Travel in Ramadhan

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 185:Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was sent down: this Book is a perfect guidance for mankind and consists of CLEAR teachings which show the right way and is a Criterion of the Truth and falsehood. Therefore, from now on, whosoever witnesses it, it is obligatory on him to fast the whole month. But if one be ill or on a journey, he should make up for the same number by fasting on other days (of the year). Allah desires to show leniency to you, and does not desire to show any hardship. Therefore, this method is being shown to you so that you may complete the number of Fast Days and glorify Allah for the guidance He has shown to you, and be grateful to Him.

Islam has given a concession to those believers who are on a journey and is difficult for them to maintain their fasts during their travel in Ramadan, to leave those fasts and make it up later in the year. But there is absolutely no harm if an individual does not think that the journey is difficult and taxing on him, and wishes to keep the fasts even while traveling in Ramadan. It is only a Mercy and leniency from Allah to those believers who have difficulty fasting while on a journey.

Obviously, at the times of the Prophet (saws), travel was not as easy as it is today. Thus if anyone today, wishes to keep and maintain his fasts while traveling, there is absolutely no harm. And if he wishes to abstain from the fasts due to traveling during Ramadan, that is also fine; as long as he makes up for the fasts later.

The time of the travel has absolutely no bearings on the permissibility of the fast. The distance which would make it permissible to abstain from fasts would be if he left the city of his residence and was in a state of travel. But there is absolutely no harm, no matter what the distance, if the believer decides to maintain his fasts.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan