What is the prescribed expiation (kaffarah) for Zihar?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Zihar
Primary text
The expiation for Zihar is established through the Sunnah, exemplified in the case of Khawlah bint Malik ibn Thaalabah, where the Prophet (peace be upon him) mandated a sequence of expiations. The first mandatory expiation is freeing a slave (an 'aqaba). If this is not possible, the second mandatory step is fasting two consecutive months. If the person is unable to fast, the third mandatory step is feeding sixty poor people (miskeen). In the case of Salama ibn Sakhr al-Bayadhi, who was poor and unable to free a slave, fast, or feed the poor, the Prophet (peace be upon him) arranged for him to be aided with dates from the general charity funds (sadaqah) to fulfill the requirement, confirming that the expiation must be completed before intimacy is permissible.
Supporting text
Initially, the Prophet (peace be upon him) counseled Khawlah to fear God, stating, 'Fear God; for he is your cousin,' but upon the revelation of Quran 58:1, the ruling became fixed. When Salama ibn Sakhr was asked to free a slave, he stated he owned no other slave besides his wife, implying she was his property, which necessitated moving to the next stage of expiation.