Fasting and Travelling - When does it become optional and for what reason?

[Idrees]

Assalamu alaykum

I know if you intend to travel more than 48miles and if fasting is difficult for you, then you dont have to fast and or you can break it if you tried to fast but it is getting to hard and difficult and make it up later?

But for what reasons? for example i travel up and down the country sometimes 200 odd miles etc. to collect items for work. on the long journeys, can i opt not to fast? what about if its not work related, i simply have won an item off ebay and have to travel from Bradford to London and Back?

or better example would be colleagues at work are arranging a trip to blackpool which is over 48miles , now can i choose not to fast on this day? i know you'll lose out on the benefits of a ramadan fast but it seems a lot of muslims are now using this loop hole regularly.

Can i say to the muslims who go blackpool without a fast that it is wrong? even thought they are only not fasting so they can partake in bbqs etc. and the joys of the day?

or is it perfectly allowed.

Hope someone can clarify as i recently know a family that went ona trip during ramadan and didnt fast (still read prayers etc.) but i didnt think it was appropriate to do a family outing in ramadan to the likes of lake district etc.

Jazakallah

Wassalam

[mercyofAllah]

http://www.askimam.org/public/question_detail/19006
Here the fifth question is similar to the OP but unfortunately it was not answered.

Anyway from the other fatwa which is not even a leisure trip, one is recommended to fast.

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatoh

Considering the fact that the minimum distance for becoming a Musāfir (Shar‘ī traveler) is 78km and that you will be travelling further than that, it will not be compulsory for you to keep he fast. However, despite this concession, we highly recommend you to try to best to keep the fast due to the immense reward and blessing of the fasts of Ramadān. Although it might be somewhat straining for you, if you can manage to keep the fast, you will be rewarded tremendously. If you speak to the persons in charge of the trip and explain your religious practices, they should understand your situation and assist you in your requirements. If you do not think that you will be able to manage keeping the fast, you can make it up after Ramadān.

And Allah knows best

Wassalam

Ml. Yusuf bin Yaqub,
Student Darul Iftaa

Concurred by:

Ml. Ehzaz Ajmeri,
Student Darul Iftaa

Darul Iftaa, Madrassah In'aamiyyah
http://www.askimam.org/public/question_detail/17072

Allahu alam

[Acacia]

JazakAllah khayran sister, this supports the following excerpt from Ascent to Felicity:A Manual on Islamic Creed and Hanafi Jurisprudence

Exemptions from fasting

The following people are exempted from fasting in Ramadan:
...
Or a traveler, 512 yet for him to fast is more preferable if it does not harm him.
...

512 With the condition that he initiates the journey and is outside city limits, or is already a traveler, at the onset of fajr. Otherwise if he is resident when fajr enters, then he must fast that day, even if he travels after fajr. If he still breaks his fast then there is no expiation, although it is sinful (Maraqi 'l-Falah, Tahtawi 2:355). Finally, unlike the above categories, the traveller cannot break the fast after having started it (Radd 2:122-3).

[Just like to add some thoughts: if sahabi would choose to fast even though they were exempt and traveling was much more difficult on foot or on the back of a camel, under the full heat of the sun, without AC, perhaps resting in accommodations where they had little control... perhaps fasting now is not such a difficult task. Also, what about those who work in construction, roofing, street maintenance etc... they're out there working and yet fast, I'm not sure traveling is traveling in the same sense it used to be. Allahu Alam.]

[Acacia]

For those following the Maliki madhab, here is an excerpt from The Risala : A Treatise on Maliki Fiqh

23.12. A traveller

23.12a. Length of journey

If you are on a journey for which you can shorten the prayer you are permitted to break the fast
even if there is no particular need to do so, making up any days missed later, but according to us
it is better to fast.

[If you go on a journey at the time of the intention such that you will reach a limit where shortening
the prayers begins before dawn. So the distance is four or more mail stages of a return journey, and it
should not be a journey involving disobedience of Allah. You are permitted to break it, eat, drink and
have intercourse. This is even if the journey is not necessary. There is no disagreement that he must
make up the fast by the words of the Almighty, "the prescribed number should be made up from days
later," (2:184) The Malikis prefer that the one one who is strong enough should fast because the
Almighty says, "It is better for you if you fast."]

23.12b A journey of less than the minimum

If anyone travels less than four mail stages (48 miles) and breaks the fast thinking it is
permissable to do so, they do not have to do kaffara although they must make up the day.
[Anyone who breaks the fast through an interpretation does not have to do kaffara.]

[Because he followed an interpretation. He is only obliged to make it up without dispute. The literal
words about the one who uses interpretation not owing kaffara are unrestricted, but there is a wellknown
disagreement. The interpretation must be a likely one. There is no kaffara because he is
excused by relying on a strong reason. If the interpretation is unlikely, which is when its reason is not
strong, then there is kaffara. One of the cases in which is the reason is strong is the case we mentioned
about the old man, and the one who breaks the fast out of forgetfulness and then breaks it intentionally
that it is permitted: he owes no kaffara. There is also the case of the person in janaba or menstruating
before dawn who only had a ghusl for that after fajr and thought that the fast for that day was not
obliged and deliberately did not fast: he has no kaffara. There is the case of someone who who has
suhur at fajr and thinks that the fast for that day is not binding and so he breaks it after that
intentionally: he owes no kaffara. There is the one who arrives after a journey at night in Ramadan and
thinks that he does not have to fast the morning of that day and that one of the preconditions of the
obligation of the fast is that he come from the journey before sunset. and so he breaks it deliberately:
he owes no kaffara.

Unlikely cases are those in which the cause is weak. If he sees the moon of Ramadan and his
testimony is not accepted and he thinks that the fast is not binding for him and so he breaks it - he
owes kaffara. Part of it is the person who normally has a fever every three days and so when the day
he comes he breaks the fast and then the fever comes to him on that day. He is obliged to do kaffara,
and even more so if it does not come. One is the woman who normally menstruates on a particular day
and so she does not fast that day and then she menstruates later in the day. One of them is the one
slanders a person in Ramadan and thinks that that invalidates his fast because he ate the eat of his the
flesh of his brother and so he breaks it intentionally. He must do kaffara, and make it up.]