If the excuse is one that permits breaking the fast, such as travel, does it interrupt the succession? There are two views regarding this. One is that it does interrupt it because he breaks the fast by his own choice. The second is that it does not interrupt it because it is an excuse for breaking the fast in Ramadan, so it resembles illness. The second state (1) is that he breaks the fast without an excuse, in which case he is obligated to restart the fast and there is no expiation upon him, because he abandoned the vowed succession without an excuse despite being able to perform it, so he is obligated to perform it, just as if he had vowed a specific fast and fasted before it. Al-Shafi'i held this view, except regarding the expiation, for he does not deem it obligatory for the vowed act (2), and we have already mentioned the evidence for its obligation (3).
Section: If he fasts a month from the start of the crescent moon, it suffices him, whether it is incomplete or complete, because the period between the two crescent moons is a month, and for that reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "The month is indeed twenty-nine [days]" (4). If he begins from the middle of a month, he is obligated to [fast] a month by the count, thirty days, due to the saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): "Fast upon seeing it and break the fast upon seeing it; and if it is obscured for you, then complete thirty [days]" (5). If he fasts Shawwal, he is obligated to complete it to thirty because he began from its middle; and if it was incomplete, he makes up two days, and if it was complete, he completes one day. If he fasts Dhu al-Hijjah, he breaks the fast on the day of al-Adha and the days of Tashriq, and his succession is not interrupted, just as if a woman breaks the fast due to menstruation, and he incurs an expiation, and he makes up four days if it was complete, and five if it was incomplete. It is possible that he is not obligated to make up anything but the four, even if it was incomplete; because he began it from its start, so he makes up what was left of it—not more.
(1) Meaning: The second state. (2) In [B]: "the vow". (3) Previously mentioned on page 622 and thereafter. (4) Recorded by Al-Bukhari in: Chapter on Prayer on Rooftops..., from the Book of Prayer; and in: Chapter on the Bedroom and the Elevated Chamber..., from the Book of Grievances; and in: Chapter on a Man's Admonition to His Daughter..., from the Book of Marriage; and in: Chapter on Whoever Swears Not to Enter Upon His Family..., from the Book of Oaths and Vows. Sahih al-Bukhari 1/106, 3/176, 7/38, 8/173. Al-Tirmidhi, in: Chapter on What Was Said About the Month Being Twenty-Nine. 'Aridat al-Ahwadhi 3/205. Al-Nasa'i, in: Chapter on How Long the Month Is, from the Book of Fasting. Al-Mujtaba 4/111-113. Ibn Majah, in: Chapter on What Was Said About the Month Being Twenty-Nine, from the Book of Fasting; and in: Chapter on Ila', from the Book of Divorce. Sunan Ibn Majah 1/530, 664. Al-Darimi, in: Chapter on the Month Being Twenty-Nine, from the Book of Fasting. Sunan al-Darimi 2/4. Imam Malik, in: Chapter on What Was Said About Sighting the Crescent for Fasting..., from the Book of Fasting. Al-Muwatta' 1/286. Imam Ahmad, in: Al-Musnad 1/281, 258, 340, 2/31, 40, 56, 75, 78, 251, 298, 3/200, 341, 6/33, 51, 105, 163, 243, 315. See what was previously mentioned in: 4/331, 10/503. (5) Its verification was previously mentioned in: 4/330.
