Download
0 / 0

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?

Question: 129948

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 Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah and his family.

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 

Source

Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 9/83

Was this answer helpful?

at email

Our newsletter

To join our newsletter please add your email below

phone

IslamQA App

For a quick access to our content and offline browsing

download iosdownload android