❖ Is There Sin or Expiation for Breaking a Voluntary Fast? ❖
Derived from: Fatāwā Arkan-e-Islam
❀ Question:
If someone breaks a voluntary (Nafl) fast in any way, will he be sinful? And if the fast is broken through intercourse, will expiation (Kaffārah) become obligatory?
❀ Answer:
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
❖ Ruling on Breaking a Voluntary Fast:
If a person is observing a voluntary (Nafl) fast and breaks it — whether by eating, drinking, or intercourse, then:
✿ There is no sin upon him.
✿ The reason is that — unlike Hajj and ʿUmrah — completing voluntary acts of worship is not obligatory once started.
✿ However, it is preferable and more virtuous to complete the act of worship once begun.
❖ If the Fast is Broken Through Intercourse During a Nafl Fast:
✿ No expiation (Kaffārah) is due in this case.
✿ Because completing a voluntary fast is not obligatory, even breaking it through intercourse does not entail Kaffārah.
❖ Ruling on Intercourse During an Obligatory (Fard) Fast:
✿ If a person engages in intercourse during an obligatory fast (such as during Ramadan), then:
❀ This act is impermissible.
❀ It is not allowed to break a Fard fast without valid necessity.
❀ In such a case, Kaffārah (expiation) becomes obligatory, provided:
◈ The act was committed during the day of Ramadan, and
◈ The person was among those upon whom fasting was obligatory.
❖ An Exceptional Case – During Travel:
A noteworthy point in the ruling is the phrase:
“Upon whom fasting was obligatory.”
This is to clarify that if:
✿ A man is with his wife while traveling,
✿ Both were observing a fast during travel,
✿ Then they engaged in intercourse,
Then:
✿ Neither of them is sinful,
✿ Nor is expiation (Kaffārah) obligatory upon them.
However:
✿ Both are required to make up (Qaḍāʾ) for the fast of that day.
ھذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
