The ruling on one who commits the secret habit during the day in Ramadan?

Question : The questioner says: Honorable Shaykh, what should one do if he commits the secret habit at the end of Ramadan? Does he have to pay an expiation like one who has intercourse with his wife, or not? May Allah reward you with good.

Answer : We have previously stated that the secret habit is forbidden by the Qur'an and the Sunnah. If a person does it while fasting in Ramadan or otherwise, and he ejaculates, his fast becomes invalid. If it was in Ramadan, he has committed a sin and must continue to abstain until sunset, and he must make up the day he invalidated. He does not have to pay an expiation for this act, because it is not intercourse. The expiation is only obligatory for intercourse, whether he ejaculates or not.