Is feeding poor people a morning or evening meal sufficient for expiation?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Fasting
Primary text
Feeding the poor a morning meal (غدى) or an evening meal (عشاهم) is not sufficient for fulfilling the obligation, according to the more established of the two reported narrations from the Imam. This view holds that the obligation requires specifying the due amount (a measure or half a Sa' for each person), and feeding them generally does not guarantee that each poor person received the requisite minimum. The obligation centers on giving possession (تمليك) of the food to the poor person, whereas general feeding (إطعام) is merely permission to consume, not conferral of ownership. The Prophet's guidance specified the amount to be given to each poor person, which limits the general command to feed.
Supporting text
If the food due to each poor person is separately identified and given to them, it suffices if the giver states, 'This is yours to dispose of as you wish,' as this constitutes possession. If no such statement is made, there is a possibility it suffices because the due amount was fed, resembling a transfer of ownership, but another possibility suggests it is insufficient because actual ownership was not explicitly transferred.