69/13. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5368 — Ramadan Fasting Expiation
The expenditure of a poor man on his family
Hadith About Ramadan Fasting Expiation and Mercy
Sahih Bukhari : 5368
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5368
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ أَتَى النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ هَلَكْتُ. قَالَ " وَلِمَ ". قَالَ وَقَعْتُ عَلَى أَهْلِي فِي رَمَضَانَ. قَالَ " فَأَعْتِقْ رَقَبَةً ". قَالَ لَيْسَ عِنْدِي. قَالَ " فَصُمْ شَهْرَيْنِ مُتَتَابِعَيْنِ ". قَالَ لاَ أَسْتَطِيعُ. قَالَ " فَأَطْعِمْ سِتِّينَ مِسْكِينًا ". قَالَ لاَ أَجِدُ. فَأُتِيَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِعَرَقٍ فِيهِ تَمْرٌ فَقَالَ " أَيْنَ السَّائِلُ ". قَالَ هَا أَنَا ذَا. قَالَ " تَصَدَّقْ بِهَذَا ". قَالَ عَلَى أَحْوَجَ مِنَّا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَوَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ مَا بَيْنَ لاَبَتَيْهَا أَهْلُ بَيْتٍ أَحْوَجُ مِنَّا فَضَحِكَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَتَّى بَدَتْ أَنْيَابُهُ قَالَ " فَأَنْتُمْ إِذًا ".
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said, "I am ruined!" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Why?" He said, "I had sexual intercourse with my wife while fasting (in the month of Ramadan)." The Prophet (ﷺ) said to him, "Manumit a slave (as expiation)." He replied, "I cannot afford that." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Then fast for two successive months." He said, "I cannot." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Then feed sixty poor persons." He said, "I have nothing to do that."In the meantime a basket full of dates was brought to the Prophet (ﷺ). He said, "Where is the questioner." The man said, "I am here." The Prophet (ﷺ) said (to him), "Give this (basket of dates) in charity (as expiation)." He said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Shall I give it to poorer people than us? By Him Who sent you with the Truth, there is no family between Medina's two mountains poorer than us." The Prophet (ﷺ) smiled till his pre-molar teeth became visible. He then said, "Then take it."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5368In-book reference : Book 69, Hadith 18USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 64, Hadith 281
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5368
This Hadith tells the story of a man who came to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم saying he was ruined because he had intercourse with his wife while fasting in Ramadan. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم asked him about the possible forms of expiation: freeing a slave, fasting two successive months, or feeding sixty poor persons. The man could not do any of them. Then dates were brought, and he was told to give them in charity. When he said his family was poorer than others around him, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم smiled and allowed him to take it. The Hadith about Ramadan expiation shows the seriousness of breaking the fast this way, while also showing mercy toward real hardship.
What we learn from this hadith
- Intercourse while fasting in Ramadan was treated as a serious matter.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم guided the man step by step through expiation options.
- The man’s inability was considered in the response.
- The ending shows mercy toward a family in deep need.
