Kaffarah for intercourse in Ramadan: the order and make-up

Whoever has intercourse with his wife during a Ramadan day while fasting, adult and deliberate, owes four things: repentance, abstaining for the rest of that day, making it up, and the major kaffarah in order: free a slave; if not possible, fast two consecutive months; if unable, feed sixty poor people.

Calculate the days or food amount in your currency with the kaffarah calculator.

The evidence: the man who said "I am ruined"

A man came to the Prophet ﷺ and said: I am ruined, I had relations with my wife while fasting in Ramadan. He asked: Can you free a slave? He said no. Can you fast two consecutive months? He said no. Can you feed sixty poor people? He said no. A basket of dates was then brought, and the Prophet said: "Give this in charity." Bukhari (1936) and Muslim (1111).

This is the same order as the kaffarah of zihar in the Quran:

The steps in order

1. Freeing a slave: not practically available today, so move to the next step.
2. Two consecutive months of fasting: sixty days or two lunar months without an unexcused break.
3. Feeding sixty poor people: only for someone truly unable to fast, through illness, old age or severe hardship.

Most scholars (Hanafi, Shafi'i, Hanbali) require this order; the Malikis allow a free choice and prefer feeding.

What breaks the sequence?

How many kg to feed sixty?

What about the wife?

• If she was forced: she bears no sin; some scholars require her to make up the day.
• If she consented: she owes make-up and kaffarah like her husband for the Hanafis, Malikis and Hanbalis; the Shafi'is say one kaffarah on the husband is enough.

Deliberate eating or drinking: is there kaffarah?

• Shafi'i and Hanbali: no kaffarah, only repentance and make-up, because the hadith concerns intercourse.
• Hanafi and Maliki: the major kaffarah applies too.
• Eating by forgetfulness carries nothing: "Whoever forgets while fasting and eats or drinks, let him complete his fast, for Allah has fed him and given him drink." Bukhari (1933) and Muslim (1155).

Kaffarah, qada or fidyah?

Special cases

• Repeated in the same day: one kaffarah.
• On different days of Ramadan: one per day for most scholars; the Hanafis say one suffices unless expiated in between.
• During a make-up or voluntary fast: no kaffarah, only make-up.
• A traveller who used the travel concession first: no kaffarah.

Quick questions

Can I pay cash instead of food? Not valid for most scholars; the Hanafis allow it. You can authorise a trusted charity to buy and distribute the food.

Does it drop if I am very poor? For most scholars it remains a debt until you are able.

Looking for the oath kaffarah? Read Kaffarah for a broken oath.