What is better: to break the fast and perform 'Umrah during the day, or to remain fasting during the day, leave off the tarawih and night prayers, and perform 'Umrah at night?
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The questioner : May Allah reward the honorableThe Shaykh : What is better: to break the fast and perform 'Umrah during the day, or to remain fasting during the day, leave off the tarawih and night prayers, and perform 'Umrah at night?
The Shaykh : It is better for the one performing 'Umrah to hasten to perform it as soon as he arrives. Because what did the one performing 'Umrah come for? For 'Umrah. So, as long as the purpose is 'Umrah, let it be the first thing. This is a rule that a person should follow in all his affairs: the purpose is the most important thing, and it is what one starts with first. We mention for you a story that happened to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) by which this is made clear. It is known that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) was the most noble guest on the face of the earth. That is, before eating the food, because what did he come for? For prayer. So the most important thing for you is the original purpose; let it be the original purpose. We came to Makkah for 'Umrah; we do not start with anything before 'Umrah. We start with it as soon as we arrive. This is the better and more preferable course.
Regarding this rule, I direct this to students of knowledge: if one wants to research an issue in the books, some people read the index, then they like one of the titles, so they go to it and leave the issue they wanted to research, and their time is wasted. We say: if you are researching a specific issue, even if a title in the index appeals to you, leave it. Start with what you are researching above all else, so that your knowledge does not become scattered and your time is not wasted. So we say: if one comes to Makkah while fasting and sees that breaking the fast is stronger for him in performing 'Umrah, then it is better for him to break the fast; it is better for him than remaining fasting. And if he says, "If I start 'Umrah during the day, I will break the fast, and if I leave it until the night, I will remain fasting," we say: break the fast, for it is better, and perform 'Umrah when you arrive. Some scholars said: "Breaking the fast while traveling is absolutely better, whether you break it to perform 'Umrah with energy or for any other reason." This is the well-known position of Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) among his followers: that it is better for the traveler to break the fast. In fact, they said: "It is disliked to fast." As for the people of the Zahir school, who are a group of scholars, they said: "If a person fasts while traveling, his fast is returned to him, and he must repeat it when he returns to his country, because Allah said regarding travel:[Al-Baqarah 2:185]" So if you fasted in Ramadan, you did not fast for a number of other days, and thus you are opposing the command of Allah. And whoever does a deed for which there is no command from Allah and His Messenger, it is rejected. For this reason, they, the Zahiris, said: "It is obligatory for the traveler to break the fast; if he fasts, it does not suffice for him for Ramadan." But this view is weak, because it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he used to travel in Ramadan with his Companions, and the one who fasted did not blame the one who broke the fast, nor did the one who broke the fast blame the one who fasted. So the correct view is that it is permissible, but it is better to do what is easier for you. If breaking the fast is stronger for you in performing 'Umrah, then it is better for you than fasting. Yes.
The Shaykh : It is better for the one performing 'Umrah to hasten to perform it as soon as he arrives.
For indeed, when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) entered Makkah performing 'Umrah, he tethered his she-camel at the mosque and came for the 'Umrah.
فإن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم لما دخل مكة معتمرا أناخ ناقته عند المسجد وأتى بالعمرة'Utbah ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) invited him, meaning he invited the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to come to his house to pray in a place that 'Utbah had made a prayer area.
دعاه عتبان بن مالك رضي الله عنه أي دعا النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم إلى أن يأتي إلى بيته يصلي في مكان يتخذه عتبان مصلىSo 'Utbah prepared a hospitality for him and invited those around him, informing them that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would come. The people came, and when he reached the house, he was informed that he had food. So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: "Show us the place where you want us to pray."
فاستعد له عتبان بضيافة ودعا من حوله أخبره أن النبي عليه الصلاة والسلام سيأتي جاء الناس فلما وصل البيت أخبره بأن عنده طعاما فقال له النبي عليه الصلاة والسلام: أرنا المكان الذي تريد أن نصلي فيهRegarding this rule, I direct this to students of knowledge: if one wants to research an issue in the books, some people read the index, then they like one of the titles, so they go to it and leave the issue they wanted to research, and their time is wasted. We say: if you are researching a specific issue, even if a title in the index appeals to you, leave it. Start with what you are researching above all else, so that your knowledge does not become scattered and your time is not wasted. So we say: if one comes to Makkah while fasting and sees that breaking the fast is stronger for him in performing 'Umrah, then it is better for him to break the fast; it is better for him than remaining fasting. And if he says, "If I start 'Umrah during the day, I will break the fast, and if I leave it until the night, I will remain fasting," we say: break the fast, for it is better, and perform 'Umrah when you arrive. Some scholars said: "Breaking the fast while traveling is absolutely better, whether you break it to perform 'Umrah with energy or for any other reason." This is the well-known position of Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) among his followers: that it is better for the traveler to break the fast. In fact, they said: "It is disliked to fast." As for the people of the Zahir school, who are a group of scholars, they said: "If a person fasts while traveling, his fast is returned to him, and he must repeat it when he returns to his country, because Allah said regarding travel: