It is permissible to fast or not to fast during Ramadan for one who is travelling for no sinful purpose, if his journey is two stages or further. But it is better for the one who is able to fast without suffering any harm to do so, and the one for whom it is difficult may break the fast

Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) went out during the month of Ramadan in the year of Victory (when Mecca was conquered) and was fasting till he reached Kadid (a canal situated at a distance of forty-two miles from Mecca) and he then broke the fast. And it was the habit of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) to follow him in every new thing (or act). So they followed him also (in this matter).

حَدَّثَنِي يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رُمْحٍ، قَالاَ أَخْبَرَنَا اللَّيْثُ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ، سَعِيدٍ حَدَّثَنَا لَيْثٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، - رضى الله عنهما - أَنَّهُ أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم خَرَجَ عَامَ الْفَتْحِ فِي رَمَضَانَ فَصَامَ حَتَّى بَلَغَ الْكَدِيدَ ثُمَّ أَفْطَرَ وَكَانَ صَحَابَةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَتَّبِعُونَ الأَحْدَثَ فَالأَحْدَثَ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ ‏.‏

This hadith is narrated on the authority of Zuhri with the same chain of transmitters. Yahya (one of the narrators) said that Sufyan (the narrator) had stated:

I do not know whose statement it is:" It is the last word of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) which is accepted as (final as it abrogates the previous ones)."

حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، وَأَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ وَعَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ ‏.‏ مِثْلَهُ ‏.‏ قَالَ يَحْيَى قَالَ سُفْيَانُ لاَ أَدْرِي مِنْ قَوْلِ مَنْ هُوَ يَعْنِي وَكَانَ يُؤْخَذُ بِالآخِرِ مِنْ قَوْلِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏.‏

It has been narrated on the authority of Zuhri with the same chain of transmitters that breaking of fast (in a journey) is the final of the two commands (whether one may fast or one may break it), and it is the last command of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) which is to be accepted as final. Zuhri said:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) marched on Mecca on the morning of 14th of Ramadan (lit. when thirteen nights had passed).

حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ قَالَ الزُّهْرِيُّ وَكَانَ الْفِطْرُ آخِرَ الأَمْرَيْنِ وَإِنَّمَا يُؤْخَذُ مِنْ أَمْرِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِالآخِرِ فَالآخِرِ ‏.‏ قَالَ الزُّهْرِيُّ فَصَبَّحَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَكَّةَ لِثَلاَثَ عَشْرَةَ لَيْلَةً خَلَتْ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ ‏.‏

A hadlth like this has been transmitted on the authority of Ibn Shibab who said that they (the Compnions of the Prophet) followed the latest of his commands and looked upon it as one abrogating (the previous ones) and the most firm.

وَحَدَّثَنِي حَرْمَلَةُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ مِثْلَ حَدِيثِ اللَّيْثِ ‏.‏ قَالَ ابْنُ شِهَابٍ فَكَانُوا يَتَّبِعُونَ الأَحْدَثَ فَالأَحْدَثَ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ وَيَرَوْنَهُ النَّاسِخَ الْمُحْكَمَ ‏.‏

Ibn 'Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) journeyed during the month of Ramadan in a state of fasting till he reached 'Usfan. He then ordered a cup containing drinking water and he drank that openly so that the people might see it, and broke the fast (and did not resume it) till he reached Mecca. Ibn 'Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) said:

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) fasted and broke the fast, so he who wished fasted and he who wished to break it broke it.

وَحَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، أَخْبَرَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ، عَنْ طَاوُسٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، - رضى الله عنهما - قَالَ سَافَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي رَمَضَانَ فَصَامَ حَتَّى بَلَغَ عُسْفَانَ ثُمَّ دَعَا بِإِنَاءٍ فِيهِ شَرَابٌ فَشَرِبَهُ نَهَارًا لِيَرَاهُ النَّاسُ ثُمَّ أَفْطَرَ حَتَّى دَخَلَ مَكَّةَ ‏.‏ قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ - رضى الله عنهما - فَصَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَفْطَرَ فَمَنْ شَاءَ صَامَ وَمَنْ شَاءَ أَفْطَرَ ‏.‏

Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) reported:

Do not condemn one who observes fast, or one who does not observe (in a journey). for the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observed fast in a journey or he did not observe it (too).

وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْكَرِيمِ، عَنْ طَاوُسٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ، عَبَّاسٍ - رضى الله عنهما - قَالَ لاَ تَعِبْ عَلَى مَنْ صَامَ وَلاَ عَلَى مَنْ أَفْطَرَ قَدْ صَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي السَّفَرِ وَأَفْطَرَ ‏.‏

Jabir b. 'Abdullah (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) went out to Mecca in Ramadan in the year of Victory, and he and the people fasted till he came to Kura' al-Ghamim and the people also fasted. He then called for a cup of water which he raised till the people saw it, and then he drank. He was told afterwards that some people had continued to fast, and he said:

These people are the disobedient ones; these are the disobedient ones.

حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَهَّابِ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ عَبْدِ الْمَجِيدِ - حَدَّثَنَا جَعْفَرٌ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، - رضى الله عنهما - أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم خَرَجَ عَامَ الْفَتْحِ إِلَى مَكَّةَ فِي رَمَضَانَ فَصَامَ حَتَّى بَلَغَ كُرَاعَ الْغَمِيمِ فَصَامَ النَّاسُ ثُمَّ دَعَا بِقَدَحٍ مِنْ مَاءٍ فَرَفَعَهُ حَتَّى نَظَرَ النَّاسُ إِلَيْهِ ثُمَّ شَرِبَ فَقِيلَ لَهُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ إِنَّ بَعْضَ النَّاسِ قَدْ صَامَ فَقَالَ ‏

‏ أُولَئِكَ الْعُصَاةُ أُولَئِكَ الْعُصَاةُ ‏

‏ ‏.‏

This hadith has been narrated by Ja'far with the same chain of transmitters and he added:

It was said to him (to the Prophet): There are people to whom fasting has become unbearable and they are waiting how you do. He (the Prophet) then called for a cup of water when it was afternoon. The rest of the hadith is the same.

وَحَدَّثَنَاهُ قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ، - يَعْنِي الدَّرَاوَرْدِيَّ - عَنْ جَعْفَرٍ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ وَزَادَ فَقِيلَ لَهُ إِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ شَقَّ عَلَيْهِمُ الصِّيَامُ وَإِنَّمَا يَنْظُرُونَ فِيمَا فَعَلْتَ ‏.‏ فَدَعَا بِقَدَحٍ مِنْ مَاءٍ بَعْدَ الْعَصْرِ ‏.‏

Jabir b. 'Abdullah (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported that in the course of a journey Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saw a man, people crowding around him and providing him a shade. Upon this he (the Prophet) said:

What is the matter with him? They said: He is a person observing fast. Whereupon the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: It is no righteousness that you fast on journey.

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، وَابْنُ، بَشَّارٍ جَمِيعًا عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ، بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ - قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ حَدَّثَنَا غُنْدَرٌ، - عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْحَسَنِ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، - رضى الله عنهما - قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي سَفَرٍ فَرَأَى رَجُلاً قَدِ اجْتَمَعَ النَّاسُ عَلَيْهِ وَقَدْ ظُلِّلَ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ مَا لَهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالُوا رَجُلٌ صَائِمٌ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ لَيْسَ مِنَ الْبِرِّ أَنْ تَصُومُوا فِي السَّفَرِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

'Amr b. al-Hasan is reported to have said that he heard Jabir b. 'Abdullah (Allah be pleased with both of them) as saying that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saw a man. The rest of the hadith is the same as mentioned above.

حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْحَسَنِ، يُحَدِّثُ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ جَابِرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، - رضى الله عنهما - يَقُولُ رَأَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَجُلاً بِمِثْلِهِ ‏.‏

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Shu'ba with the same chain of transmitters but with this addition that he (the Prophet) said:

" Take advantage of the concession of Allah Who Wanted it to you." When he (one of the narrators) asked him (the other one, Yabya b. Abi Kathar) he did not retain it in his mind.

وَحَدَّثَنَاهُ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ النَّوْفَلِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو دَاوُدَ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ ‏.‏ نَحْوَهُ وَزَادَ قَالَ شُعْبَةُ وَكَانَ يَبْلُغُنِي عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ أَنَّهُ كَانَ يَزِيدُ فِي هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ وَفِي هَذَا الإِسْنَادِ أَنَّهُ قَالَ ‏

‏ عَلَيْكُمْ بِرُخْصَةِ اللَّهِ الَّذِي رَخَّصَ لَكُمْ ‏

‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ فَلَمَّا سَأَلْتُهُ لَمْ يَحْفَظْهُ ‏.‏

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) reported:

We went out on an expedition with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) on the 16th of Ramadan. Some of us fasted and some of us broke the fast. But neither the observer of the fast found fault with one who broke it, nor the breaker of the fast found fault with one who observed it.

حَدَّثَنَا هَدَّابُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هَمَّامُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، حَدَّثَنَا قَتَادَةُ، عَنْ أَبِي نَضْرَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، - رضى الله عنه - قَالَ غَزَوْنَا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لِسِتَّ عَشْرَةَ مَضَتْ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ فَمِنَّا مَنْ صَامَ وَمِنَّا مَنْ أَفْطَرَ فَلَمْ يَعِبِ الصَّائِمُ عَلَى الْمُفْطِرِ وَلاَ الْمُفْطِرُ عَلَى الصَّائِمِ ‏.‏

A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of Qatada with the same chain of transmitters by different narrators (except this difference) that in the hadith transmitted by Taimi and Umar b. Amir and Hisham (the date of setting out is) 18th, and in the hadith transmitted by Sa'id it is the 12th, and in the one transmitted by Shu'ba it is the 17th or 19th.

