Expiation for Intercourse in Ramadan: Only for Men?

الأظهر أن كفارة الجماع على الرجل فقط

Expiation for Intercourse in Ramadan: Only for Men?

Translated by: Reza Ervani bin Asmanu

This article about whether the Expiation for Intercourse in Ramadan is Only for Men is included in the Islamic Question and Answer Category

السؤال:

Question:

ما هي كفارة الجماع في رمضان هل هي على الزوج فقط أم يجب أن تكون الكفارة على الزوج والزوجة؟

What is the expiation (kaffarah) for intercourse during Ramadan? Is it only assigned to the husband, or is the expiation obligatory for both the husband and the wife?

الإجابــة:

Answer:

الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله، وعلى آله وصحبه، أما بعد: 

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, and his companions. To proceed:

فقد اتفق أهل العلم ـ رحمهم الله ـ على وجوب الكفارة على من جامع زوجته في نهار رمضان. واختلفوا في الزوجة إذا كانت راضية مختارة، هل عليها الكفارة أم لا؟.

The scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) have agreed on the obligation of expiation for anyone who has intercourse with his wife during the day in Ramadan. However, they differed concerning the wife if she consented voluntarily: is she required to pay the expiation or not?

فذهب الجمهور إلى وجوب الكفارة عليها، وهو مذهب أبي حنيفة ومالك وأحمد. وذهب الشافعي في أحد قوليه إلى أنه لا كفارة عليها. والأظهر والعلم عند الله جل وعلا أنه لا كفارة عليها، وإنما عليها القضاء فقط لأن صومها قد فسد بالجماع.

The majority of scholars (Jumhur) are of the opinion that expiation is also obligatory for her, which is the school of Abu Hanifah, Malik, and Ahmad. Whereas Imam ash-Shafi’i, in one of his views, stated that there is no expiation upon the wife. The more apparent opinion—and knowledge belongs to Allah, the Mighty and Sublime—is that there is no expiation for the wife; rather, she is only required to make up the day (qadha) because her fast was invalidated by the intercourse.

والدليل على ذلك ما رواه الشيخان من حديث أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه أنه قال: بينما نحن جلوس عند النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم إذ جاءه رجل فقال يا رسول الله ! هلكت، قال ما لك؟ قال وقعت على امراتي وأنا صائم فقال صلى الله عليه وسلم:

The evidence for this is what was narrated by the two Sheikhs (Bukhari and Muslim) from the hadith of Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: “While we were sitting with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), a man came to him and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, I am ruined!’ He asked, ‘What is the matter with you?’ He replied, ‘I had intercourse with my wife while I was fasting.’ So the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:”

“هل تجد رقبة تعتقها ؟ قال: لا قال فهل تستطيع أن تصوم شهرين متتابعين؟ قال: لا، فقال فهل تجد إطعام ستين مسكينا قال لا، فمكث النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال فبينما نحن على ذلك أُتي النبي صلى الله عليه بعرق فيه تمر ـ والعرق المكتل ـ فقال: أين السائل؟ فقال: أنا، فقال: خذه فتصدق به.”

“‘Do you have a slave to set free?’ He said, ‘No.’ He asked, ‘Are you able to fast for two consecutive months?’ He said, ‘No.’ He asked, ‘Do you have the means to feed sixty poor people?’ He said, ‘No.’ The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) remained silent for a while. While we were in that state, a large basket (‘araq) containing dates was brought to the Prophet. He asked, ‘Where is the questioner?’ The man said, ‘I am here.’ He said, ‘Take this and give it in charity’.”

ووجه الدلالة في هذا الحديث أنه صلى الله عليه وسلم لم يأمره بأن يأمر زوجته بإخراج الكفارة أيضا، ومن المعلوم أن تأخير البيان عن وقت الحاجة لا يجوز، فدل على أنه لا كفارة عليها. 

The point of evidence in this hadith is that he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) did not command him to tell his wife to also give expiation. It is well known in the principles of jurisprudence that delaying clarification beyond the time of need is not permissible, which indicates that there is no expiation upon her.

والله أعلم.

And Allah knows best.

Source: IslamWeb