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Fatwa CenterHis college scientific expedition will coincide with Ramadan
Question
Aslamu-Alaikum. My name is Saad Qureshi and I want pursue medicine as a career but nowadays it is competitive to get a place in university. To enhance my application I decided to take part in Duke of Ediburgh. It involves walking for 10 hours through forests and living in them for 5 days and 4 nights. Unfortunately the expedition has got a set date in August where you HAVE to do the expidition. You can not change the date of the expedition. Now, the expedition coincides with the Holy month of Ramadan and this means that you have to miss 4 fasts because it is not physically possible to fast as you are walking constantly. Last summer, me and my friend, Usman Hayat, both missed 4 fasts during Ramadan to complete our practice expedition. Now for my real expedition, which will be next summer, I will miss 4 days of Ramadan again. I am asking this question on behalf of my friend because we have a small issue.... Usman can do the final expedition in March as he has done more practice expeditions before. I can not do the final expedition in March as I have not done as much expeditions. My friend was wondering whether he should fast in Ramadan or do the expedition with me as a Muslim friend because I will be put through a lot of pain, stress as I will be doing the expedition with a stranger. NOTE: the main issue is my friend thinks he thinks of his own interests as he missed Ramdan vfore when he didnt have a choice but now he does, he is not willing to miss it for a muslim friend who will undoubtedly be put under a lot of stress and pain. COULD YOU PLEASE GIVE EVIDENCE FROM QURAN OR HADITH OR ANY SCHOLARLY BOOK FOR A DECISION. Many Thanks, Aslamu Alaikum
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
If the distance that you (both you and your friend) will cross reaches the minimum distance of what is considered to be a travel (i.e. 81 kms), then it is permissible for you to break the fast because you are travelers, and Allaah permitted a traveler to break his fast; Allaah Says (what means): {So whoever among you is ill or on a journey [during them] - then an equal number of days [are to be made up].} [Quran 2:184]
However, the concession to break the fast ends if you reside in a place for four days or more, in which case, you should fast from the first day you reside in it.
On the other hand, if the distance does not reach the minimum distance for travel, then we cannot find for you any excuse to break the fast in Ramadan, so you are obligated to fast, then if you face a hardship that makes it impossible for you to fast due to walking or else, then it becomes permissible for whoever faces such a hardship to break his fast and make it up later.
It should be noted that it is not permissible to participate in that expedition if it includes a forbidden matter, like mixing with women, or accompanying them and the like. Also, you should not make fasting your last priority while giving more priority to such matters.
Allaah Knows best.
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