It is not from righteousness to fast while traveling
Narrator in the source: Jābir ibn ‘Abdullah reported that he heard the Prophet say:
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."- Grade in the source
- Authentic
- Reported by
- Agreed upon
- Source entry
- HadeethEnc · 4503 ↗
Original Arabic wording
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».Understand this hadith
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.
Lessons from the hadith
- 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.
References (original Arabic)
صحيح البخاري (3/ 34) (1946). صحيح مسلم (2/ 786) (1115). تيسير العلام، للبسام (ص327). تنبيه الأفهام شرح عمدة الإحكام، لابن عثيمين (3/ 433).