Indeed, Islam is the religion of easiness. It imposes no hardship on its followers. Referring to this, Allah Almighty says, (… He hath chosen you and hath not laid upon you in religion any hardship…) (Al-Hajj 22: 78) Traveling during the daytime of Ramadan is a religiously acceptable reason to break one’s fast as long as one travels for a long distance (about 85 km or 53 mi) and that one is not traveling to commit sinful acts. This is the opinion of the majority of Muslim jurists.
Sheikh `Atiyyah Saqr, former head of Al-Azhar Fatwa Committee, states the following: Allah Almighty says, (The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance, and the Criterion (of right and wrong). And whosoever of you is present, let him fast the month, and whosoever of you is sick or on a journey, (let him fast the same) number of other days. Allah desireth for you ease; He desireth not hardship for you; and (He desireth) that ye should complete the period, and that ye should magnify Allah for having guided you, and that peradventure ye may be thankful.) (Al-Baqarah 2: 185)
It is also reported on the authority of Abu Said Al-Khudari (may Allah be pleased with him) who said, “We used to set out for battles in Ramadan while some of us were fasting and the others broke their fasting. The fasting people did not blame the fast-breaking nor did the latter, meaning none blamed the other. They agreed that he who found himself capable of fasting, it is better for him to fast, and that he who felt fatigued and broke the fast, it was good for him.” (Reported by Muslim and Ahmad)
It is clear from the above that traveling is a religiously acceptable reason to break the fast. According to Muslim jurists, such traveling should be for a long distance (about 85 km, 53 mi) and should not be intended for sinful acts.
The majority of Muslim jurists are of the opinion that if a person makes the intention in the evening to fast the next day, it is not permitted for him to break his fast if he starts traveling the next day. He must complete the fast that day. Only Imam Ahmad allows the person who starts traveling in the daytime to break the fast [regardless whether he had previously intended to fast that day or not]. He based his opinion on what was reported by At-Tirmidhi on the authority of Muhammad Ibn Ka`b, who said, “I came to Anas ibn Malik in Ramadan when he was preparing himself for traveling. His camel was ready for him and he was already dressed. He called for food and ate from it. I asked him: Is this a Sunnah? He replied (yes, it is) Sunnah, then, he commenced his journey.”
Here, I would like to conclude that if a person intends to fast the next day but he was forced for (an urgent reason) to travel on that day, he may be permitted to break his fast if he feels fatigued. Although this opinion contradicts opinion of the majority — who oblige the person not to break his fast for such a reason — I see that the person is permitted to break his fast because of the fatigue he feels, not for the mere reason of traveling. Feeling that one is fatigued can only be judged by the person himself, who should fear Allah, Who is well aware of what the person feels.