Deliberately Breaking a Fast and Its Expiation

Authored by: Sheikh Mubashar Ahmad Rabbani (May Allah preserve him)

Question:​

What is the expiation for someone who deliberately breaks their fast?

Answer:​

If a person intentionally breaks their fast during Ramadan without a valid reason, they are required to perform expiation (kafarah) in addition to making up for the broken fast (qada).

The Expiation:​

The expiation for deliberately breaking a fast is as follows:

1. Freeing a Slave:
   If the individual has the means, they must free a slave.
2. Fasting for Two Consecutive Months:
   If they are unable to free a slave, they must fast for 60 consecutive days without interruption.
3. Feeding Sixty Poor People:
   If fasting for two consecutive months is not possible due to health or other valid reasons, they must feed sixty poor people.

Evidence from Hadith:​

This ruling is based on the hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه), where a man came to the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and admitted to breaking his fast by engaging in intercourse during Ramadan. The Prophet (ﷺ) instructed him:
"Free a slave; if you cannot, then fast for two consecutive months; if you cannot, then feed sixty poor people."
(Sahih Bukhari, Book of Fasting: Chapter on One Who Engages in Intercourse During Ramadan, Hadith 1936)

Important Points:​

1. Making Up the Missed Fast (Qada):
   Alongside the expiation, the individual must also make up for the specific day(s) they intentionally invalidated.
2. Conditions for Kafarah:
   
   • The act must be deliberate.
   • This applies to actions that directly invalidate the fast, such as eating, drinking, or engaging in intercourse during the day in Ramadan.
3. Severity of the Act:
   Deliberately breaking a fast without a valid reason is a serious sin in Islam and requires sincere repentance in addition to fulfilling the required expiation.

Conclusion:​

Deliberately breaking a fast in Ramadan necessitates both qada and kafarah. The expiation involves one of the following, in order of priority:

1. Freeing a slave.
2. Fasting for two consecutive months.
3. Feeding sixty poor people.

Allah knows best!