Question:
Is it a condition for a traveler to be on foot or using a specific mode of transport (such as an animal, vehicle, or airplane) to avail the concession of breaking the fast in Ramadan? Additionally, is it required that the journey be physically exhausting for the traveler to be allowed to break the fast? If a traveler is capable of fasting, is it better for them to fast or not?
Answer:
If a person is undertaking a journey that permits shortening the prayers (Qasr Salah), then they are also allowed to break their fast, regardless of whether they are traveling on foot, by animal, by vehicle, by airplane, or any other means of transport. Similarly, it is not a condition that the traveler must experience extreme hardship, hunger, or thirst to be allowed to break the fast. The Shariah has given an absolute concession for travelers to shorten their prayers and break their fast in such a journey, without restricting it to any specific mode of travel or level of difficulty.
The Companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) would travel with him during the month of Ramadan for battles. Some would fast while others would not, and none of them criticized the other for their choice.
However, if the journey is particularly strenuous due to extreme heat, an open-road journey, long distances, or continuous travel, then it is preferable for the traveler not to fast. This is evident from the hadith of Anas (RA), who narrated:
كنا مع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فى سفر، فصام بعض وأفطر بعض، فتحزم المفطرون وعملوا، وضعف الصائمون عن بعض العمل، فقال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: ذهب المفطرون اليوم بالأجر.
"We were with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on a journey; some of us were fasting, and some were not. Those who were not fasting engaged in work, while those who were fasting were too weak to perform some tasks. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Today, those who did not fast have taken the reward.'"
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Jihad, Hadith No. 2890; Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Sawm, Hadith No. 1119)
Additionally, in some situations, breaking the fast while traveling becomes obligatory, especially if fasting would cause severe weakness or hinder the ability to face emergency situations. This is demonstrated in the hadith of Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (RA):
سافرنا مع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إلى مكة ونحن صيام، فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: "إنكم دنوتم من عدوكم والفطر أقوى لكم، فكانت رخصة، فمنّا من صام ومنّا من أفطر"، ثم نزلنا منزلا آخر، فقال: "إنكم مصبحون عدوكم والفطر أقوى لكم، فأفطروا"، فكانت عزمة، فأفطرنا.
"We traveled with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) to Makkah while we were fasting. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'You are nearing your enemy, and breaking the fast will make you stronger,' so it was allowed. Some of us fasted, and some broke the fast. Then we reached another place, and the Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'You will meet your enemy in the morning, and breaking the fast will give you more strength. So break your fast.' At this point, it was made mandatory, so we all broke our fasts."
(Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Sawm, Hadith No. 1120)
Furthermore, Jabir bin Abdullah (RA) narrated that:
كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم في سفر، فرأى رجلا قد اجتمع الناس عليه، وقد ظلل عليه، فقال: "ماله؟"، قالوا: "رجل صائم"، فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: "ليس من البر أن تصوموا في السفر".
"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was on a journey when he saw a man surrounded by people, and they were shading him. He asked: 'What is the matter with him?' They replied: 'He is fasting.' The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'It is not an act of righteousness to fast while traveling.'”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Sawm, Hadith No. 1946; Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Sawm, Hadith No. 1115)
Conclusion:
- A traveler who is undertaking a journey that permits shortening the prayers is allowed to break the fast, regardless of the mode of travel.
- Hardship or exhaustion is not a necessary condition to avail this concession.
- If the journey is easy, fasting is permissible, but if it is difficult, it is better to break the fast.
- If fasting during travel could cause serious weakness or prevent handling emergencies, then breaking the fast becomes obligatory.
