Fatwa ID: 02295

Answered by Moulana Javed ibn Nazir Kachhalia

Question:

Dear Mufti,

This question is being sent on behalf of a Muslim Brother.
He has broken a couple of fasts in different Ramadans by eating/drinking.
He has also broken a fast via intercourse with his wife in a separate Ramadan.
Please advise how many 60 days kaffara he has to keep apart from the qadaa fasts missed.
Please note we do not require references, as we trust your answer.
Lastly, once someone breaks a fast via intercourse, can he eat/drink for the rest of the day.
Jazakallah in advance.

Answer:

Bismillah

Saaiduna Abu Huraira narrates that while we were sitting with the Prophet a man came and said, “O Allah’s Apostle! I have been ruined.” Allah’s Apostle asked what was the matter with him. He replied “I had sexual intercourse with my wife while I was fasting.” Allah’s Apostle asked him, “Can you afford to free a slave?” He replied in the negative. Allah’s Apostle asked him, “Can you fast for two successive months?” He replied in the negative. The Prophet asked him, “Can you afford to feed sixty poor persons?” He replied in the negative. The Prophet kept silent and while we were in that state, a big basket full of dates was brought to the Prophet. He asked, “Where is the questioner?” He replied, “I (am here).” The Prophet said (to him), “Take this (basket of dates) and give it in charity.” The man said, “Should I give it to a person poorer than I? By Allah; there is no family between its (i.e. Medina’s) two mountains who are poorer than I.” The Prophet smiled till his pre-molar teeth became visible and then said, ‘Feed your family with it.” (Sahih Bukhari p.259 v.1)

From the aforementioned hadith we can derive that if a person intentionally ate, drank or engaged in sexual intercourse during a fast in the month of Ramadhan, kaffarah will be obligatory. (Kitabul Fiqh p.906 v.1)

With regards to your first question, the ruling is that if the cause of breaking the fast is because of intentionally engaging in sexual intercourse then one is required to do a separate kaffarah for each breaking of the fast. However, if the cause is something else besides intentionally engaging in sexual intercourse then one kaffarah will be sufficient. (Ahsanul Fatawa p.444 v.4, Yahya Book Depot)

In regards to your second question;

Yes you can eat and drink, but would be preferable that even when the fast has been voided we try to abstain from food or drink until iftar and imitate the fasting action.

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Moulana Javed ibn Nazir Kachhalia

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham