Al-Shafi‘i said: The meaning of the Prophet’s statement, peace and blessings be upon him, “It is not from righteousness to fast while traveling,” and his statement when he was informed that some people had fasted, whereupon he said, “Those are the disobedient ones,” is only [applicable] when one’s heart cannot accept God’s concession. As for one who regards breaking the fast as permissible, yet fasts and has the strength to do so, that is more pleasing to me.

19 - Chapter on what has been reported regarding the concession [not to fast] while traveling

720 - Harun ibn Ishaq al-Hamdani narrated to us, saying: ‘Abdah ibn Sulayman narrated to us, from Hisham ibn ‘Urwah, from his father, from ‘A’ishah: that Hamzah ibn ‘Amr al-Aslami asked the Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him, about fasting while traveling, and he used to fast continuously. The Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “If you wish, fast, and if you wish, break your fast.”(1)

In this chapter [there are also reports] from Anas ibn Malik, Abu Sa‘id, ‘Abd Allah ibn Mas‘ud, ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Amr, Abu al-Darda’, and Hamzah ibn ‘Amr al-Aslami.

The hadith of ‘A’ishah, that Hamzah ibn ‘Amr al-Aslami asked the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, is a good and authentic hadith.

721 - Nasr ibn ‘Ali al-Jahdami narrated to us, saying: Bishr ibn al-Mufaddal narrated to us, from Sa‘id ibn Yazid Abu Maslamah, from Abu Nadrah--------------------------------------------
(1) An authentic hadith, reported by al-Bukhari (1943), Muslim (1121), Abu Dawud (2402), Ibn Majah (1662), al-Nasa’i 4/187, 188, and 207. It is in al-Musnad (24196) and Sahih Ibn Hibban (3560).