Kaffarah is the major expiation prescribed in Islamic law for the intentional breaking of a Ramadan fast without a valid sharia excuse. It is one of the heaviest religious penalties in the personal worship of Islam — 60 consecutive days of fasting, or, if fasting is impossible, the feeding of 60 poor persons. The severity reflects the gravity of the violation: a deliberate breach of one of the five pillars of Islam, in the sacred month of Ramadan, after the fast had been validly entered.
This article provides a detailed treatment of Kaffarah — its basis in the Qur'an and Sunnah, the conditions that trigger it, the positions of the four schools of jurisprudence, the rules for executing the 60-day fast, and the practical method for the alternative feeding.
The Basis in the Qur'an and Sunnah
The Qur'anic basis for Kaffarah is the verse of fasting (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:183-185), which establishes Ramadan fasting as an obligation. While the verse does not explicitly mention Kaffarah, the Sunnah provides the detailed ruling.
The foundational hadith is reported in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim:
A man came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said: "O Messenger of Allah, I am destroyed!" The Prophet asked: "What has destroyed you?" The man said: "I had intercourse with my wife during Ramadan [while fasting]." The Prophet said: "Can you find a slave to free?" The man said: "No." The Prophet said: "Can you fast two consecutive months?" The man said: "No." The Prophet said: "Can you feed sixty poor people?" The man said: "No." Then the Prophet was brought a basket of dates, and he said: "Give this in charity." The man said: "To someone poorer than us? There is no one between its two mountains who is in more need than my family." The Prophet laughed until his molar teeth could be seen, and he said: "Take it to your family [and feed them]."
This hadith establishes several key principles:
- The default expiation is freeing a slave — but since slavery is abolished, this option is no longer applicable.
- The second expiation is fasting 60 consecutive days.
- The third expiation, if fasting is impossible, is feeding 60 poor people.
- The Kaffarah is owed for intentional breaking through sexual intercourse.
The majority of scholars extend this Kaffarah to any intentional breaking of a Ramadan fast — including eating, drinking, or any other deliberate act that breaks the fast. Some scholars (particularly the Hanafis) limit the strict 60-day Kaffarah to sexual intercourse, treating intentional eating/drinking as a lesser violation requiring only qada' (make-up) plus repentance. This is an important point of disagreement, discussed below.
What Triggers Kaffarah?
The conditions that trigger Kaffarah, according to the majority of scholars, are:
- A valid Ramadan fast was entered. The fast must have been properly begun with the intention (niyyah) before dawn. If no intention was made, there is no fast to break and no Kaffarah.
- The fast was intentionally broken. Not accidentally, not out of forgetfulness, not under compulsion — intentionally and deliberately.
- Through a specific act: eating, drinking, sexual intercourse, or (according to some scholars) deliberate ejaculation through masturbation or other means.
- Without a valid sharia excuse. Valid excuses include illness, travel, menstruation, compulsion, or genuinely forgetting that one was fasting.
- The person was aware of the prohibition. A person who genuinely did not know that breaking a Ramadan fast is forbidden (e.g., a new Muslim) may not owe Kaffarah, though they would still owe qada'.
What Does NOT Trigger Kaffarah?
It is equally important to be clear about what does not trigger Kaffarah:
1. Forgetful eating or drinking
If you genuinely forgot you were fasting and ate or drank something, the fast is not broken — you simply stop when you remember and continue fasting. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever forgets that he is fasting and eats or drinks, let him complete his fast, for it is Allah who has fed him and given him to drink." (Bukhari & Muslim)
2. Accidental swallowing
Swimming, showering, or rinsing the mouth and accidentally swallowing water does not break the fast and does not trigger Kaffarah. (Some scholars hold that the fast is broken and requires qada' but not Kaffarah.)
3. Eating or drinking under genuine compulsion
If someone forced you to eat or drink under threat of serious harm, the fast is not broken and no Kaffarah is owed.
4. Breaking the fast for a valid reason
If you broke the fast due to illness, travel, or another valid excuse, you owe only qada' (make-up), not Kaffarah.
5. Wet dreams
Wet dreams do not break the fast, since they are involuntary. No Kaffarah or qada' is owed.
