The Case of One Who Knowingly Eats or Is Involved in Carnal Relation During the Month of Ramadan

“This is about a man who knowingly eats without good reason in the month of Ramadan one day. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘He for one day (of destroying his fast) is required to either set free a slave, fast for two consecutive months, or feed sixty destitute people. If he cannot do any of the above, he must give charity of whatever amount he is able to do.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who purposely destroys one day of the fast of the month of Ramadan. He (the Imam) said, ‘Once a man came to the Holy prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, and said, “O Messenger of Allah!” He (the Messenger of Allah) replied, “What is the matter with you?” He replied, “I fell on my wife.” He (the Messenger of Allah) said, “Give charity and repent.” He (the man) said, “I swear by the One who has made your right great, there is nothing in my house small and very little or large and a great deal.” He (the Imam) said that a man then came with a massive bushel of dates which was twenty Sa‘, each of which was equal to ten of our Sa‘. The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, said to him (the man), “Take this and give it as charity.” He (the man) said, “O Messenger of Allah, to whom should I give this charity when I have told you that in my house there is nothing little or a great deal.” He (the Messenger of Allah) said, “Take it and feed your family and ask Allah for forgiveness.’” He (the narrator) has said that when we came out (of the meeting) our people told us that expiation is to set free a slave saying, ‘Set free a slave, fast or give charity.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who falls upon his wife (performs sexual relation) and does not find anything to give as charity to sixty destitute people. He (the Imam) said, ‘He is required to give charity as much as he can.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who in the month of Ramadan plays with his wife until semen discharge takes place. He (the Imam) said, ‘ He is required to offer the same expiation as the one who engages in sexual intercourse (while fasting).’”

Abū Jaʿfar (AS) was asked about a man upon whom witnesses testified that he had broken his fast during the month of Ramadan for three days. He said, "He is to be asked: 'Do you believe that there is any sin upon you for breaking your fast during the month of Ramadan?' If he says 'No,' then it is upon the Imam to kill him. If he says 'Yes,' then it is upon the Imam to punish him severely with beating."

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who destroys his fast in the month of Ramadan three times and is brought before the Imam three times. He (the Imam) said, ‘He is executed on the third time.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who plays with his wife or slave-girl while fasting for Qada’ (compensatory fast) of the month of Ramadan until semen discharge takes place. He (the Imam) said, ‘Its expiation is like that for having sexual intercourse in the month of Ramadan.’”

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about a man who breaks his fast in the month of Ramadan intentionally. He (the Imam) said, ‘He is required to give twenty Sa‘ in charity and make Qada’ (compensatory fast) of that fast.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who performs sexual intercourse with his wife when both are fasting. He (the Imam) said, ‘If she dislikes it, then he is responsible for the expiation for two people. If she is consenting, then he owes one expiation and she owes one expiation. If he forces her, there is fifty lashes on him which is half of the complete punishment, and if she is consenting, there is twenty- five lashes on him and twenty- five on her.’”