Fast : Compensation and Expiation, Part 5

If one intends to feed other people as kaffārah for their missed fast, firstly, they should feed the poor only, and secondly, they should set aside one mud of food for each poor person. One mud is equivalent to approximately 750 grams of wheat, barley, or one ordinary meal that can make one feel full. However, as for the kaffārah of invalidating the fast on purpose, 60 muds of food must be given to 60 poor people, and it is not permissible to give one poor person several muds of food except if one does not have access to 60 poor people. But if one knows that the poor person shares the food of kaffārah with his or her family, one could set aside one mud of food for each member of his or her family. In this respect, one can set aside an entire mud of food for minors of the poor person's family. But in kaffārah of excuse or kaffārah of delay, one can give the kaffārah of several fasts to one poor person. However, care must be given to give each poor person one mud of food completely. Meaning, if one is supposed to give three muds of food to two poor persons, it is not permissible to give each of them one and half muds of food. Rather, one of them must be given one mud of food and the other two muds of it. One, however, could give money to the poor in lieu of food, but on the condition that firstly, this sum of money is in proportion to the prices of the city in which kaffārah is paid, and secondly, it must be ascertained that this money is solely spent on purchasing food. Otherwise, kaffārah must be paid anew since this money can solely be spent on providing food for the poor and it must not be spent for any other purpose. A few points. 1. Based on obligatory precaution, kaffārah cannot be given to one who is wājib Nafaqah, meaning, for example, a husband is not permitted to give the kaffārah due on him to his wife, even if his wife is poor. 2. Based on obligatory precaution, those who are not sayyid cannot pay their kaffārah to poor sayyids, and it is only sayyids who can pay their kaffārah to other sayyids. 3. If one intends to pay the kaffārah due on his wife or on someone else, based on an obligatory precaution, one must obtain their permission and then pay their kaffārah on their behalf.