6. Involuntary vomiting
The dominant view is that involuntary vomiting does not break the fast. (Voluntarily inducing vomiting does break the fast, requiring qada' but not Kaffarah, according to the majority.)
The Three Expiations in Order
The expiation must be performed in the following order:
- Freeing a Muslim slave. This is the first and preferred expiation. Since slavery has been abolished worldwide, this option is not applicable in the modern era.
- Fasting 60 consecutive days. If freeing a slave is not possible (which is the case for everyone today), the person must fast 60 consecutive days.
- Feeding 60 poor persons. If fasting 60 consecutive days is genuinely impossible (due to chronic illness, old age, or another permanent impediment), the person may feed 60 poor persons.
The order is binding. You cannot choose to feed 60 poor people if you are physically able to fast 60 days. The feeding is only permissible when fasting is genuinely impossible.
The Rules of the 60-Day Fast
The 60 days must be consecutive — this is the consensus of the schools. If even one day is missed, the count restarts from day 1, with the following exceptions:
- Menstruation and postpartum bleeding: A woman who begins the 60-day fast and gets her period must pause during the days of menstruation, then resume once she is pure. The pause does not break the consecutiveness. This is the dominant view.
- Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha: The majority view is that the 60 days cannot include the two Eids or the three days of Tashriq (11th, 12th, 13th of Dhul-Hijjah). If the 60-day period overlaps with these days, you skip them and continue after. Some scholars hold that the days of Tashriq can be included since they are not explicitly forbidden for voluntary fasting.
- Travel and illness: If you become ill or travel during the 60-day fast, the dominant view is that the count is broken and must restart. Some scholars permit pausing for illness and resuming, similar to the menstruation exception.
Given the strict consecutiveness requirement, it is recommended to begin the 60-day fast at a time when you can reasonably expect to complete it without interruption — for example, two months before an expected period of stability, or in a season when travel is unlikely.
The Feeding Alternative
If fasting 60 consecutive days is genuinely impossible, the person must feed 60 poor persons. The measure per person is:
- One mudd (approximately 544 grams of wheat) per person — the Hanafi measure.
- Half a saa' (approximately 1.5 kg of the local staple grain) per person — the majority measure.
- Or two meals per person — feeding each poor person two meals.
- Or the cash equivalent — the dominant contemporary practice, which is more practical in most contexts.
The 60 persons may be fed on the same day (e.g., hosting a meal for 60 poor people) or over multiple days. It is recommended to feed all 60 within a short period, though extending over a few weeks is permissible.
A worked example
A man broke a Ramadan fast intentionally through eating. He is unable to fast 60 consecutive days due to a chronic medical condition. He chooses the feeding alternative.
Cost per meal in his locality: $10.
Total cost = 60 persons × $10 = $600.
He distributes $600 to 60 poor persons (or to a charitable organization that distributes on his behalf), with the explicit intention of Kaffarah.
The Position of the Four Schools
Hanafi school
The Hanafi school holds that Kaffarah (60 fasts or feeding 60 poor) is owed only for intentional breaking through sexual intercourse. For intentional breaking through eating or drinking, the Hanafis require only qada' (make-up) and repentance — no Kaffarah. This is a significant leniency compared to the majority position.
The Hanafis also hold that a single Kaffarah suffices for the entire month of Ramadan if no prior Kaffarah was owed — even if multiple fasts were broken intentionally through intercourse. (So if a man broke 5 fasts through intercourse in the same Ramadan, he would owe only one Kaffarah of 60 days, not five.)
Maliki school
The Malikis hold that Kaffarah is owed for any intentional breaking of a Ramadan fast — through eating, drinking, or sexual intercourse. Each intentionally broken fast requires its own Kaffarah. (So if 5 fasts were broken, 5 separate Kaffarahs of 60 days each are owed — though they may be performed consecutively, totaling 300 days.)
Shafi'i school
The Shafi'is hold a position similar to the Malikis: Kaffarah for any intentional breaking, with each broken fast requiring its own Kaffarah. They add that the Kaffarah is owed only if the fast was validly entered with the intention (niyyah) before dawn.
Hanbali school
The Hanbalis hold that Kaffarah is owed for intentional breaking through eating, drinking, or sexual intercourse — but they add a fourth category: deliberate ejaculation through masturbation or other means while conscious of the fast. Each broken fast requires its own Kaffarah.
