Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim, today’s topic of discussion is Kaffarah and Qaza for breaking fast and Punishment for not fasting
Kaffarah and Qaza for breaking fast
A fast that is missed unintentionally or due to an excuse is replaced by a qadha, and a fast that is broken intentionally by having sexual intercourse with a woman without an excuse is replaced by a kaffarah along with the qadha. In the case of qadha, the same number of fasts has to be made up. And in the case of kaffarah, certain specific duties have to be performed for not fasting. Kaffarah is of three types. (1) Freeing a slave, and if that is not possible, (2) Fasting 60 consecutive days, and if that is also not possible, (3) Feeding 60 poor people one meal a day.
If a fast is broken due to sexual intercourse during the day, he must make up for it and offer expiation. Are both of these obligatory for him? In place of the fast that is broken due to sexual intercourse, he must fast for sixty consecutive days. And no break should be taken in between without a valid reason. If a break is taken in between, then from then on he must fast for a new period of sixty consecutive days.
How can a person who has broken a fast in the past without any excuse or reason make up for it and make up for it?
He must make up the fasts of one Ramadan before the next Ramadan. If that is not possible, he must make up for them as soon as possible throughout his life. And he must observe one fast instead of every fast. And if he is physically unable to do so, he must feed a poor person once a day.
If someone is unable or unwilling to fast for sixty days due to breaking one fast, and that too without interruption, then he will feed 60 needy people one meal a day. The amount of food for each person will be approximately 510 grams.
If one ejaculates unintentionally due to kissing someone or touching the body of a wife or a girl, one fast will be made up as one fast instead of one fast, as per the general rule.
If you eat or drink intentionally, according to most scholars, you will only have to make up for one fast. That is, you will have to observe one fast instead of one. However, according to some scholars, both make-up and expiation will become obligatory. That is, instead of one fast, you will have to observe a total of 61 fasts without interruption.
For what reasons is it only obligatory to make up for the fast if it is broken?
1. If ejaculation occurs due to kissing/touching one’s wife. 2. If one intentionally vomits with one’s mouth full. 3. If one swallows stones, pieces of iron, fruit rings, etc. 4. If one starts eating something by mistake and thinks that the fast has been broken and eats again. 5. If water goes into the stomach while gargling. 6. If one vomits in the mouth and makes it enter the stomach again. 7. If one eats food particles from between the teeth. 8. If one eats without making the intention of fasting, and mistakenly thinks that the fast has been broken.
What is the ruling on making up Ramadan fasts? If someone breaks more than one fast, should he make them up all at once?
It is recommended to make up consecutive fasts. However, it is permissible to make up separate fasts. It is better to do so before the next Ramadan. However, you can do so at any time.
Allah Almighty says, “He will complete this number at another time.” (Al-Baqarah: 184)
What should you do if another Ramadan arrives before you make up the missed days of one Ramadan?
In this situation, after fasting the current Ramadan, one will have to make up for the previous fasts.
Punishment for not fasting
Those who break their fast without an excuse will face a severe punishment. Some hadiths of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) regarding this are mentioned below:
[1] Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said, “I saw in a dream a group of people hanging upside down. Their cheeks were slit open, and blood was flowing from them. I asked, ‘Who are these?’ They were told, ‘These are those who broke the fast of Ramadan without any excuse.'” (Sahih Ibn Khuzaimah)
[2] The one who is unable to please Allah even in this blessed month (of Ramadan) is truly unfortunate. (Ibn Hibban)
[3] Whoever misses even one fast in this month (Ramadan) without a valid excuse, even if he fasts for the rest of his life, it will not be atonement for his sin. (Bukhari)
