22/58. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 2304 — Travel Fasting Choice
Mentioning the Differences in the Report from Hisham 'Urwah about it
Should I Fast While Traveling? The Prophetic Answer
Sunan an-Nasai : 2304
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 2304
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ بِشْرٍ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ حَمْزَةَ بْنِ عَمْرٍو الأَسْلَمِيِّ، أَنَّهُ سَأَلَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَصُومُ فِي السَّفَرِ قَالَ " إِنْ شِئْتَ فَصُمْ وَإِنْ شِئْتَ فَأَفْطِرْ " .
Hamzah bin 'Amr Al-Aslami Narrated from:
It was narrated from Hamzah bin 'Amr Al-Aslami that he asked the Messenger of Allah: "Should I fast while traveling?" He said: "If you wish then fast, and if you wish then do not fast."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 2304In-book reference : Book 22, Hadith 215English translation : Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 2306
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 2304
This Hadith gives a short and direct answer to the question: should I fast while traveling? Hamzah bin Amr Al-Aslami asked the Messenger of Allah, and the Prophet did not answer with pressure or blame. He said that if Hamzah wished, he could fast, and if he wished, he could break the fast. The strength of this narration is its clarity. It speaks to anyone searching for hadith about fasting during travel or Ramadan travel fasting. The teaching stays within the words of the report: there is permission to fast, and there is permission not to fast. The decision is left to the traveler in the way stated by the Prophet.
What we learn from this hadith
- The traveler is given a clear option.
- Fasting while traveling is allowed for one who chooses it.
- Not fasting while traveling is also allowed in this text.
