Optional Fasting on a Journey and Qada’ (compensatory fast) of Fasting Missed on a Journey

خَرَجَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ فِي أَيَّامٍ بَقِينَ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ فَكَانَ يَصُومُ ثُمَّ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ وَ هُوَ فِي السَّفَرِ فَأَفْطَرَ فَقِيلَ لَهُ تَصُومُ شَعْبَانَ وَ تُفْطِرُ شَهْرَ رَمَضَانَ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ شَعْبَانُ إِلَيَّ إِنْ شِئْتُ صُمْتُ وَ إِنْ شِئْتُ لَا[1] وَ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ عَزْمٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَلَيَّ الْإِفْطَارُ.

“Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), commenced a journey just a few days before the end of the month of al-Sha‘ban and he (the Imam) was fasting. The month of Ramadan then started while he (the Imam) was still on his journey but he stopped fasting. He (the Imam) was asked, ‘How is it that you have been fasting in the month of

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَصُومُ هَذِهِ الثَّلَاثَةَ الْأَيَّامِ فِي الشَّهْرِ فَرُبَّمَا سَافَرْتُ وَ رُبَّمَا أَصَابَتْنِي عِلَّةٌ فَيَجِبُ عَلَيَّ قَضَاؤُهَا قَالَ فَقَالَ لِي إِنَّمَا يَجِبُ الْفَرْضُ فَأَمَّا غَيْرُ الْفَرْضِ فَأَنْتَ فِيهِ بِالْخِيَارِ قُلْتُ بِالْخِيَارِ فِي السَّفَرِ وَ الْمَرَضِ قَالَ فَقَالَ الْمَرَضُ قَدْ وَضَعَهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَنْكَ وَ السَّفَرُ إِنْ شِئْتَ فَاقْضِهِ وَ إ

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), that I fast these three days of the month but perhaps I travel or become ill, am I required to complete its Qada’ (compensatory fast)? He (the Imam) said, ‘Qada’ (compensatory fast) is obligatory for obligatory fast which is missed. In the case of optional fast it is up to you.’ I

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ صَوْمِ ثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ فِي الشَّهْرِ هَلْ فِيهِ قَضَاءٌ عَلَى الْمُسَافِرِ قَالَ لَا.

“I once asked al-Rida’ (a.s.), about the case of the three days’ fasting every month, if Qada’ (compensatory fast) is required from a traveler. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, he is not required to fast.’”

قُلْتُ لِلرِّضَا ع أُرِيدُ السَّفَرَ فَأَصُومُ لِشَهْرِيَ الَّذِي أُسَافِرُ فِيهِ قَالَ لَا قُلْتُ فَإِذَا قَدِمْتُ أَقْضِيهِ قَالَ لَا كَمَا لَا تَصُومُ كَذَلِكَ لَا تَقْضِي‌[3].

“I once asked al-Rida’ (a.s.), that I like to travel; can I fast in the month in which I am on a journey? He (the Imam) said, ‘No, you cannot do so.’ ‘Can I complete its Qada’ (compensatory fast) when I come home?’ I asked. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, just as you cannot fast in the same way you cannot carry out its Qada’

كُنْتُ مَعَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فِيمَا بَيْنَ مَكَّةَ وَ الْمَدِينَةِ فِي شَعْبَانَ وَ هُوَ صَائِمٌ ثُمَّ رَأَيْنَا هِلَالَ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَأَفْطَرَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ أَمْسِ كَانَ عَنْ شَعْبَانَ وَ أَنْتَ صَائِمٌ وَ الْيَوْمُ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ وَ أَنْتَ مُفْطِرٌ فَقَالَ إِنَّ ذَاكَ تَطَوُّعٌ وَ لَنَا أَنْ نَفْعَلَ مَا شِئْنَا وَ هَذَا فَرْضٌ فَلَيْسَ لَنَا أَنْ نَفْعَلَ إِلَّا مَا أُمِرْنَا.

“I once was with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), between Makkah and al-Madinah in the month of al-Sha‘ban and he (the Imam) was fasting; then we saw the crescent of the month of Ramadan and he (the Imam) stopped fasting. I then said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, yesterday was of the month of al-Sh