A person had sexual relation with his wife in the month of Ramadan (while he was fasting), and he came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) seeking his verdict concerning that action. The Prophet (ﷺ) said (to him), "Can you afford to manumit a slave?" The man said, "No." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Can you fast for two successive months?" He said, "No." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Then feed sixty poor persons."
The Incident and Its Context
This narration from Sahih al-Bukhari (6821) addresses a grave matter of breaking the Ramadan fast through marital relations. The seeker approached the Prophet (ﷺ) with sincere repentance, demonstrating the proper attitude when violating Allah's limits.
The Graduated Expiation (Kaffarah)
The Prophet (ﷺ) presented three options in descending order of merit: freeing a believing slave, fasting sixty consecutive days, or feeding sixty poor people. This gradation considers the individual's capability while maintaining the sanctity of the fast's violation.
Scholarly Commentary on the Ruling
Classical scholars agree this expiation applies specifically to intentional sexual intercourse during Ramadan fasting hours. The sequential offering of alternatives demonstrates Islamic jurisprudence's flexibility and consideration of individual circumstances while upholding divine limits.
The requirement for consecutive fasting emphasizes the gravity of the violation, while the feeding option ensures no one is overburdened beyond their capacity - reflecting the Quranic principle that "Allah does not burden a soul beyond what it can bear" (2:286).
Legal and Spiritual Dimensions
This ruling falls under "Limits and Punishments set by Allah (Hudood)" as it concerns divinely prescribed expiations. The wisdom behind this specific kaffarah lies in its proportional response - the violation occurred through physical pleasure, thus the expiation involves physical deprivation or charity.
The incident also teaches that sins committed in private require public expiation, reinforcing social accountability and serving as a deterrent while facilitating the sinner's return to Allah's mercy.