13/17. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1121e — Allah’s Concession in Travel
The choice between fasting and not fasting when travelling
Fasting While Traveling and Allah’s Concession
Sahih Muslim : 1121e
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1121e
وَحَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ، وَهَارُونُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ الأَيْلِيُّ، - قَالَ هَارُونُ حَدَّثَنَا وَقَالَ أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي عَمْرُو بْنُ الْحَارِثِ، عَنْ أَبِي الأَسْوَدِ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ أَبِي مُرَاوِحٍ، عَنْ حَمْزَةَ بْنِ عَمْرٍو الأَسْلَمِيِّ، - رضى الله عنه - أَنَّهُ قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَجِدُ بِي قُوَّةً عَلَى الصِّيَامِ فِي السَّفَرِ فَهَلْ عَلَىَّ جُنَاحٌ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " هِيَ رُخْصَةٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ فَمَنْ أَخَذَ بِهَا فَحَسَنٌ وَمَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يَصُومَ فَلاَ جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ " . قَالَ هَارُونُ فِي حَدِيثِهِ " هِيَ رُخْصَةٌ " . وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ مِنَ اللَّهِ .
Hamza b. 'Amr al-Aslami Narrated from:
Messenger of Allah, I find strength in me for fasting on a journey; is there any sin upon me (in doing it)? Thereupon the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: It is a concession from Allah. He who took advantage of it, it is good for him, and he who preferred to observe fast, there is no sin upon him. Harun (one of the narrators) in his narration said: 'lt is a concession, and he made no mention of" from Allah".
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1121eIn-book reference : Book 13, Hadith 135USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 6, Hadith 2491
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1121e
This hadith gives a clear answer about fasting while traveling. Hamza ibn Amr al-Aslami tells the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم that he finds strength to fast on a journey. He asks whether there is any sin upon him if he does so. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم answers that it is a concession from Allah. Whoever takes that concession, it is good for him, and whoever prefers to fast, there is no sin upon him. The hadith teaches balance. It does not shame the one who breaks the fast during travel, and it does not blame the one who can fast. The focus is ease, choice, and mercy within worship.
What we learn from this hadith
- Breaking the fast during travel is described as a concession from Allah.
- Taking the concession is good for the traveler.
- A traveler who has strength and chooses to fast has no sin upon him.
- Islamic worship includes ease when circumstances change.
