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The question

Is it permissible for a traveler to break their fast in Ramadan when the duration of their stay is unknown?

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Source: FtawySummarized from the full answer at Ftawy · imported Sep 2, 20261 min readAlso available in العربية
The answer

If a traveler intends to stay for four days or more, then he is considered a resident and must complete the four-rak'ah prayers and fast. However, if he does not intend to stay for four days, he is considered a traveler and is permitted to shorten prayers and break his fast. It is stated in Al-Mughni by Ibn Qudamah: "Whoever does not intend to reside for a period exceeding twenty-one prayers is permitted to shorten prayers, even if he stays for years." Ibn al-Mundhir said: "The people of knowledge are in agreement that a traveler may shorten prayers as long as he does not intend to reside, even if years pass." In Fatawa Nur ala al-Darb by Sheikh Ibn Baz: "It is legislated for the traveler to pray two rak'ahs for the four-rak'ah prayers of Dhuhr, Asr, and Isha. This is the Sunnah. If he leaves his town and separates from its buildings, he prays two rak'ahs until he returns. However, if he resides during his journey for a long stay of more than four days, he must complete the prayers according to the majority of scholars." Based on this, if you do not intend to stay for more than four days in Madinah, you are permitted to shorten prayers and break your fast until you return to your country. But if you are certain that your stay will exceed four days, then you must fast.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · imported

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Ftawy
Original fatwa ID
127887
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