Chapter on Expiation for Intentionally Breaking the Fast of a Day from the Month of Ramadan

Muhammad ibn Yaqub, from a number of our companions, from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Isa, from al-Hasan ibn Mahbub, from Abdullah ibn Sinan, from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him: (Imam عليه السلام was asked) regarding ‘a man who deliberately broke his fast in the month of Ramadan for one day without an excuse.’ Imam عليه السلام said: “He frees a soul, or fasts two consecutive months, or feeds sixty needy persons. If he is not able, he gives charity with whatever he can bear.”

And from him, from Ali ibn Ibrahim, from his father, and Muhammad ibn Ismail, from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan, all together from Ibn Abi Umayr, from Jamil ibn Darraj, from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him: That Imam عليه السلام was asked about ‘a man who deliberately broke his fast for a day from the month of Ramadan.’ Imam عليه السلام said: “A man came to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family, and said: ‘I am ruined, O Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى.’ The Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: “What is the matter with you?” He replied: “The Fire, O Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى.” So the Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: “And what is the matter with you?” He said: “I had intercourse with my wife (when fasting).” So the Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: “Give charity and seek forgiveness from your Lord عز وجل.” The man replied: “By the One سبحانه وتعالى who has magnified your right, I have not left in the house anything, neither little nor much (to give as charity).” The Imam عليه السلام continues that ‘then a man from among the people entered with a basket (miktal) of dates, in which there were twenty sa’, which would be ten sa’ according to our sa’.’ So the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family, said to the man: “Take these dates and give them in charity.” He replied: “O Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, to whom shall I give them in charity, when I have already informed you that there is nothing in my house, neither little nor much?” The Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: “Then take it, feed it to your dependants, and seek forgiveness from Allah سبحانه وتعالى, Mighty and Majestic.” He (narrator) said: “When we returned, our companions said: ‘He began with freeing.’” Imam عليه السلام said: “Free (slaves), or fast (consecutively), or give charity.”

And from him, from Ali ibn Ibrahim, from his father, from Ibn Abi Umayr, from Abdullah ibn Sinan, from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him: (Imam عليه السلام was asked) about ‘a man who had intercourse with his wife in the month of Ramadan and did not find anything with which to give charity to sixty needy persons.’ Imam عليه السلام said: “He gives charity with whatever he can bear.”

And from him, from Muhammad ibn Yahya, from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn, from Safwan, from Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Hajjaj, who said: I (narrator) asked Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, about ‘a man who fondles his wife in the month of Ramadan until he ejaculates.’ Imam عليه السلام said: “Upon him is, of the expiation, the like of what is upon the one who has intercourse.”

From him, from Muhammad ibn Yahya, from Ahmad ibn Muhammad, from Uthman ibn Isa, from Samaah: I (narrator) asked Imam عليه السلام about ‘a man who was seized in the month of Ramadan, and he had broken his fast three times, and he had been brought before the (divinely appointed) Imam three times.’ Imam عليه السلام said: “Let him be killed on the third.”

Sa’ad ibn Abdullah, from Abu Jafar, from al-Husayn ibn Said, from Fadalah ibn Ayyub, from Aban ibn Uthman, from Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Abdullah, from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, who said: I (narrator) asked Imam عليه السلام about ‘a man who deliberately broke his fast for a day from the month of Ramadan.’ Imam عليه السلام said: “Upon him are fifteen sa’, for every needy person one mudd according to the mudd of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم, and that is better.”

And from him, from Abu Jafar, from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn ibn Abi al-Khattab, from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Nasr, from al-Mashriqi, from Abu al-Hasan عليه السلام, peace be upon him, who said: I (narrator) asked Imam عليه السلام about ‘a man who deliberately broke his fast for some days from the month of Ramadan. What expiation is upon him?’ So the Imam عليه السلام, wrote: “Whoever deliberately breaks his fast for a day from month of Ramadan, upon him is freeing of a believing slave, and he fasts a day in place of a day.”

