What is the ruling on the merging (inter-transaction) of expiations for repeated prohibited acts according to different Imams?
Chapter on Ransom (Fidyah) and Penalty for Hunting
Al-Mughni
Book of Hajj
Primary text
The position held here is that expiations for repeated acts that do not depend on quantity merge, similar to the merging of Hadd punishments and the expiation for breaking oaths, especially when the acts follow one another immediately, even if separated temporally. This ruling applies because the Divine Law only mandated one expiation for shaving the head regardless of the method of performance.
Supporting text
Al-Shafi'i holds the same view as the primary position regarding non-merging acts. Malik is of the opinion that expiations merge only in the case of sexual intercourse (Wati') during Ihram, but not for others. Abu Hanifa states that if the repetition occurs within a single gathering (majlis), only one expiation is due; if it occurs in separate gatherings, multiple expiations are due, as the single gathering is treated as a single act.