Written by: Imran Ayub Lahori
➊ Narration of Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه
It is narrated from Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said regarding a man who has intercourse with his wife during her menstrual period:
يتصدق بدينار أو بنصف دينار
“He should give one dinar or half a dinar in charity.”
[Authentic: Sahih Abu Dawood 237, Book of Purification: Chapter on Approaching a Menstruating Woman, Abu Dawood 264, Ahmad 1/229, Darimi 1/254]
➋ Clarification by Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه
Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه explains that if the intercourse takes place at the beginning of the menstrual period, the atonement is one dinar; and if it happens when the bleeding is ceasing, the atonement is half a dinar.
[Authentic Mawquf: Sahih Abu Dawood 238, Book of Purification: Chapter on Approaching a Menstruating Woman, Abu Dawood 265]
➌ Another narration by Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه
In another narration, Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه says:
“If during intercourse the blood is red, the atonement is one dinar; and if it is yellow, the atonement is half a dinar.”
[Authentic Mawquf: Sahih Tirmidhi 118, Book of Purification: Chapter on Atonement for Approaching a Menstruating Woman, Tirmidhi 137]
Conclusion from the Ahadith:
These Ahadith indicate that it is obligatory upon a man who has intercourse with a menstruating woman to give the atonement (kaffarah). This is the established opinion of Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه, Imam Hasan Basri, Sa’id ibn Jubayr, Imam Qumadah, Imam Awza’i, Imam Ishaq, Imam Ahmad (in one narration), and the early position of Imam Shafi’i رحمهم الله أجمعين. However, they have differed regarding the exact nature of the atonement:
❀ (Hasan Basri رحمه الله, Sa’id ibn Jubayr رحمه الله) – Such a person should free a slave.
❀ (Majority) – The person should give one dinar or half a dinar in charity.
❀ (Malik رحمه الله, Abu Hanifah رحمه الله) – There is no atonement; only repentance and seeking forgiveness is obligatory. They consider the Ahadith regarding atonement to be inconsistent and unreliable as evidence. This opinion is also reported from Imam Ata ibn Abi Rabah, Imam Sha’bi, Imam Mak-hul, Imam Abu Zinad, Imam Rabi’ah, Imam Hammad ibn Abi Sulayman, Imam Ibn Mubarak, Imam Ayyub Sakhtiyani, Imam Sufyan Thawri, Imam Layth ibn Sa’d, and the more authentic narration from Imam Shafi’i, and one narration from Imam Ahmad رحمهم الله أجمعين.
[Nayl al-Awtar 1/408, Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi 1/444, Ma’alam al-Sunan 1/83-84, al-Mughni 1/416-417]
(Shawkani رحمه الله)
Regarding the narration of Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه about giving “one dinar or half a dinar in charity,” he writes:
“Indeed, you already know that the first narration is authoritative, so it is necessary to turn back to it.” This means he also considers the atonement of one dinar or half a dinar to be valid.
[Nayl al-Awtar 1/408]
(Nawawi رحمه الله)
If a Muslim believes that having intercourse with a menstruating woman is permissible, he becomes a disbeliever and an apostate. If he did so forgetfully or without knowledge of the prohibition or the menstruation, there is no sin or atonement upon him. However, if he does so deliberately, knowing of the menstruation and its prohibition, he has committed a major sin, and repentance from this sin becomes obligatory upon him.
[Fiqh al-Sunnah 1/77]
(Sayyid Sabiq رحمه الله)
There is no atonement upon such a person.
[Also from Fiqh al-Sunnah]
(Shaykh Uthaymeen رحمه الله)
Together with repentance, he should give in charity one dinar or half a dinar, whichever he chooses.
[Fatawa al-Mar’ah al-Muslimah 1/280]
(Shaykh Abdur-Rahman ibn Nasir al-Sa’di رحمه الله)
He should give one dinar or half a dinar in charity, as mentioned in the hadith of Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه.
[Fatawa al-Mar’ah al-Muslimah 1/9]
(Review)
Undoubtedly, after committing a major sin, repentance is essential. However, in this case, repentance is coupled with giving in charity either one dinar or half a dinar, according to one’s choice, as this is what is established from the Prophet ﷺ. In understanding the meaning of one dinar or half a dinar in charity, it is preferable and better to refer to the mawquf narrations of Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه.