Sa’ad ibn Abdullah, from Ibrahim ibn Hashim, from Ismail ibn Marrar and Abd al-Jabbar ibn Mubarak, from Yunus ibn Abd al-Rahman, from Abdullah ibn Muskan, from Abu Basir and Samaah ibn Mihran, who both said: We (narrators) asked Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, about ‘a man upon whom there is the fasting of two consecutive months, but he is not able to fast, and he is not able to free a slave, and he is not able to give charity.’ Imam عليه السلام said: “Then let him fast eighteen days, for every ten needy persons, three days.”

As for what Sa’ad narrated from Ahmad ibn al-Hasan ibn Ali ibn Faddal, from Amr ibn Said al-Madaini, from Musaddiq ibn Sadaqah, from Ammar ibn Musa al-Sabati, who said: I (narrator) asked Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, about ‘a man who, while fasting, has intercourse with his wife.’ Imam عليه السلام said: “He performs ghusl, and there is nothing upon him.”

Ali ibn al-Hasan ibn Ali ibn Faddal, from Muhammad ibn Ali, from Ali ibn al-Numan, from Abdullah ibn Muskan, from Zurarah and Abu Basir, from Abu Ja’far عليه السلام, peace be upon him, who both said: We (narrators) asked Abu Ja’far عليه السلام, peace be upon him, about ‘a man who came to his wife in the month of Ramadan, and came to his wife while he was in the state of ihram, while he did not see except that this was lawful for him.’ Imam عليه السلام said: “There is nothing upon him (due to their ignorance on the matter).”

As for what al-Husayn ibn Said narrated from Uthman ibn Isa, from Samaah, who said: I asked him about ‘a man who deliberately came to his wife in the month of Ramadan’. So he said: “Upon him is the freeing of a slave, And feeding sixty needy persons, And fasting two consecutive months, And making up that day; and how could he have the like of that day?” – meaning that he would still not be able to attain the reward of that singular day of fasting in the month of Ramadan.

Abu Jafar Muhammad ibn Ali ibn al-Husayn ibn Babawayh, from Abd al-Wahid ibn Muhammad ibn Abdus al-Naysaburi, from Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Qutaybah, from Hamdan ibn Sulayman, from Abd al-Salam ibn Salih al-Harawi, who said: I (narrator) said to Imam al-Ridha عليه السلام, peace be upon him: “O son of the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, it has been narrated from your fathers عليه السلام, peace be upon them, regarding ‘one who has intercourse in the month of Ramadan or breaks his fast in it, that there are three expiations, and it has also been narrated from them, that there is one expiation. So by which of the two hadiths should we act?’” Imam عليه السلام said: “By both of them together. Whenever a man has unlawful intercourse, or breaks his fast upon something unlawful, in the month of Ramadan, then upon him are three expiations: freeing a slave, fasting two consecutive months, and feeding sixty needy persons, and making up that day. But if he has married lawfully, or breaks his fast upon something lawful, then upon him is one expiation. And if he was forgetful, then there is nothing upon him.”

Ali ibn al-Hasan ibn Faddal, from Muhammad ibn Abdullah, from Abdullah ibn Sinan, from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام: Imam عليه السلام said: “It is disliked for the fasting person to immerse himself in water.”

Sa’ad ibn Abdullah, from Imran ibn Musa, from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn, from Abdullah ibn Jabalah, from Ishaq ibn Ammar, who said: I (narrator) said to Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him: “A fasting man deliberately immersed himself in water; is making up that day upon him?” Imam عليه السلام said: “Making it up is not upon him, but he must certainly not return to doing it.”

Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Isa, from Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Najran, from Safwan ibn Yahya, from Is ibn al-Qasim, who said: I (narrator) asked Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, about ‘a man who became junub in the month of Ramadan at the beginning of the night, then delayed the ghusl until dawn rose.’ Imam عليه السلام said: “He completes his fast, and there is no making up upon him.”

