Which Is Better for a Traveler, to Fast or to Break the Fast?

Answered By Shaykh Dr. Muhammad Fayez Awad

Question

Which is better for a traveler, to fast or to break the fast?

Answer

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. Blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah, his Family, and his Companions.

Travel

Traveling and moving are part of human life, hardly dispensable by people in rural or urban settings. Traveling fulfills various religious and worldly, individual, and social needs. People travel to acquire knowledge, seek livelihood, security, and for medical purposes, and earn rewards through Hajj or ‘Umra.

They also travel for academic and social purposes such as visiting relatives and friends, exploring other countries’ landmarks, participating in seminars or conferences, and sometimes, simply rejuvenating after prolonged work stress. All such reasons are legitimate, and there is no harm in them.

Therefore, Islam addresses travel and stipulates rulings that ease the traveler’s burdens, offering various concessions and rules concerning purification, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. For instance, the category of “Ibn al-Sabil” pertains to a traveler cut off from his homeland and wealth, even if he is wealthy in his country.

Concession

Among the concessions granted by Islam to travelers is the permission to break the fast while traveling. This is established by the Quran, Sunna, and consensus.

Allah (Most High) has allowed the fasting traveler to break his fast if the travel distance is not less than eighty-two kilometers under certain conditions, linking the concession of breaking the fast specifically to the state of travel, irrespective of the usual hardships of travel; because travel is a defined condition, hence the ruling of this concession exists with or without hardship.

The hardship varies from person to person; thus, this ruling is not based on hardship nor is it tied to it, as Allah (Most High) says in the verse about fasting:

“But whoever is ill or on a journey, then (let them fast) an equal number of days (after Ramadan). Allah intends ease for you, not hardship.” [Quran, 2:185]

Thus, whenever the condition of travel is confirmed in a fasting person, it is permissible for him to break the fast whether the travel involves hardship or not. The Sunna also reaffirms this ruling through statements, actions, and approvals.

The situation of a traveler can be one of two cases:

The Traveler for Whom Fasting is Not Difficult

If fasting does not pose difficulty for the traveler, and fasting and breaking the fast are equally feasible for him, then scholars have differing opinions on what is better for him, fasting or breaking the fast:

The first opinion is that fasting is better, and this is the view of the majority: Hanafis, Malikis, and Shafi‘is. This is supported by the hadith narrated by Abu Al-Darda (Allah be pleased with him) who said:

“We went out with the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) on a journey on a hot day, until a man would put his hand over his head because of the extreme heat, and none among us was fasting except the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) and Ibn Rawaha.”

This action of his (Allah bless him and give him peace) is considered the best. Furthermore, fasting fulfills the obligation quicker as making up missed fasts can be delayed.

The second opinion is that breaking the fast is better, and this is the view of the Hanbalis. They cite the general applicability of the hadith narrated by Jabir Ibn Abdullah (Allah be pleased with him); where he said:

“The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) was on a journey and saw a crowd around a man who had been shaded. He asked, ‘What is this?’ They said, ‘He is fasting.’ He said, ‘It is not righteousness to fast while traveling.’”

Others say the easier of the two is better, based on the verse, “Allah intends for you ease.” [Quran, 2:185]

If breaking the fast is easier, then it is better for him; otherwise, fasting is better if it is easy for him, and making up the fast later would be difficult. This was the opinion of ‘Umar Ibn Abd al-Aziz and was chosen by Ibn Al-Mundhir.

The Traveler for Whom Fasting is Difficult

If fasting is difficult for the traveler, such that breaking the fast is kinder to him, then breaking the fast is better. This is by consensus among the four Sunni legal schools: Hanafis, Malikis, Shafi‘is, and Hanbalis. Enduring hardship despite the presence of a concession indicates a deviation from Allah’s concession (Most High).

Praise be to Allah for this religion that has bestowed this faith upon us, and I ask Allah (Most High) to make us among those who fast and pray during Ramadan with faith and seeking reward, for He is Generous and Kind.

[Shaykh] Dr. Muhammad Fayez Awad