Is The
View Of One Who Says That It Is Obligatory For Sick People
And Travellers To Break The Fast And That Their Fast Is
Not Valid Correct?
Islamic Rulings -
Living Shariah Verdicts
Islamic Questions & Answers
What is your opinion on the view of one who says that
sick people and travellers are obliged to break the
fast and make it up later on, and it is not
permissible for them to fast, because Allah, may He be
exalted, said (interpretation of the meaning): "and
whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number [of
days which one did not observe Sawm (fasts) must be
made up] from other days" [al-Baqarah 2:185], so what
is obligatory for them is to make up the fast, and
this means that they should not fast?.
Praise be to Allaah.
A concession is granted to the sick person for whom it
is difficult to fast, and for the traveller, to break
the fast during the month of Ramadan, because Allah,
may He be exalted, said (interpretation of the
meaning): "and whoever is ill or on a journey, the
same number [of days which one did not observe Sawm
(fasts) must be made up] from other days" [al-Baqarah
2:185].
But if they fast, then their fast is valid, because of
the hadeeth of ‘Aa'ishah (may Allah be pleased with
her) according to which Hamzah ibn ‘Amr al-Aslami (may
Allah be pleased with him) said to the Prophet
(blessings and peace of Allah be upon him): Can I fast
whilst travelling? And he was a man who fasted a great
deal. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be
upon him) said: "If you wish, fast; and if you wish,
do not fast." Narrated by the group.
But if they fear for their lives if they fast, then it
is obligatory to break the fast, because of the
hadeeth of Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him) who
said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of
Allah be upon him) was on a journey and he saw a crowd
of people and a man being shaded (from the sun). He
said: "What is this?" They said: He is fasting. He
said: "It is not part of piety to fast whilst
travelling."
The concession allowing the traveller not to fast is
also general in application, because of the hadeeth of
Hamzah ibn ‘Umar al-Aslami, in which he said: "O
Messenger of Allah, I find that I have the strength to
fast, is there anything wrong with that?" He said: "It
is a concession from Allah, may He be exalted, so
whoever avails himself of it has done well, and
however wants to fast, there is nothing wrong with
that." Narrated by Muslim.
With regard to the verse in Soorat al-Baqarah, the
confusion about its apparent meaning may be dispelled,
in sha Allah, once you know that in this verse there
is something which is implied, which is "break the
fast" i.e., whoever among you is sick or on a journey
and breaks the fast, then "the same number [of days
which one did not observe Sawm (fasts) must be made
up] from other days". The scholars have explained this
and there are many other similar examples in the
Qur'aan and Sunnah and the Arabic language.
And Allah is the source of strength; may Allah send
blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and his
family and companions. End quote.
Standing Committee for Academic Research and Issuing
Fatwas
Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah, 9/83
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