Umar, Ibn Abbas, Sa'id ibn al-Musayyab, al-Sha'bi, al-Awza'i, and Ishaq. Abu Hanifah, Malik, and al-Shafi'i said: Fasting is better for those who are strong enough for it. This is also reported from Anas and Uthman ibn Abi al-As. They argued with what was reported from Salamah (10) ibn al-Muhabbaq, that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Whoever has a mount that allows him to reach a state of satiety, let him fast Ramadan wherever he finds it." Reported by Abu Dawud (11). Also, because whoever is given a choice between fasting and breaking the fast, fasting is better for him, like in supererogatory worship. Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz, Mujahid, and Qatadah said: The better of the two options is the easier one, due to the saying of Allah the Exalted: "Allah intends for you ease" (13). And because of what was reported by Abu Dawud (14) from Hamzah ibn Amr, who said: I said: O Messenger of Allah, I am an owner of a mount; I manage it, travel on it, and hire it out. It sometimes happens that this month—meaning Ramadan—catches up with me while I find the strength, and I am a young man. I find that fasting, O Messenger of Allah, is easier for me than delaying it, for it would then be a debt upon me. So should I fast, O Messenger of Allah, which is greater for my reward, or (15) should I break my fast? He said: "Whichever of those you wish, O Hamzah."

As for us, we rely on the reports mentioned in the previous section. It was also reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) that he said: "The best among you is the one who breaks his fast while traveling and shortens his prayers" (16). Also, breaking the fast avoids the disagreement [among scholars], and is therefore better, like shortening the prayer. Their analogy is invalidated by the case of the sick person and the fasting of days on which fasting is disliked.

509 - Issue: He said: (The makeup of the month of Ramadan may be performed separately, though consecutive is better.)

This is the view of Ibn Abbas, Anas ibn Malik, Abu Hurayrah, Ibn Muhayriz, and Abu Qilabah,