22/74. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 2384 — Choice to Fast While Traveling
Fasting Continually
Fasting While Traveling Hadith and the Choice Given
Sunan an-Nasai : 2384
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 2384
أَخْبَرَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ حَبِيبِ بْنِ عَرَبِيٍّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ، عَنْ هِشَامٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، أَنَّ حَمْزَةَ بْنَ عَمْرٍو الأَسْلَمِيَّ، سَأَلَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي رَجُلٌ أَسْرُدُ الصَّوْمَ أَفَأَصُومُ فِي السَّفَرِ قَالَ " صُمْ إِنْ شِئْتَ أَوْ أَفْطِرْ إِنْ شِئْتَ " .
A'isha Narrated from:
Hamzah bin 'Amr Al-Aslami asked the Messenger of Allah: "O Messenger of Allah, I am a man who fasts continually: should I fast when traveling?" He said: "Fast if you wish and break you fast if you wish." 'Ata said: "someone who heard him told me that Ibn 'Umar (said) that the Prophet said: 'Whoever fasts every day of his life, and then he has not fasted."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 2384In-book reference : Book 22, Hadith 295English translation : Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 2386
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 2384
This hadith about fasting while traveling reports that Hamzah bin Amr Al-Aslami asked the Messenger of Allah about his situation. He was a man who fasted continually and wanted to know whether he should fast during travel. The Prophet gave a clear and simple answer: fast if you wish and break your fast if you wish. The narration does not force one single action in this case. It shows that the traveler mentioned in the text was given a choice. The focus is not on showing off endurance, nor on blaming someone for taking ease. It teaches that fasting while traveling can be handled with the guidance given by the Prophet in this report.
What we learn from this hadith
- A traveler in this narration was allowed to fast or break the fast.
- Questions about personal worship should be taken to prophetic guidance.
- The answer shows ease in the matter described.
- Continuous fasting did not remove the option to break the fast while traveling.