Is Qada' Also Required?
Beyond the Kaffarah, is the broken fast itself also required to be made up (qada')? There are two views:
- Majority view (Maliki, Shafi'i, Hanbali): Yes — Kaffarah expiates the sin, but the make-up fast (qada') is still owed for the broken fast.
- Hanafi view: No — the Kaffarah suffices for both the sin and the make-up. No separate qada' is required.
The safer (more cautious) position is the majority view: pay the Kaffarah and also make up the one broken fast. The additional cost is minimal (one extra day of fasting) and ensures the obligation is fulfilled according to all schools.
Kaffarah for Vows (Nadhr) and Other Contexts
Kaffarah is also prescribed in other contexts beyond Ramadan fasting:
- Kaffarah of an oath (yameen): Breaking a deliberate oath requires feeding 10 poor persons, clothing them, or freeing a slave. If unable, fasting 3 days. (Qur'an 5:89)
- Kaffarah of zihar: A pre-Islamic form of divorce where the husband says "you are to me as my mother's back." Requires freeing a slave, or 60 consecutive fasts, or feeding 60 poor. (Qur'an 58:3-4)
- Kaffarah of accidental killing (manslaughter): Freeing a Muslim slave, or fasting 2 consecutive months if unable. (Qur'an 4:92)
These Kaffarahs are distinct from the Ramadan fast Kaffarah and have their own rules. This article focuses on the Ramadan fast Kaffarah.
Practical Execution
If you choose to fast the 60 days:
- Pick a start date when you can reasonably expect to complete 60 consecutive days. Avoid dates that overlap with Eid al-Fitr or Eid al-Adha.
- Make the intention (niyyah) each night before dawn to fast the next day for Kaffarah.
- Fast all 60 days. If you miss a day (other than the menstruation exception), restart from day 1.
- After completing, also make up the one broken fast (per the majority view).
If you must feed 60 poor persons:
- Calculate the cost per person (one meal or 1.5 kg of grain equivalent).
- Use our Kaffarah Calculator to compute the total.
- Distribute to 60 poor persons, either directly or through a reputable charitable organization.
- Make the explicit intention of Kaffarah at the time of distribution.
- Make up the one broken fast (per the majority view).
Frequently Asked Questions
I broke a fast by taking my medication during Ramadan. Is Kaffarah owed?
If the medication was medically necessary and the fast could not be safely kept without it, you broke the fast for a valid reason (illness). No Kaffarah is owed — only qada'. If the medication was not essential and you intentionally broke the fast for convenience, Kaffarah may be owed (per the majority view).
I broke a fast by smoking. Is Kaffarah owed?
The majority view is that smoking intentionally during a Ramadan fast triggers Kaffarah (like eating or drinking). Additionally, smoking is itself a harmful and disliked practice that should be abandoned.
Does using eye drops or nose drops break the fast?
The majority view is that eye drops do not break the fast. Nasal drops, if they reach the throat, may break the fast (requiring qada' but not Kaffarah, since this is inadvertent). Injected medications (IV, IM) do not break the fast according to the majority.
I started the 60-day Kaffarah fast but missed a day due to illness. Do I restart?
The dominant view is yes — the 60 days must be consecutive, and any break (except menstruation for women) requires restarting. Some contemporary scholars permit pausing for temporary illness and resuming, treating it like the menstruation exception. Consult a scholar for your specific situation.
Conclusion
Kaffarah is a severe expiation for a severe violation — the deliberate breaking of a Ramadan fast. The 60-day consecutive fast, with its strict rules about breaks, reflects the gravity with which Islam treats the sanctity of Ramadan. For those genuinely unable to fast 60 days, the feeding of 60 poor persons is a merciful alternative.
Before incurring Kaffarah, take care to understand the conditions clearly — not every broken fast requires Kaffarah, and confusing Kaffarah with Fidya or qada' leads to errors in religious practice. If you determine that Kaffarah is owed, use our Kaffarah Calculator to compute the feeding alternative, and consult a scholar for personal rulings on complex situations.
May Allah protect us from deliberately violating His obligations, and accept the expiation of those who, having erred, sincerely turn to Him in repentance.