The Expiation for Intercourse During the Daytime of Ramadan, and Whether an Expiation Is Required for Each Day

Question:
She says: Honorable Shaykh, among her questions is that intercourse occurred between her and her husband while fasting during a long period. She says: I do not know what to do, and I am unable to fast for two months. I want to feed sixty poor people, but I do not know at what time—should it be in Ramadan or at any time? I ask for guidance.

Answer:
Intercourse in Ramadan is forbidden and a severe evil. Allah has made obligatory therein repentance, making up the day on which the intercourse occurred, and the heavy expiation, which is fasting for two months or freeing a slave. This is the first level. So whoever does not find a slave—either because slavery does not exist or because it exists but he cannot afford to buy one—this person moves to the second option, which is fasting for two consecutive months. If he is unable to do so due to a barrier preventing him from fasting, such as his health or work that prevents him from fasting—not out of laziness or out of an inability to bear the hardship of fasting—then this person feeds sixty poor people. Each day has an expiation, and the expiation is according to the number of days on which the intercourse occurred. And whoever does not know the number estimates it and expiates for it. Each day has an expiation. Yes.