FASTING CHAPTER · 42 – FASTING DURING TRAVEL
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated:
Al-Aslamiy Hamza asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him), "I fast continuously; should I fast during travel?" The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said, “If you wish, [do so]; if you wish, do not.”
Hamza ibn al-Islam (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
"O Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, I have a camel which I work, travel upon, and let out for hire. My travels often coincide with the month of Ramadhan. Fasting becomes difficult for me, as I am young, and it is easier for me to postpone it and leave a debt than to fast it. Would my reward be greater if I fasted it, or if I ate while traveling?"
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Do whichever you wish, O Hamza."
It is narrated from Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, set out from Medina to Mecca for the conquest of Mecca. He arrived at Usfan and requested a cup, raising it to his mouth so that the people could see [the water]. This occurred during Ramadan. Ibn Abbas would say: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, sometimes fasted on journeys and sometimes did not.
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: We set out on a campaign with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ during Ramadan, and we travelled. Some of us observed fasting, and those who were fasting did not reproach those who were eating, nor did those who were eating reproach those who were fasting.
Kaze'a, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated: I went to Abu Sa'id al-Hudri and people were gathered around him giving legal opinions. I waited until he was alone, then I asked him about fasting during Ramadan while on campaign. Abu Sa'id said: "In the year of the conquest of Mecca, we set out with the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu aleyhi wa sallam, fasting. We arrived at an encampment. The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu aleyhi wa sallam, said: 'When you approach your enemies, break your fasts; it will give you strength.' Some of us were fasting and some had broken their fast the next morning. Then we marched to another encampment. The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu aleyhi wa sallam, said: 'You will face your enemies this morning; breaking your fasts will give you more strength, so break them.' This was an instruction from the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu aleyhi wa sallam." Abu Sa'id said: "I know that I fasted with the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu aleyhi wa sallam, on journeys both before and after this [instruction]."
Jabir ibn Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) saw a fasting person overcome by the sun’s heat, reclining under a shade. He said, “Fasting during travel is not good.” [301]
Abdullah ibn Ka'b, from the brothers of Banu Kusayr, related:
"The Prophet ﷺ’s horses raided our tribe. I came to the Prophet ﷺ, and he was eating. He said, 'Sit and partake of our food.' I said, ‘I am fasting.’ The Prophet ﷺ said, ‘Sit; I will tell you about prayer and fasting. Almighty Allah has lifted a portion or half of the prayer from the traveler and a portion of the fast from the breastfeeding woman and the pregnant woman. By Allāh, He has lifted these two together, or one of them.' He swore by Allāh, either both of them or one of them. At that time, I regretted not eating from the Prophet ﷺ’s food."