And from him, from al-Nawfali, from Safwan ibn Yahya, from Sulayman ibn Abi Zaynabah, who said: I (narrator) wrote to Abu al-Hasan Musa ibn Ja’far عليه السلام, peace be upon them both, asking Imam عليه السلام about ‘a man who became junub in the month of Ramadan from the beginning of the night, then delayed the ghusl until dawn rose.’ So the Imam عليه السلام, peace be upon him, wrote to me in his own handwriting: “I know him with Musadif. He performs ghusl from his janabah, completes his fast, and there is nothing upon him.”

And from him, from Sa’ad ibn Ismail, from his father, from Ismail ibn Isa, who said: I (narrator) asked Imam al-Ridha عليه السلام, peace be upon him, about ‘a man who was affected by janabah in the month of Ramadan, then slept until morning came; what is upon him?’ Imam عليه السلام said: “This does not harm him, and he does not break his fast, for my father عليه السلام, peace be upon him, said: ‘Aisha said: Indeed, the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family, woke in the morning while junub from intercourse, not from a wet dream.’” Imam عليه السلام said: “He does not break his fast, and he does not pay any attention to it.” (Narrator said) ‘And a man who was affected by janabah, then remained asleep until morning came; what is obligatory upon him?’ Imam عليه السلام said: “There is nothing upon him; he performs ghusl.” (Narrator said) ‘And a man who was affected by janabah at the end of the night, so he rose to perform ghusl but did not find water, so he went to seek it, or sent someone to bring it to him, but it became difficult for him until morning came; how should he act?’ Imam عليه السلام said: “He performs ghusl when it comes to him, then he prays.”

Al-Husayn ibn Said, from Uthman ibn Isa, from Samaah ibn Mihran, who said: I (narrator) asked Imam عليه السلام about ‘a man who was affected by janabah in the middle of the night in (month of) Ramadan, then slept while he knew of it, and did not wake up until dawn reached him.’ Imam عليه السلام said: “Upon him is that he completes his fast and makes up another day.” I (narrator) asked: “If that was from the man while he is making up (month of) Ramadan?” Imam عليه السلام said: “Then let him eat on that day of his, and let him make it up, for nothing from the months resembles (month of) Ramadan.”

And from him, from Safwan ibn Yahya, from Mansur ibn Hazim, from Abdullah ibn Abi Yafur, who said: I (narrator) said to Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him: “The man becomes junub in the month of Ramadan, then wakes up, then sleeps until morning comes.” Imam عليه السلام said: “He completes his fast and makes up another day. But if he did not wake up until morning came, he completes his day, and it is valid for him.”

And from him, from Fadalah, from al-Ala, from Muhammad ibn Muslim, from one of the two Imams عليه السلام, peace be upon them, who said: I (narrator) asked Imam عليه السلام about ‘a man who is affected by janabah in (month of) Ramadan, then sleeps before performing ghusl.’ Imam عليه السلام said: “He completes his fast and makes up that day, unless he wakes up before dawn rises. Then, if he waits for water to be heated or drawn, and dawn rises, then he does not make up his day.”

From him, from Ahmad ibn Muhammad, from Abu al-Hasan عليه السلام, peace be upon him, who said: I (narrator) asked Imam عليه السلام about ‘a man who had intercourse with his wife in the month of Ramadan, or was affected by janabah, then slept until morning came deliberately.’ Imam عليه السلام said: “He completes that day (of fast), and upon him is making it up.”

Al-Husayn ibn Said, from Hammad ibn Isa and Fadalah ibn Ayyub, from Muawiyah ibn Ammar, who said: I (narrator) said to Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him: “A man becomes junub from the beginning of the night, then sleeps until morning comes in the month of Ramadan.” Imam عليه السلام said: “There is nothing upon him.” I (narrator) asked: “But if he wakes up, then sleeps until morning comes?” Imam عليه السلام said: “Then let him make up that day as a punishment.”

