Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

In the holy month of Ramzan can I travel far distance keeping the fasting or kindly advice me what are the steps to be followed in the holy month of Ramzan.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Fasting and travel

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 none 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 (part):

… Therefore from now on, whosoever witnesses it (the month of Ramadan), it is obligatory on him to fast the whole month. But if one be ill, or on a journey, he should make up the same number by fasting on other days. Allah desires to show leniency to you, and does not desire to show any hardship……

Sahih Muslim Hadith 2487 Narrated by Aisha

Hamzah ibn Amr al-Aslami asked the Messenger of Allah (saws) about fasting on a journey, and he (the Prophet (saws)) said: ‘Fast if you like (or is easy for you), and break it if you like.’

The best person to understand and implement the above, and any aayah of the Glorious Quran in his life, was the Messenger of Allah (saws). The above quoted Verse of the Quran, of the allowance of not fasting while one is on a journey, was understood and implemented by the Messenger of Allah (saws) as a permission and allowance from the Lord Most Merciful that if the journey is easy and the believing traveler wishes to observe his obligatory fasts, he may do so. And if the person finds the journey difficult or for any other reason whatsoever, he may choose not to fast, and make up the missed days of fasts at a later date of his convenience. The Prophet (saws) specified that there is no special or extra reward if one observes one’s fasts when on a journey or penalties if one chooses to abstain from them.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 4.140 Narrated by Anas

We were with the Prophet (saws, on a journey) and the only shade one could have was the shade made by one's own garment. Those who fasted did not do any work and those who did not fast served the camels and brought the water on them and treated the sick and (wounded). So, the Prophet (saws) said, "Today, those who were not fasting took (all) the reward!"

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3.167 Narrated by Jabir bin Abdullah

Allah's Messenger (saws) was on a journey and saw a crowd of people, and a man was being shaded (by them). He (saws) asked, "What is the matter?" They said, "He (the man) is fasting." The Prophet (saws) said, "It is not righteousness that you fast on a journey (especially if one faces hardship)."

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

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan