What is the ruling regarding feeding sixty poor persons as atonement for sexual intercourse in Ramadan?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Fasting
Primary text
Feeding sixty poor persons is required as an expiation for sexual intercourse during Ramadan, and there is no known disagreement among the scholars on the inclusion of feeding in this expiation, as it is mentioned in the authentic reports. The required number of people to be fed is sixty, according to the general opinion of scholars, which aligns with the established reports. This number is set because it pertains to an expiation that requires two consecutive months of fasting, thus paralleling the expiation for *Zihar* (a form of unjust divorce), which also mandates feeding sixty poor persons.
Supporting text
There is disagreement regarding the exact measure to be given to each poor person. Ahmad is of the opinion that each poor person receives one *Mudd* of wheat, which equates to half a *Sa'* of dates or barley, making the total thirty *Sa'*. Abu Hanifa holds that the measure is half a *Sa'* of wheat for each person, or one *Sa'* of other commodities, citing the narration of Salama ibn Sakhr that the Prophet, peace be upon him, commanded feeding 'a *Wusq* of dates.' Abu Huraira, Ata, Al-Awza'i, and Al-Shafi'i state that one *Mudd* of any type of food suffices. This is supported by the report that the Prophet, peace be upon him, was given a basket of dates amounting to fifteen *Sa'* and instructed the man to feed it to sixty people. The amount of one *Mudd* of wheat is considered equivalent to half a *Sa'* of dates or barley, as evidenced by supporting narrations. This equivalence is also affirmed by the opinions of Ibn Umar, Ibn Abbas, Abu Huraira, and Zayd, with no known contrary opinion among the Companions.