The Case of One Who Involves Himself in Carnal Relations with His Wife on a Journey or Returns from a Journey in the Month of Ramadan

“I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who travels in the month of Ramadan: if he can have sexual relation with women. He (the Imam) said, ’Yes, he can do so.’”

“I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about a man who experiences sexual relation with his wife in the month of Ramadan during a journey. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’”

“I once asked abu al-Hassan, Musa (a.s.), about a man who experiences sexual relation with his wife during a journey in the month of Ramadan. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’”

“This is about a man who experiences sexual relation with a slave-girl while on a journey in the month of Ramadan. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not harmful.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who travels in the month of Ramadan and with him there is his slave-girl: if he can experience sexual relation with her during the day in the month of Ramadan. He (the Imam) said, ‘Allah is free of all defects. Does he not recognize any respect for the month of Ramadan and that during the night there is a long time for him?’ I then asked, ‘Can he not eat, drink and reduce his Salat (prayer)?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Allah, most Blessed, most High, has granted permission to stop fasting and reduce one’s Salat (prayer) while on a journey. It is as a mercy and to provide ease for him; he becomes tired because of the difficulties of traveling. He has not granted permission to have sexual relation with a woman on a journey during the day in the month of Ramadan. He has made Qada’ (compensatory fast) of the fast of the month of Ramadan obligatory on him but He has not made Qada’ (compensatory) Salat (prayer) in complete form obligatory when he returns from his journey.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘It is not permissible to measure the Sunnah by means of analogy. When I travel in the month of Ramadan I do not eat more than bare necessities and do not drink to completely quench my thirst.’”

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about a man who experiences sexual relation with his slave-girl on a journey in the month of Ramadan during the day. He (the Imam) said, ‘He has not recognized any respect for the month of Ramadan even though there is a long time during the night.’” NOTE: Al-Kulayniy has said that it is better for one to pay respect to the month of Ramadan and abstain from sexual relation during the day. However, if one is overpowered by lust and is afraid from his soul in which case it is permissible to have what is lawful. It is as is permissible for a traveler who does not find water, when desire overpowers him, to have what is lawful. He has said that one receives rewards for it just as it is a sin when he commits something unlawful.