولئك العصاةIt is not an act of righteousness to fast while traveling.
ليس من البر الصيام في السفرIt is not righteousness that you fast on a journey.
ليس من البر الصوم في السفرThe third category is the one for whom it is not difficult at all. He is given the choice between fasting and breaking the fast. But which is better, fasting or breaking the fast? There is scholarly disagreement on this. Some scholars said that breaking the fast is better for him, and this is the well-known position in the school of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal. Others said that fasting is better, and this is the stronger opinion in my view compared to the first. If the traveler does not find fasting difficult, then fasting is better for him for three reasons:
The first is that this is the practice of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Abu al-Darda (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
We set out during the month of Ramadan with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in such an intense heat that one of us would place his hand over his head (in order to protect himself) against the excessive heat, and none among us was observing the fast, except the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and 'Abdullah b. Rawaha.
كنا مع النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم في سفر في يوم شديد الحر وما فينا صائم إلا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وعبدالله بن رواحةThe second is that if he fasts with the people, he will be quicker to clear his obligation, because if he breaks the fast, the fast remains a debt upon him.
The third is that it is easier for him, for a person’s fasting with the people is easier than his fasting alone. For this reason, you will find that a man who has missed fasts to make up finds it difficult and burdensome, to the extent that some people do not fast their make-up fasts until Sha'ban of the following year.
Now, if someone says, "If a man is in Makkah as a traveler for 'Umrah, and fasting is difficult for him, should he break his fast while in Makkah, especially if it is in the last ten days? What do you say, should he break the fast or not?" Glory be to Allah, what are we deciding now, after all this time? This is a man who is fasting and performing 'Umrah in Makkah, and fasting is difficult for him. Do we say he should break the fast or not? He should break the fast in Makkah, and in the last ten days of Ramadan.
The questioner : Is he a resident or a traveler, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : He is a traveler, a traveler who came only for 'Umrah. We say that breaking the fast is better, even in Makkah and in the last ten days of Ramadan. The evidence for this is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), who was the most God-fearing of people and the most reverent of them toward Allah, when he conquered Makkah, he conquered it in Ramadan and did not fast the rest of the month. He conquered it on the twentieth of Ramadan, or on the nineteenth, and did not fast the rest of the month. He remained in a state of breaking the fast, peace and blessings be upon him. And we do not know anyone more God-fearing than the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and yet he did not fast in Makkah. Meanwhile, we find some of the brothers now, in the middle of the day, coming to say, "I am thirsty, extremely thirsty, and tired. I have performed 'Umrah and I am exhausted. Should I break the fast or remain in extreme discomfort until sunset?" We tell him, "Break the fast, and there is no blame on you, because you are a traveler, and because our Imam, Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), broke his fast in Ramadan, in its last ten days. It is clear, my brothers, that the traveler has three states regarding fasting: the one for whom it is extremely difficult, so what is the ruling on fasting for him? It is forbidden. The one for whom it is slightly difficult, it is disliked. And the one for whom it is not difficult, he is given the choice. The scholars differed on which is stronger, whether he should fast or break the fast. We mentioned that the stronger opinion in my view is that he should fast, and we mentioned three causes or three reasons for this. And the brother is now indicating that the time for questions has arrived.