Book 7: Fasting

‘A'isha said that Hamza b. ‘Amr al-Aslami who was greatly devoted to fasting asked the Prophet (ﷺ) 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.)

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri said that when they went out on an expedition with God’s messenger on the sixteenth of Ramadan some fasted and some broke their fast, but neither party found fault with the other. Muslim transmitted it.

Jabir said that in the course of a journey God’s messenger saw a crowd and a man who had been put in the shade. On asking the reason and being told that he was fasting he said, “Fasting while on a journey is not a part of righteousness.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Anas said that in the course of a journey with the Prophet (ﷺ) when some of them were fasting and others broke their fast, they alighted at a stage on a hot day, and while those who fasted collapsed those who had broken their fast rose and set up the tents and watered the riding-beasts, whereupon God's messenger said, “Those who broke their fast have earned all the reward today.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn ‘Abbas said God's messenger left Medina to go to Mecca and fasted till he reached ‘Usfan. He then called for water, and raising it aloft so that the people might see it, he broke his fast and did not resume it till he reached Mecca, and that was in Ramadan. Ibn ‘Abbas used to say, “God’s messenger has fasted and has broken his fast, so he who wishes may fast and he who wishes may break his fast.” (Bukhari and Muslim.) In a version by Muslim from Jabir it says that he drank after the afternoon prayer.