84/2. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 6709 — Ramadan Expiation with Mercy
When is expiation due upon the rich and the poor?
مَتَى تَجِبُ الْكَفَّارَةُ عَلَى الْغَنِيِّ وَالْفَقِيرِ؟
Hadith About Ramadan Expiation and Mercy
Sahih Bukhari : 6709
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 6709
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُهُ مِنْ، فِيهِ عَنْ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ هَلَكْتُ. قَالَ " مَا شَأْنُكَ ". قَالَ وَقَعْتُ عَلَى امْرَأَتِي فِي رَمَضَانَ. قَالَ " تَسْتَطِيعُ تُعْتِقُ رَقَبَةً ". قَالَ لاَ. قَالَ " فَهَلْ تَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ تَصُومَ شَهْرَيْنِ مُتَتَابِعَيْنِ ". قَالَ لاَ. قَالَ " فَهَلْ تَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ تُطْعِمَ سِتِّينَ مِسْكِينًا ". قَالَ لاَ. قَالَ " اجْلِسْ ". فَجَلَسَ فَأُتِيَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِعَرَقٍ فِيهِ تَمْرٌ ـ وَالْعَرَقُ الْمِكْتَلُ الضَّخْمُ ـ قَالَ " خُذْ هَذَا، فَتَصَدَّقْ بِهِ ". قَالَ أَعَلَى أَفْقَرَ مِنَّا، فَضَحِكَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَتَّى بَدَتْ نَوَاجِذُهُ قَالَ " أَطْعِمْهُ عِيَالَكَ ".
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said, "I am ruined!" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "What is the matter with you?" He said, "I had sexual relation with my wife (while I was fasting) in Ramadan." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Have you got enough to manumit a slave?" He said, "No." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Can you fast for two successive months?" The man said, "No." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Can you feed sixty poor persons?" The man said, "No." Then the Prophet (ﷺ) said to him, "Sit down," and he sat down.Afterwards an 'Irq, i.e., a big basket containing dates was brought to the Prophet (ﷺ) and the Prophet (ﷺ) said to him, "Take this and give it in charity." The man said, "To poorer people than we?" On that, the Prophet (ﷺ) smiled till his premolar teeth became visible, and then told him, "Feed your family with it." (See Hadith No. 157, Vol 3)
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 6709In-book reference : Book 84, Hadith 2USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 8, Book 79, Hadith 700
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 6709
This hadith about Ramadan expiation describes a man who came to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم saying he was ruined because he had sexual relations with his wife while fasting in Ramadan. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم asked about expiation step by step: freeing a slave, fasting two consecutive months, or feeding sixty poor persons. The man could not do any of these. Then a basket of dates was brought, and the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم told him to give it in charity. When the man said his family was poorer than others, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم smiled and told him to feed his family with it. The hadith shows law, confession, and mercy together in a very human way.
What we learn from this hadith
- Breaking the Ramadan fast in this way required serious expiation.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم asked about the man’s ability step by step.
- The man was not shamed after admitting his mistake.
- Mercy was shown when he could not afford the expiation.
