Explanation of the conditions of expiation.
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The Shaykh : The first condition is that fasting must be obligatory upon him.
The second condition is that he must be in a place other than his home.
The third condition is that he must know that intercourse is forbidden. If he knows that intercourse is forbidden but does not know what is required of him, then it is obligatory for him to make up the fast and pay the expiation.
Let us return to the implications of these conditions.
If a man was traveling with his family and came to us not knowing that intercourse is forbidden, then he owes nothing. If he knew that he had a fast to keep, I return to this condition: if the man who had intercourse with his wife thought that intercourse does not invalidate the fast, then he is not required to fast.
I return a third time: if a man was with his family while traveling and had intercourse with his wife while he was a traveler, and then he comes to ask, "What is upon me?" We say: You must repent to Allah, Mighty and Majestic, and you must pay the expiation, which will be explained later.
If someone were to say: "I did not know there was an expiation; if I had known about the expiation, I would not have done it."
We say: This does not benefit you. This excuse does not benefit you, because it is not a condition for the obligation—specifically, the obligation of the expiation—that a person must know that he has an expiation. Therefore, listen to the hadith of Abu Hurayrah and Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both):
قال : لا. قال : هل تستطيع أن تصوم شهرين متتابعين؟ قال : لا. قال : هل تستطيع أن تطعم ستين مسكينا؟ قال : لا. ثم جلس الرجل فجيء إلى النبي صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم بمكتل من التمر ليتصدق به فأخذه النبي صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم وقال للرجل خذ هذا تصدق به. قال : يا رسول الله أعلى أفقر مني. والله ما بين لابتيها أهل بيت أفقر مني. فضحك النبي صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم وقال للرجل خذه تصدق به على أهلك
If a man was not fasting while traveling and arrived at his home while still not fasting, then there is no expiation upon him if he had intercourse, because he began the day in a state where it was permissible for him to break the fast. Thus, this breaking of the fast was not forbidden for him, so the expiation is not obligatory upon him.
In this hadith, there is evidence that if a person is required to pay an expiation but he cannot find the means, then he owes nothing, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) did not order him to make up the fast, nor did he order him to pay a ransom, since he was excused.
The second condition is that he must be in a place other than his home.
The third condition is that he must know that intercourse is forbidden. If he knows that intercourse is forbidden but does not know what is required of him, then it is obligatory for him to make up the fast and pay the expiation.
Let us return to the implications of these conditions.
If a man was traveling with his family and came to us not knowing that intercourse is forbidden, then he owes nothing. If he knew that he had a fast to keep, I return to this condition: if the man who had intercourse with his wife thought that intercourse does not invalidate the fast, then he is not required to fast.
I return a third time: if a man was with his family while traveling and had intercourse with his wife while he was a traveler, and then he comes to ask, "What is upon me?" We say: You must repent to Allah, Mighty and Majestic, and you must pay the expiation, which will be explained later.
If someone were to say: "I did not know there was an expiation; if I had known about the expiation, I would not have done it."
We say: This does not benefit you. This excuse does not benefit you, because it is not a condition for the obligation—specifically, the obligation of the expiation—that a person must know that he has an expiation. Therefore, listen to the hadith of Abu Hurayrah and Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both):
A man came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) and said, "O Messenger of Allah, I am ruined." He said, "What has ruined you?" He said, "I came to my wife in Ramadan while I was fasting." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) gave him a ruling and said, "Do you have a slave to free?" He said, "No." He said, "Can you fast for two consecutive months?" He said, "No." He said, "Can you feed sixty poor people?" He said, "No." Then the man sat down, and a basket of dates was brought to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) to be given in charity. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) took it and said to the man, "Take this and give it in charity." The man said, "O Messenger of Allah, to someone poorer than me? By Allah, there is no household between these two riverbanks poorer than mine." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) laughed and said to the man, "Take it and give it in charity to your family."
حيث أتى رجل إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم فقال يا رسول الله هلكت قال ما الذي أهلكك قال أتيت امرأتي في رمضان وأنا صائم فأفتاه النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم وقال : هل تجد رقبة؟قال : لا. قال : هل تستطيع أن تصوم شهرين متتابعين؟ قال : لا. قال : هل تستطيع أن تطعم ستين مسكينا؟ قال : لا. ثم جلس الرجل فجيء إلى النبي صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم بمكتل من التمر ليتصدق به فأخذه النبي صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم وقال للرجل خذ هذا تصدق به. قال : يا رسول الله أعلى أفقر مني. والله ما بين لابتيها أهل بيت أفقر مني. فضحك النبي صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم وقال للرجل خذه تصدق به على أهلك
If a man was not fasting while traveling and arrived at his home while still not fasting, then there is no expiation upon him if he had intercourse, because he began the day in a state where it was permissible for him to break the fast. Thus, this breaking of the fast was not forbidden for him, so the expiation is not obligatory upon him.
In this hadith, there is evidence that if a person is required to pay an expiation but he cannot find the means, then he owes nothing, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) did not order him to make up the fast, nor did he order him to pay a ransom, since he was excused.