Someone presented selected extracts from the sayings of the Promised Messiah^(as) and Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^(ra) regarding leave from fasting in Ramadan for travellers and asked Huzoor^(aba) for guidance on how the various sayings could be reconciled.

Huzoor^(aba), in his letter dated 11 June 2019, gave the following answer to this question:

“There is no contradiction between the two types of sayings quoted in your letter. In light of the clear command of the Holy Quran, the Promised Messiah^(as) and Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^(ra) have said that the traveller and the sick should not fast. And if a person fasts while he is sick or on a journey, he disobeys the clear commandment of God Almighty.

“As far as this saying of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^(ra) is concerned that, ‘There is travel during fasting. There is no fasting during travel’, if the entire sermon is studied carefully, it becomes obvious that by giving various examples, Huzoor^(ra) is, in fact, explaining that fasting is forbidden by the Shariah during a journey that is made with the intention of travelling and for which regular preparations are undertaken by preparing the luggage, even if it is a short journey. However, a journey that is made as part of a trip for enjoyment or excursion will not be considered as ‘travelling’ for the purposes of fasting and one would fast during it.

“Huzoor’s^(ra) other statements on the issue of fasting during travel support this understanding of his statement.”