Ramaḍān and Fasting

Intercourse While Fasting in Ramadan: Expiation

Shaykh Muqbil ibn Hādī al-Wādiʿī explains the expiation for a man who has intercourse with his wife during the daytime in Ramaḍān. Based on authentic ḥadīths, the prescribed expiation is to free a slave, or if not possible, to fast two consecutive months, and if unable, to feed sixty poor people.

September 6, 2016

Questioner:

What expiations are obligatory upon the man who has sexual intercourse with his wife during the daytime in Ramaḍan?

Shaykh Muqbil ibn Hādī al-Wādiʿī:

There is a ḥadīth of ʿĀʾisha and one of Abū Hurayrah that are both authentic.

As for the ḥadīth of ʿĀisha; then a man came to the Messenger of Allah and said, “I have been burnt, O’ Messenger of Allah! ” He asked, “What has burnt you?” He said, “I had intercourse with my wife in Ramaḍan [whilst fasting].”

And the ḥadīth of Abū Hurayrah, a man came to him and said: ‘O’ Messenger of Allah , I am doomed!’ He said, ‘What doomed to you?’ He said: ‘I had intercourse with my wife [whilst I was fasting] in Ramaḍān.’ He asked: ‘Can you find a slave to set free?’ He said, ‘No.’ He asked, ‘Are you able to fast for two consecutive months?’ He said, ‘No.’ He asked, ‘Can you feed sixty poor persons?’ He said, ‘No.’ So the man sat, and the Prophet was brought a container of dates. The Messenger of Allah said, ‘Give charity with this.’ The man said, ‘O Messenger of Allah , Who is poorer than me? There is no household between the two lava fields (i.e., in Madīnah) that is poorer than my household.’ The Prophet smiled until his molar teeth could be seen, then he said: ‘Take it and Feed it to your family.’” Or he said something to this meaning.

So it is obligatory to follow the order. If there is a slave, then it is freed. If there isn’t a slave, then he moves onto fasting. It is not permissible for him to feed the poor if he has to ability to fast, because feeding the poor is easy for the rich and wealthy, whereas fasting two consecutive months is difficult.