Breaking Sawm in Ramadan for a patrolling policeman

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Q 1: During my service as a military guard of King `Abdul-`Aziz (may Allah be merciful to him), we traveled from Al-Ta'if to Riyadh. In the middle of Ramadan, while we were observing Sawm (Fast), tents were set up for us at Qasr Al-Murabba` by Fajr (Dawn). I had the guns gathered and appointed a guard to take care of them for two hours before noon. It was such a sweltering summer that I felt unbearable thirst. At the end I found myself forced to drink. Then I abstained and completed fasting. I did so in spite of the fact that neither I nor any other person of the guard knew whether we were to be considered travelers or residents. Asking a religious scholar about the ruling in this regard, he stated that a day of Ramadan cannot be made up for through observing Sawm on another day. Please advise about the ruling on that!

A: If the reality is as you have mentioned, then you have an excuse for breaking your Sawm. You did well in completing fasting the day. You have to fast a day in place of the day on which you broke Sawm with an excuse. You have mentioned in your inquiry that you have already fasted a day to make up for the missed day, thus this suffices you. Allah is full of mercy towards His Servants. (Part No. 10; Page No. 231) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.