Someone presented selected extracts from the sayings of the Promised Messiahas and Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra regarding leave from fasting in Ramadan for travellers and asked Huzooraa for guidance on how the various sayings could be reconciled.
Huzooraa, 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 Messiahas and Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra 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-Maudra 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, Huzoorra 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’sra other statements on the issue of fasting during travel support this understanding of his statement.”