Date : 22-07-2010

Question :

My husband and I want to travel to London on a five-day training course during the blessed month of Ramadan. Is it permissible for us to break our fast during that period, or only during the day(s) we travel by plane?


The Answer :

Praise be to Allah , prayers and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah.



One who wants to make use of the concession granted to a traveler during Ramadan, his travel must meet four conditions:



1- His journey must exceed 81 km.



2- His travel must be for a lawful purpose (Mobah) or to perform an act of devotion (Ta`a) and not to commit a sin (Ma`sieh).



3- He must begin travel before Fajr (Dawn prayer), but if the time for Fajr prayer has already begun and his journey hasn't started yet, it is not permissible for him to break his fast that day (he must fast). However, it is permissible for him to break his fast the following days if the fourth condition applies to him.



4- He does not stay in the place he travelled to for four days or more, excluding the days of arrival and departure , and if he intends to stay longer than that, it is not permissible for him to break his fast except during transit. When he returns to his country, he may not break his fast because he is not considered a traveler ;rather, he is a resident. Al-Imam Al-Shafi'i (may Allah be pleased with him) said: " Whosoever approaches a country as a traveler while not fasting, he may break his fast there so long as he has not intended a stay of four days".Kindly refer to [Asnaa Al-Matalib,vol.1/pp.237]. And Allah Knows Best.