13th May 2015
السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته
Question. The Holy Qur’ān gives the concession for a traveler not to fast during Ramadhān. Does this apply to a fasting person who initiates his journey after Subhu Sādiq and during his journey breaks his Fast deliberately? Would such an individual become sinful or not? In addition to Qadhā, is Kaffarah necessary?
الجواب حامداً و مصلياً
In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer
According to the Hanafi School, the concession for a Musāfir (traveler) not to fast applies only if the person in question was became a Musāfir at Subhu Sādiq (the beginning time of Fajr when fast begins) time. In the aforementioned case, the fasting person was a Muqeem (resident) during Subhu Sādiq, thus was not permitted to break the fast without a valid reason. If he ended up breaking his fast deliberately however after initiating the journey during the day (i.e. after Subhu Sadiq) then only Qadhā is necessary and not Kaffarah. If he decided to intentionally break his fast at home before starting his journey then both Qadhā and Kaffarah become necessary.[1]
[Allāh Knows Best]
Written by (Mufti) Abdul Waheed
Answer Attested by Shaykh Mufti Saiful Islam
JKN Fatawa Department
[1] Fatawa Hindiyyah, Kitabus Sawm, p.227, vol 1
(الْبَابُ الْخَامِسُ فِي الْأَعْذَارِ الَّتِي تُبِيحُ الْإِفْطَارَ) . (مِنْهَا السَّفَرُ) الَّذِي يُبِيحُ الْفِطْرَ وَهُوَ لَيْسَ بِعُذْرٍ فِي الْيَوْمِ الَّذِي أَنْشَأَ السَّفَرَ فِيهِ كَذَا فِي الْغِيَاثِيَّةِ. فَلَوْ سَافَرَ نَهَارًا لَا يُبَاحُ لَهُ الْفِطْرُ فِي ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ، وَإِنْ أَفْطَرَ لَا كَفَّارَةَ عَلَيْهِ بِخِلَافِ مَا لَوْ أَفْطَرَ ثُمَّ سَافَرَ كَذَا فِي مُحِيطِ السَّرَخْسِيِّ