"The Messenger of Allah went out to Makkah in the year of the Conquest in Ramadan. He fasted until he reached Kura Al-Ghamim, and the people fast, so he called for a vessel of water after 'Asr and drank it while the people were looking on. Then some of the people broke their fast and some continued to fast. He heard that some people were still fasting and he said: 'Those are the disobedient ones.
The Book of Fasting - Sunan an-Nasa'i 2263
This narration from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) during the Conquest of Makkah provides profound guidance on the flexibility and wisdom of Islamic law. The scholars explain that the Prophet's action of breaking his fast while traveling demonstrates the divine concession (rukhṣah) granted to travelers, allowing them to break their fast even if they are physically capable of continuing.
Scholarly Commentary on the Prophet's Action
Imam an-Nawawi and other classical scholars clarify that the Prophet's public demonstration of breaking his fast served to teach the ummah the permissibility and virtue of utilizing Allah's concessions. By drinking water in front of everyone after 'Asr prayer, he visibly established this important legal principle.
The great jurist Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani explains in Fath al-Bari that the Prophet's statement "Those are the disobedient ones" refers to those who insisted on fasting despite clear evidence of the concession. This indicates that rejecting legitimate concessions without valid reason is contrary to the spirit of Islamic law.
Legal Rulings Derived from this Hadith
The majority of scholars hold that while fasting while traveling is technically valid, utilizing the concession is superior. The Hanafi and Maliki schools consider breaking the fast preferable, while the Shafi'i and Hanbali schools maintain both options are equal in merit.
This incident establishes that travelers may break their fast at any time during the day, as evidenced by the Prophet breaking his fast after 'Asr. The wisdom behind this concession preserves the traveler's strength and prevents unnecessary hardship.
Spiritual Lessons and Contemporary Application
This teaching reminds Muslims that Islam is a religion of ease, not hardship. The scholars emphasize that accepting Allah's concessions demonstrates gratitude for His mercy and follows the Sunnah more completely than imposing unnecessary difficulty upon oneself.
In modern contexts, this ruling applies to various forms of travel, with scholars differing on specific distance requirements. The essential principle remains: when legitimate travel conditions exist, the concession is available and should be embraced as an expression of following the Prophet's example.