‘A'isha said that Hamza b. ‘Amr al-Aslami who was greatly devoted to fasting asked the Prophet whether he should fast when on a journey, and received the reply, “Fast if you like, or break your fast if you like.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)
Commentary on the Permissibility of Fasting During Travel
This narration from the Mother of the Believers, 'A'isha, concerning Hamza ibn 'Amr al-Aslami, establishes a fundamental principle in the Islamic legal rulings (ahkam) pertaining to fasting while traveling. The Prophet's response, "Fast if you like, or break your fast if you like," demonstrates the divine mercy and ease granted by Allah in His sacred law.
The Legal Ruling (Hukm) and Its Wisdom
The explicit text (nass) indicates that fasting during travel is a matter of choice (rukhsah), not obligation. This ruling applies regardless of whether the journey is easy or difficult, though the scholars have differed on specific conditions.
The wisdom behind this concession is to prevent hardship (mashaqqah) upon the Muslim ummah. Travel itself involves physical exertion and potential difficulty; to mandate fasting upon that would constitute an undue burden, contrary to the fundamental principle that "Allah desires ease for you, and does not desire hardship for you" (Qur'an 2:185).
Distinction Between the Traveler and the Resident
This hadith distinguishes the legal status of the traveler (musafir) from that of the resident (muqim). While the resident is obligated to fast during Ramadan, the traveler is given a license to defer this obligation and make up the missed days later, as clarified in other texts (Qur'an 2:184-185).
The choice given to Hamza, a man known for his devotion to fasting, shows that even for the most devout, the concession remains valid and taking the easier option is not a deficiency in faith, but an acceptance of Allah's mercy.
Scholarly Consensus and Differences
There is consensus (ijma') among the scholars that it is permissible for a traveler to break their fast. However, they differed concerning which is superior: fasting or breaking the fast. The majority hold that breaking the fast is superior if the journey is difficult, while fasting is superior if the journey is easy, based on the principle of choosing the easier of two good actions when no specific preference is stated by the Lawgiver.