Fasting While Traveling and Performing ʿUmrah – Islamic Ruling Upon Reaching Makkah
Source: Fatāwā Arkān al-Islām
If a traveler reaches Makkah while fasting, is it permissible for him to break the fast to perform ʿUmrah with ease?
All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
The Prophet ﷺ entered Makkah on the 20th of Ramadan during the Year of the Conquest, and he was not fasting at that time.
He ﷺ would perform two rakʿahs of prayer and say to the people of Makkah:
«يَا أَهْلَ مَكَّةَ أَتِمُّوا فَإِنَّا قَوْمٌ سَفَرٌ»
(Al-Muwaṭṭa’ of Imām Mālik, Kitāb al-Ḥajj: 202, 203; Kitāb al-Safar: 19)
"O people of Makkah! Complete your prayer, for we are a traveling people."
Authentic reports from Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī also show that the Prophet ﷺ did not fast during the remaining days in Makkah, as he was in a state of travel.
Upon reaching Makkah, the traveler’s status as a traveler continues.
If he was not fasting during travel, then he is not required to abstain from food and drink upon arrival.
Some people today assume that fasting during travel is no longer difficult, so they continue fasting while traveling.
As a result, when they arrive in Makkah, they are tired and ask:
“Should I continue my fast and perform ʿUmrah after ifṭār, or should I break the fast and perform ʿUmrah immediately upon arrival?”
In such cases, it is preferable to break the fast in order to perform ʿUmrah in a refreshed and energized state upon reaching Makkah.
The Sunnah for a person performing ʿUmrah is to enter the Masjid al-Ḥarām immediately and begin the ʿUmrah.
It is reported that the Prophet ﷺ, upon arriving for ʿUmrah, would bring his mount to rest near the Ḥarām and enter directly to perform the rituals.
So, O pilgrim, breaking your fast is better, so that you can perform ʿUmrah during the day in a fresh and focused condition, rather than exhausting yourself by fasting and delaying the ʿUmrah until the night after ifṭār.
It is established that during the journey of the Conquest of Makkah, the Prophet ﷺ was fasting.
After ʿAṣr, some people came and said:
“O Messenger of Allah! The people are finding it very difficult due to fasting, and they are waiting for your example.”
So the Prophet ﷺ asked for water and drank it, even though it was towards the end of the day.
By doing so, the Prophet ﷺ clarified that breaking the fast while traveling is permissible.
Some people insist on fasting even during travel, despite the hardship and difficulty.
For such individuals, the statement of the Prophet ﷺ applies:
«لَيْسَ مِنَ الْبِرِّ الصَّوْمُ فِي السَّفَرِ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1946; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1115)
"It is not an act of righteousness to fast while traveling."
🖋 This is what I hold, and Allah knows best what is correct.
Source: Fatāwā Arkān al-Islām
Question
If a traveler reaches Makkah while fasting, is it permissible for him to break the fast to perform ʿUmrah with ease?
Answer
All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
The Prophet ﷺ entered Makkah on the 20th of Ramadan during the Year of the Conquest, and he was not fasting at that time.
He ﷺ would perform two rakʿahs of prayer and say to the people of Makkah:
«يَا أَهْلَ مَكَّةَ أَتِمُّوا فَإِنَّا قَوْمٌ سَفَرٌ»
(Al-Muwaṭṭa’ of Imām Mālik, Kitāb al-Ḥajj: 202, 203; Kitāb al-Safar: 19)
"O people of Makkah! Complete your prayer, for we are a traveling people."
Authentic reports from Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī also show that the Prophet ﷺ did not fast during the remaining days in Makkah, as he was in a state of travel.
Ruling for a Traveler Performing ʿUmrah Upon Reaching Makkah
Upon reaching Makkah, the traveler’s status as a traveler continues.
If he was not fasting during travel, then he is not required to abstain from food and drink upon arrival.
Some people today assume that fasting during travel is no longer difficult, so they continue fasting while traveling.
As a result, when they arrive in Makkah, they are tired and ask:
“Should I continue my fast and perform ʿUmrah after ifṭār, or should I break the fast and perform ʿUmrah immediately upon arrival?”
The Preferred Approach
In such cases, it is preferable to break the fast in order to perform ʿUmrah in a refreshed and energized state upon reaching Makkah.
The Sunnah for a person performing ʿUmrah is to enter the Masjid al-Ḥarām immediately and begin the ʿUmrah.
It is reported that the Prophet ﷺ, upon arriving for ʿUmrah, would bring his mount to rest near the Ḥarām and enter directly to perform the rituals.
So, O pilgrim, breaking your fast is better, so that you can perform ʿUmrah during the day in a fresh and focused condition, rather than exhausting yourself by fasting and delaying the ʿUmrah until the night after ifṭār.
🕊 Example from the Prophet’s Practice ﷺ
It is established that during the journey of the Conquest of Makkah, the Prophet ﷺ was fasting.
After ʿAṣr, some people came and said:
“O Messenger of Allah! The people are finding it very difficult due to fasting, and they are waiting for your example.”
So the Prophet ﷺ asked for water and drank it, even though it was towards the end of the day.
By doing so, the Prophet ﷺ clarified that breaking the fast while traveling is permissible.
⚠ Hardship in Fasting During Travel Is Against the Sunnah
Some people insist on fasting even during travel, despite the hardship and difficulty.
For such individuals, the statement of the Prophet ﷺ applies:
«لَيْسَ مِنَ الْبِرِّ الصَّوْمُ فِي السَّفَرِ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1946; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1115)
"It is not an act of righteousness to fast while traveling."
🖋 This is what I hold, and Allah knows best what is correct.
