What is the ruling on breaking the fast on the day one begins traveling during the daytime in Ramadan?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Fasting
Primary text
There are two narrations from Ahmad regarding the permissibility of breaking the fast on the day one travels during Ramadan. The first narration permits it, supported by 'Ubayd ibn Jubayr's account of Abu Basra al-Ghifari eating on a ship after beginning his journey while still seeing the houses. This view is held by 'Amr ibn Shurahbil, Al-Sha'bi, Ishaq, Dawud, and Ibn al-Mundhir. The justification is that travel, if it occurs at night and continues into the day, permits breaking the fast, thus it permits it when it occurs during the day, similar to illness.
Supporting text
The second narration prohibits breaking the fast that day. This is the position of Mak'hul, Al-Zuhri, Yahya al-Ansari, Malik, Al-Awza'i, Al-Shafi'i, and the Companions of Opinion. They argue that since prayer favors the resident status when both statuses are present, the resident status should prevail in fasting. However, the first opinion is considered sounder based on the hadith and the difference between prayer and fasting, as prayer requires completion based on the intention, which is not the case with fasting.