It is not from righteousness to fast while traveling

Arabic text

عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُما قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي سَفَرٍ، فَرَأَى زِحَامًا وَرَجُلًا قَدْ ظُلِّلَ عَلَيْهِ، فَقَالَ: «مَا هَذَا؟»، فَقَالُوا: صَائِمٌ، فَقَالَ: «لَيْسَ مِنَ البِرِّ الصَّوْمُ فِي السَّفَرِ»، وَفِي لَفْظٍ لِمُسلِمٍ: «عَلَيْكُمْ بِرُخْصَةِ اللهِ الَّذِي رَخَّصَ لَكُمْ».

Translation

Jābir ibn ‘Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was on a journey and saw a crowd of people, and a man was being shaded (by them). He asked: "What is the matter with that (man)?" They said: He is fasting. Thereupon, he said: "It is not from righteousness to fast while traveling." In another version by Muslim, he said: "Take advantage of the concession that Allah has granted you."

Explanation

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was on a journey and saw a man over whom people had gathered, shading him from the heat of the sun and his intense thirst. The Prophet (ﷺ) asked: What is the matter with him? They said: He is fasting. He said: It is not an act of righteousness to fast while traveling. You should accept Allah's concession that He has granted you.

Benefits

• Highlighting the ease of the Islamic Shariah.
• It is permissible to fast while traveling, and it is also permissible to take the concession by breaking the fast.
• Fasting while traveling is disliked if it causes hardship, unless it reaches the point of endangering one's life, in which case it becomes forbidden.
• An-Nawawi said: It is not from righteousness to fast while traveling—meaning: when it causes hardship or harm. The context of the Hadīth indicates this interpretation.
• The Prophet's care and concern for his Companions, and his inquiry about their conditions.

Topics

• Jurisprudence and Juristic Principles
• Jurisprudence of Acts of Worship
• Fasting
• Fasting of People with Excuses