Source: http://qa.muftisays.com/?11572
Question ID: #11572
 
Question: Ramadan as Commuting Student
I’m a student who commutes 51-61 miles (about 1 hour and 15 minutes) each way to and from my university about 3-4 times a week. According to Hanafi fiqh, a person is considered a traveler (musafir) if they travel 48 miles (77 km) or more, but I’ve also heard that frequent travel might not count.

Since I travel this distance and return home each night, does this mean I still qualify as a musafir and can skip fasting, or am I considered a frequent traveler who must fast? It would be less than 15 days.

Would appreciate any insights based on Hanafi rulings. JazakAllah khair!
 
 
Answered by: Ulamaa ID 04 (London)
Date: 02/03/2025 14:00pm

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الجواب حامداومصليا

If you find it difficult to fast when traveling then you can make it up on another day. Otherwise, if you are able to fast you should as it is better to do so.

أَيَّامًۭا مَّعْدُودَٰتٍۢ ۚ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍۢ فَعِدَّةٌۭ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۚ وَعَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُۥ فِدْيَةٌۭ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍۢ ۖ فَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًۭا فَهُوَ خَيْرٌۭ لَّهُۥ ۚ وَأَن تَصُومُوا۟ خَيْرٌۭ لَّكُمْ ۖ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ

Fast a˺ prescribed number of days. But whoever of you is ill or on a journey, then ˹let them fast˺ an equal number of days ˹after Ramaḍân˺. For those who can only fast with extreme difficulty, compensation can be made by feeding a needy person ˹for every day not fasted˺. But whoever volunteers to give more, it is better for them. And to fast is better for you, if only you knew. (2:184)

And Allah knows best

02 Ramadhan 1446/ 02 March 2025


Mufti Qamruzzaman

London, UK
 
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