What Is Kaffarah in Islam?
Kaffarah refers to the Islamic concept of expiation or atonement for specific sins, derived from the Arabic root “kafar,” meaning to cover or conceal. It acts as a form of penance that cleanses the soul, draws believers closer to their faith, and reinforces commitment to righteousness.
Kaffarah vs. Fidya
Fidya compensates for missed fasts due to valid excuses, such as illness, as agreed by scholars based on the Quran and Hadith. Kaffarah, however, addresses deliberate violations, such as intentionally breaking the fast during Ramadan, and includes the obligation to make up the fast (qadaa).
Types of Kaffarah
Islam outlines kaffarah for various acts, prioritising options like freeing slaves (now obsolete), followed by fasting or feeding the poor.
Breaking a Ramadan Fast
Intentional breakage requires freeing a slave, or 60 consecutive fasts (restarting if interrupted), or feeding 60 poor people staple food.
Breaking an Oath
Post-puberty oaths demand one kaffarah: feed or clothe 10 poor people (equivalent to two meals), fast 3 consecutive days, or give sadaqah fitr amount.
Kaffarah for Hajj Violations
Violations during Hajj vary by type, always starting with sacrifice before alternatives.
- Missing a Ritual: Sacrifice a sheep/goat (or 1/7 camel/cow), or fast 10 days (3 during Hajj, 7 after).
- Prevented from Ritual: Sacrifice sheep/goat, feed the poor equally, or fast per 510g mudd.
- Prohibitions in Ihram (e.g., perfume): Sacrifice a sheep/goat, feed 7.5kg to 6 poor, or fast 3 days.
- Sexual Intercourse: Before partial ihram release, sacrifice a camel (or cow/7 sheep), feed equivalently, fast per morsel, plus make up Hajj; after partial but before full, sacrifice a sheep/goat.