Noor Thalassemia Foundation

Fasting, also known as Sawm, is one of the five pillars of Islam and holds the central position among them. The Holy month of Ramadan, or fasting, has immense value in Islam. The month is considered a way to expiate all of your sins and get Allah’s blessings and forgiveness.

Muslims from across the world fast from dawn to sunset. Remember that fasting is an obligation in Islam with no relaxation of missing them, except under some major conditions. However, if someone breaks the fast knowingly, he commits a serious sin that needs Kaffarah.

Islam comes with potential solutions for those who broke their fast intentionally and are seeking Allah’s forgiveness. This article is a detailed account of what Kaffarah is and how one can pay it to redress their sins of deliberately breaking fast in Ramadan.

Benefits of Fasting in Ramadan?

Fasting is a most valuable and beautiful pillar of Islam that comes with many rewards for Muslims. Here, we highlight some of the major benefits and barakah of fasting during Ramadan.

1. Fasting Makes us Obedient

The very first benefit or blessing of having Ramadan and fasting in your life is that it makes us obedient to Allah Almighty. Allah has made it obligatory for all adult and healthy Muslims to fast during Ramadan. When paying heed to Allah’s orders and fasting with good Niyyah purely for the cause of Allah, Allah surely gives blessings or barakah to His conformists.

2. Fasting Keeps us Closer to Allah

Fasting is not only about staying away from food; it is about doing good deeds and taking care of others. When we pray, recite the Holy Qur’an, arrange Suhoor and Iftar, and distribute among the poor and needy, it brings Allah’s pleasure for us. So, fasting is a way to please Allah and draw ourselves closer to Him.

3. Fasting helps with self-improvement

Fasting also comes with self-improvement. For example, Fasting teaches us about inner control. We do not eat and drink knowingly purely for the cause of Allah. We stay patient and positive throughout the day or month, even when we are annoyed. So, fasting teaches us the lessons of humbleness, self-discipline, and emotional control. Besides this, it also promotes the feeling of humanity and brotherhood.

4. Fasting helps with Community Bonding

We have seen that during the Holy Month of Ramadan, every single Muslim engages in blessed activities of fasting, praying, distributing, and taking care of others. It keeps us connected with our surroundings, ensuring strong community bonds.

5. Fasting Promotes Physical Health

Fasting not only benefits us with emotional and spiritual well-being. It also promotes our physical health. For example, studies have shown that regular fasting helps manage blood sugar levels, fight against inflammation, prevent cancer, promote heart health, and reduce obesity.

How to Define Kaffarah?

Kaffarah is defined as a heritable compensation that is obligatory to pay when someone knowingly breaks the fast during Ramadan. It’s been narrated that eating food, drinking water, or engaging in sexual activities while fasting breaks your fast and you have to pay Kaffaray to expiate your sins and get Allah’s pleasure.

Remember that if someone breaks the fast deliberately and does not pay Kaffarah, he commits a serious sin. However, there are some conditions when your fast remains safe and does not make Kaffarah obligatory. For example, if you eat or drink something accidentally, you do not need to pay Kaffarah. Also, if you get ill or injured, fasting can lead to serious health issues, so you can break your fast with no Kaffarah.

Conditions to Pay Kaffarah for a Broken Fast?

Islam imposed some conditions, and you have to meet one of them to pay Kaffarah. Remember that if you sin by breaking fast, the only way to get Allah’s forgiveness is to pay Kaffarah and do taubah.

1. Free a Slave

The very basic compensation narrated by Islam as a Kaffarah for breaking fast is to free a slave. However, we know that in today's world, where there is no concept of slavery, freeing a slave may not be possible. So, in such a condition, you can go with other conditions.

2. Fasting for Sixty Continuous Days

When freeing a slave is not an option, you can go with another condition, which is to fast for sixty consecutive days. Remember that it is the process of fasting for sixty days continuously without a break. However, if you make a gap or miss a single day, you need to restart fasting as day one and complete it for the next sixty days.

3. Feed Sixty Poor People

If fasting for sixty consecutive days is also difficult for someone, then the compensation or Kaffarah is to feed sixty poor people. For this purpose, you need to find sixty people who are really poor and feed them.

In the case you are unable to find sixty poor people, you can contact an organization that sponsors or supports the poor. For your inner peace and satisfaction, you need to check out if the organization really feeds the poor and takes care of them properly.

Are Kaffarah and Fidya the Same?

No, Kaffarah and Fidya are not the same form of charity or compensation. Kaffarah, as we know, becomes obligatory when someone intentionally breaks the fast. On the other hand, Fidya is a compensation for the missing fasts. For example, if someone is unable to fast due to illness, travelling, or other valid reasons, they can pay Fidya for the missing days. However, the first order is to complete your missing fasts after freeing from illness and completing your travel. But you can pay Fidya if fasting is difficult for you for some reason.

Give Your Donations to NTF This Ramadan

Do you want to give your donations in Ramadan to get Allah’s pleasure and blessings? Do it by supporting poor patients. At Noor Thalassemia Foundation, we mainly support patients suffering from Thalassemia, Hemophilia, and other blood disorders. Your donations are used fairly to manage a regular blood supply, medications, and other required equipment used to treat deserving patients who cannot even afford their treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who needs to pay Kaffarah?

Someone who knowingly broke the fast by eating food, drinking water, or engaging in sexual activities needs to pay Kaffarah.

What are the conditions of paying Kafarah?

Generally, Islam proposes three conditions, and by following any one of them, you can pay Kaffarah. Kaffarah for intentionally breaking fast can be paid by freeing a slave, fasting for sixty consecutive days, or feeding sixty poor people.

What is the difference between Kaffarah and Fidya?

Kaffarah is a compensation you need to pay when you deliberately break your fast. However, Fidya is a compensation for missing fast.

What is the difference between Kaffarah and Fitra?

Kaffarah is a charitable compensation that needs to be paid when someone knowingly breaks the fast during Ramadan. However, Fitra is an obligation and is generally paid by Muslims who have food in excess of their basic needs.

Can I pay Kafarah after Ramadan?

The best practice is to pay Kaffarah during Ramadan to expiate your sins and get Allah’s pleasure. However, if it is difficult for you to pay kaffarah immediately, you can pay it at any time of the year.