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ الْمُقَدَّمِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنِ التَّيْمِيِّ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَاهُ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، وَقَالَ ابْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَامِرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، وَقَالَ ابْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا سَالِمُ بْنُ نُوحٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ يَعْنِي ابْنَ عَامِرٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بِشْرٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ، كُلُّهُمْ عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ ‏.‏ نَحْوَ حَدِيثِ هَمَّامٍ غَيْرَ أَنَّ فِي حَدِيثِ التَّيْمِيِّ وَعُمَرَ بْنِ عَامِرٍ وَهِشَامٍ لِثَمَانَ عَشْرَةَ خَلَتْ وَفِي حَدِيثِ سَعِيدٍ فِي ثِنْتَىْ عَشْرَةَ ‏.‏ وَشُعْبَةَ لِسَبْعَ عَشْرَةَ أَوْ تِسْعَ عَشْرَةَ ‏.‏

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) reported:

We went out on an expedition with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) during Ramadan and neither the observer of the fast was found fault with for his fasting, nor the breaker of the fast for breaking it.

حَدَّثَنَا نَصْرُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الْجَهْضَمِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا بِشْرٌ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ مُفَضَّلٍ - عَنْ أَبِي مَسْلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي نَضْرَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ، - رضى الله عنه - قَالَ كُنَّا نُسَافِرُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي رَمَضَانَ فَمَا يُعَابُ عَلَى الصَّائِمِ صَوْمُهُ وَلاَ عَلَى الْمُفْطِرِ إِفْطَارُهُ ‏.‏

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) reported:

We went out on an expedition with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) during Ramadan. Some of us observed the fast and some of us broke it. Neither the observer of the fast had any grudge against one who broke it, nor the breaker of the fast had any grudge against one who had fasted They knew that he who had strength enough (to bear its rigour) fasted and that was good, and they also found that he who felt weakness (and could not bear the burden) broke it, and that was also good.

حَدَّثَنِي عَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنِ الْجُرَيْرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي نَضْرَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، - رضى الله عنه - قَالَ كُنَّا نَغْزُو مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي رَمَضَانَ فَمِنَّا الصَّائِمُ وَمِنَّا الْمُفْطِرُ فَلاَ يَجِدُ الصَّائِمُ عَلَى الْمُفْطِرِ وَلاَ الْمُفْطِرُ عَلَى الصَّائِمِ يَرَوْنَ أَنَّ مَنْ وَجَدَ قُوَّةً فَصَامَ فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ حَسَنٌ وَيَرَوْنَ أَنَّ مَنْ وَجَدَ ضَعْفًا فَأَفْطَرَ فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ حَسَنٌ ‏.‏

Abu Nadra reported Abu Sa'id al. Khudri and Jabir b. Abdullah as saying:

We travelled with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). The observer of the fast observed it, and the breaker of the fast broke it, but none of them found fault with each other.

حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ عَمْرٍو الأَشْعَثِيُّ، وَسَهْلُ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ، وَسُوَيْدُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَحُسَيْنُ، بْنُ حُرَيْثٍ كُلُّهُمْ عَنْ مَرْوَانَ، - قَالَ سَعِيدٌ أَخْبَرَنَا مَرْوَانُ بْنُ مُعَاوِيَةَ، - عَنْ عَاصِمٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا نَضْرَةَ، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، وَجَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، - رضى الله عنهم - قَالاَ سَافَرْنَا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَيَصُومُ الصَّائِمُ وَيُفْطِرُ الْمُفْطِرُ فَلاَ يَعِيبُ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ ‏.‏

Humaid reported that Anas (Allah be pleased with him) was asked about fasting during Ramadan while travelling. He said:

We travelled with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) during the month of Ramadan, but neither the observer of the fast found fault with the breaker of the fast, nor the breaker of the fast found fault with the observer of the fast.

حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو خَيْثَمَةَ، عَنْ حُمَيْدٍ، قَالَ سُئِلَ أَنَسٌ - رضى الله عنه - عَنْ صَوْمِ رَمَضَانَ فِي السَّفَرِ فَقَالَ سَافَرْنَا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي رَمَضَانَ فَلَمْ يَعِبِ الصَّائِمُ عَلَى الْمُفْطِرِ وَلاَ الْمُفْطِرُ عَلَى الصَّائِمِ ‏.‏

Abu Khalid al-Ahmar narrated from Humaid who said:

I went out and was fasting; they said to me: Break (lit. go back, repeat). He said that Anas reported that the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to set out on a journey and neither the observer of the fast found fault with the breaker of the fast, nor the breaker of the fast found fault with the observer of the fast. (One of the narrators Humaid said): I met Ibn Abi Mulaika who informed me the same thing on the authority of 'A'isha.

وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو خَالِدٍ الأَحْمَرُ، عَنْ حُمَيْدٍ، قَالَ خَرَجْتُ فَصُمْتُ فَقَالُوا لِي أَعِدْ ‏.‏ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ إِنَّ أَنَسًا أَخْبَرَنِي أَنَّ أَصْحَابَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانُوا يُسَافِرُونَ فَلاَ يَعِيبُ الصَّائِمُ عَلَى الْمُفْطِرِ وَلاَ الْمُفْطِرُ عَلَى الصَّائِمِ ‏.‏ فَلَقِيتُ ابْنَ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ فَأَخْبَرَنِي عَنْ عَائِشَةَ - رضى الله عنها - بِمِثْلِهِ ‏.‏