Salafi Research Institute SRI
Itihaf ul-Basim Fi Tahqiq Muwatta al-Imam Malik [Talkhis al-Qabisi] Riwayah Abdur Rahman ibn al-Qasim
Tahqiq, Takhrij, Sharh
Muhadith Zubair Ali Zai
Translated Abu Ubaydah
Translated, Checked & Additional Notes
Abu Hibban & Abu Khuzaimah Ansaari
Fasting Whilst Travelling is Optional
[50] And from the same chain of narration that “the Messenger of Allah (Sallalahu Alayhi Was-Sallam) left for Makah in Ramadhan during the year of the conquest, and fasted until he reached al-Kadid. He then broke the fast, and so everyone else did so as well. What people used to do was act according to whatever the Messenger of Allah (Sallalahu Alayhi Was-Sallam) had done most recently.”
[GRADING] – [SAHIH]
Ibn Shihab az-Zuhri clarified hearing (this hadith from Ubaydullah Ibn Abdullah Ibn Utba Ibn Mas’ud) in Bukhari (no.2953)
[REFERENCES] – [BUKHARI]
Al-Muwatta (Yahya’s narration 1/294 hadith no.659, book 18, chapter 7, hadith no.21) at-Tamhid (9/64) al-Istidhkar: (no.609)
Transmitted by Bukhari (no.1944) from the hadith of Malik summarised, and narrated by ad-Darimi (no.1715) from the hadith of Malik, and Muslim (no.1112) from the hadith of Zuhri.
[UNDERSTANDING FROM THE HADITH]
1) Fasting or opening the fast whilst travelling, both ways are allowed. If there is severe difficulty during travelling then it is more virtuous to open the fast otherwise it is better to fast when it is easy to do so. There is a difference of opinion between the scholars on this issue however this saying is most correct. And Allah knows best.
2) It has come in one narration that A’isha (Radi Allahu Anha) said, “O Messenger of Allah (Sallalahu Alayhi Was-Sallam), may my father and mother be ransomed for you, you shortened your prayers and I offered them in full, you did not fast and I fasted. He said: ‘Well done, O ‘Aisha!’ (Sunan an-Nasa’i (3/121) hadith (no.1457) and its chain is authentic) Hafidh Ibn Taymiyah’s jarh (criticism) on this hadith is rejected.
3) Abdullah Ibn Umar (Radi Allahu Anhu) did not fast whilst travelling. (al-Muwatta Yahya’s narration (1/295) hadith (no.663), and its chain is authentic) A’isha (Radi Allahu Anha) used to fast whilst she was travelling. (Ibn Abi Shaybah (3/16) hadith (no.8980) and its chain is authentic)
4) The Prophet (Sallalahu Alayhi Was-Sallam) said, “You may fast if you wish, and you may not fast if you wish.” (Sahih Bukhari: (no.1943), Sahih Muslim: (no.1121), al-Itihaf ul-Basim: (no.465))
Note: The meaning of al-Itihaf ul-Basim is this book, in which the text includes the manuscript of al-Muwatta described by Imam Abdurahman Ibn al-Qasim.
