Does a person consider the interest of the poor in feeding and clothing for the expiation of an oath, or is he given a choice?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : Shaykh, regarding the saying of Allah the Exalted [Al-Ma'idah 5:89], is a person given a choice between feeding and clothing, or does he look at the need and interest of the poor?
The Shaykh : The verse is explicit.
The questioner : I did not mention fasting, Shaykh. Yes,[Al-Baqarah 2:196] meaning, regarding the issue, may Allah preserve you, the issue of feeding and clothing.
The Shaykh : ... .
The questioner : No,[Al-Ma'idah 5:89].
The Shaykh: All right.
The questioner :[Al-Ma'idah 5:89] meaning, fasting is a matter for the one who does not find [the means].
The Shaykh : The first three types.
The questioner : Feeding or clothing.
The Shaykh : He is given a choice in that.
The questioner : He is given a choice.
The Shaykh : If it were not for fasting, of course.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : So in that case, there is no objection; rather, it is good that he considers the interest of the poor in that, just as he must consider his own ability. For example, he may be able to provide clothing but not feeding, or he may be able to do one but not freeing a slave, as is the reality today. So if he is able to do all three types, in that case he chooses, or [chooses] what is most beneficial for the poor.
So its expiation is the feeding of ten needy people from the average of that which you feed your [own] families or clothing them or the freeing of a slave. But whoever cannot find [or afford it] - then a fast of three days [is required]
فكفارته إطعام عشرة مساكين من أوسط ما تطعمون أهليكم أو كسوتهم أو تحرير رقبة فمن لم يجد فصيام ثلاثة أيامThe Shaykh : The verse is explicit.
The questioner : I did not mention fasting, Shaykh. Yes,
And whoever cannot find
فمن لم يجد فصيامThe Shaykh : ... .
The questioner : No,
So its expiation is the feeding of ten needy people from the average of that which you feed your [own] families
فكفارته إطعام عشرة مساكين من أوسط ما تطعمون أهليكمThe Shaykh: All right.
The questioner :
or clothing them or the freeing of a slave. But whoever cannot find [or afford it] - then a fast of three days
أو كسوتهم أو تحرير رقبة فمن لم يجد فصيام ثلاثة أيامThe Shaykh : The first three types.
The questioner : Feeding or clothing.
The Shaykh : He is given a choice in that.
The questioner : He is given a choice.
The Shaykh : If it were not for fasting, of course.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : So in that case, there is no objection; rather, it is good that he considers the interest of the poor in that, just as he must consider his own ability. For example, he may be able to provide clothing but not feeding, or he may be able to do one but not freeing a slave, as is the reality today. So if he is able to do all three types, in that case he chooses, or [chooses] what is most beneficial for the poor.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.