The ruling on the expiation for intercourse during the day of Ramadan, with the feeding of the poor being done first

The questioner : I used to think that intercourse during the day of Ramadan only required making up the day, along with the sin. Then Satan whispered to him to have intercourse with his wife in Ramadan. After that, he said, “I realized that I owe a severe expiation.”

The Shaykh : Yes.

The questioner : He said, “So I resorted to the easier option and fed sixty poor people.”

The Shaykh : To the easier option, and not in the prescribed order?

The questioner : Yes, he said, “I resorted to the easier option; I did not follow the order.”

The Shaykh : Mm.

The questioner : He said, “The easier one was for him.” He said, “So I fed sixty poor people.” Then he asked, “Is the expiation obligatory on him? He knew that the easier option is not permissible, but he is asking whether the expiation is obligatory on him in this situation?”

The Shaykh : Yes, the expiation is obligatory on him. What he fed is considered voluntary charity, and he must fast for two consecutive months or free a slave, which is the first degree. Yes.