➊ Narration of Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه
It is narrated from Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said regarding a man who has intercourse with his wife during her menstrual period:
يتصدق بدينار أو بنصف دينار
“He should give one dinar or half a dinar in charity.”
[Authentic: Sahih Abu Dawood 237, Book of Purification: Chapter on Approaching a Menstruating Woman, Abu Dawood 264, Ahmad 1/229, Darimi 1/254]
➋ Clarification by Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه
Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه explains that if the intercourse takes place at the beginning of the menstrual period, the atonement is one dinar; and if it happens when the bleeding is ceasing, the atonement is half a dinar.
[Authentic Mawquf: Sahih Abu Dawood 238, Book of Purification: Chapter on Approaching a Menstruating Woman, Abu Dawood 265]
➌ Another narration by Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه
In another narration, Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه says:
“If during intercourse the blood is red, the atonement is one dinar; and if it is yellow, the atonement is half a dinar.”
[Authentic Mawquf: Sahih Tirmidhi 118, Book of Purification: Chapter on Atonement for Approaching a Menstruating Woman, Tirmidhi 137]
Conclusion from the Ahadith:
These Ahadith indicate that it is obligatory upon a man who has intercourse with a menstruating woman to give the atonement (kaffarah). This is the established opinion of Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه, Imam Hasan Basri, Sa’id ibn Jubayr, Imam Qumadah, Imam Awza’i, Imam Ishaq, Imam Ahmad (in one narration), and the early position of Imam Shafi’i رحمهم الله أجمعين. However, they have differed regarding the exact nature of the atonement:
❀ (Hasan Basri رحمه الله, Sa’id ibn Jubayr رحمه الله) – Such a person should free a slave.
❀ (Majority) – The person should give one dinar or half a dinar in charity.
❀ (Malik رحمه الله, Abu Hanifah رحمه الله) – There is no atonement; only repentance and seeking forgiveness is obligatory. They consider the Ahadith regarding atonement to be inconsistent and unreliable as evidence. This opinion is also reported from Imam Ata ibn Abi Rabah, Imam Sha’bi, Imam Mak-hul, Imam Abu Zinad, Imam Rabi’ah, Imam Hammad ibn Abi Sulayman, Imam Ibn Mubarak, Imam Ayyub Sakhtiyani, Imam Sufyan Thawri, Imam Layth ibn Sa’d, and the more authentic narration from Imam Shafi’i, and one narration from Imam Ahmad رحمهم الله أجمعين.
[Nayl al-Awtar 1/408, Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi 1/444, Ma’alam al-Sunan 1/83-84, al-Mughni 1/416-417]
(Shawkani رحمه الله)
Regarding the narration of Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه about giving “one dinar or half a dinar in charity,” he writes:
“Indeed, you already know that the first narration is authoritative, so it is necessary to turn back to it.” This means he also considers the atonement of one dinar or half a dinar to be valid.
[Nayl al-Awtar 1/408]
(Nawawi رحمه الله)
If a Muslim believes that having intercourse with a menstruating woman is permissible, he becomes a disbeliever and an apostate. If he did so forgetfully or without knowledge of the prohibition or the menstruation, there is no sin or atonement upon him. However, if he does so deliberately, knowing of the menstruation and its prohibition, he has committed a major sin, and repentance from this sin becomes obligatory upon him.
[Fiqh al-Sunnah 1/77]
(Sayyid Sabiq رحمه الله)
There is no atonement upon such a person.
[Also from Fiqh al-Sunnah]
(Shaykh Uthaymeen رحمه الله)
Together with repentance, he should give in charity one dinar or half a dinar, whichever he chooses.
[Fatawa al-Mar’ah al-Muslimah 1/280]
(Shaykh Abdur-Rahman ibn Nasir al-Sa’di رحمه الله)
He should give one dinar or half a dinar in charity, as mentioned in the hadith of Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه.
[Fatawa al-Mar’ah al-Muslimah 1/9]
(Review)
Undoubtedly, after committing a major sin, repentance is essential. However, in this case, repentance is coupled with giving in charity either one dinar or half a dinar, according to one’s choice, as this is what is established from the Prophet ﷺ. In understanding the meaning of one dinar or half a dinar in charity, it is preferable and better to refer to the mawquf narrations of Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه.