Al-Husayn ibn Said, from Muhammad ibn Abi Umayr, from Ibrahim ibn Abd al-Hamid, from Abu Basir, from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him: (Imam عليه السلام was asked) regarding ‘a man who became junub in the month of Ramadan at night, then deliberately left the ghusl until morning came.’ Imam عليه السلام said: “He frees a slave, or fasts two consecutive months, or feeds sixty needy persons.” He (narrator) said: “And Imam عليه السلام said: ‘Indeed, he is deserving that I do not see him ever attaining it (the merits of the original fast).’”

Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Saffar, from Muhammad ibn Isa, who said: Sulayman ibn Hafs al-Marwazi narrated to me from al-Faqih عليه السلام, peace be upon him, who said: Imam عليه السلام said: “When a man becomes junub in the month of Ramadan at night and does not perform ghusl until morning comes, then upon him is the fasting of two consecutive months, along with the fasting of that day, and he does not attain the merit of his day.”

And from him, from Ibrahim ibn Hashim, from Abd al-Rahman ibn Hammad, from Ibrahim ibn Abd al-Hamid, from some of his freed servants, who said: I (narrator) asked Imam عليه السلام about ‘the wet dream of the fasting person.’ Imam عليه السلام said: “If he has a wet dream during the day in the month of Ramadan, then he must not sleep until he performs ghusl. And if he becomes junub at night in the month of Ramadan, then he has no right to sleep for an hour until he performs ghusl. So whoever becomes junub in the month of Ramadan, then sleeps until morning comes, then upon him is the freeing of a slave, or feeding sixty needy persons. And upon him is to making up that day, and he completes his fast, and he will never attain it (the merits of the original fast).”

As for what Sa’ad ibn Abdullah narrated from Abu Jafar, from Sa’ad ibn Ismail ibn Isa, from his father, who said: I (narrator) asked Imam al-Ridha عليه السلام, peace be upon him, about ‘a man who was affected by janabah in the month of Ramadan, then slept deliberately until morning came. What is upon him?’ Imam عليه السلام said: “This does not harm him, and he does not break his fast, and he does not pay any attention to it, for my father عليه السلام, peace be upon him, said: ‘Aisha said: Indeed, the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family, woke in the morning while junub from intercourse, not from a wet dream.’”

Sa’ad, from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn and Muhammad ibn Ali, from Muhammad ibn Isa, from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Nasr, from Hammad ibn Uthman, from Habib al-Khathami, from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, who said: Imam عليه السلام said: “The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family, used to perform the night prayer in the month of Ramadan, then become junub, then deliberately delay the ghusl until dawn rose.”

Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Saffar, from Muhammad ibn Isa, who said: Sulayman ibn Hafs al-Marwazi narrated to me, saying: I (narrator) heard Imam عليه السلام say: “If the fasting person rinses his mouth in the month of Ramadan, or sniffs water into his nose deliberately, or smells a thick odor, or sweeps a house and dust enters his nose or his throat, then upon him is the fasting of two consecutive months, for that is a breaking of the fast for him, like (the acts that break the fast) such as eating, drinking, and intercourse.”

Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Saffar, from Ibrahim ibn Hashim, from Barraqah al-Asbahani, from Ghiyath ibn Ibrahim, from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad عليه السلام, from his father عليه السلام, peace be upon him, who said: Imam عليه السلام said: “There is no harm in kohl (applied to eyes) for the fasting person, and snuff (al-suut) was disliked for the fasting person.”

And from him, from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn, from Muhammad ibn Ali al-Khazzaz, from Ghiyath ibn Ibrahim, from Imam Jafar al-Sadiq عليه السلام, from his father عليه السلام, from Imam Ali عليه السلام, peace be upon him: Imam al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: “Imam Ali عليه السلام disliked snuff (al-suut) for the fasting person.”