Kaffarah is an essential concept in Islam, offering Muslims a way to seek forgiveness and make amends for specific mistakes and sins. It reflects Allah’s boundless mercy while teaching us responsibility, humility, and compassion for those in need.
In this comprehensive guide, we will explain everything about Kaffarah, its meaning, when it applies, how to fulfill it and the difference between Kaffarah and Fidya. Whether you’re searching for answers about breaking your fast intentionally, violating Ihram rules or breaking an oath, this article covers it all.
What is Kaffarah?
Kaffarah, derived from the Arabic word “kafar” (to cover or atone), refers to a religious penalty or expiation for certain sins or violations in Islam. It serves as a spiritual and moral correction while encouraging empathy towards the less fortunate.
Muslims may need to pay Kaffarah for actions such as:
- Intentionally breaking a fast during Ramadan
- Breaking an oath made in Allah’s name
- Unintentionally causing someone’s death
- Violating Ihram restrictions during Hajj
- Performing Zihar (unlawful divorce)
Kaffarah vs. Fidya: What’s the Difference?
While both Kaffarah and Fidya involve compensating for missed obligations, they differ in intent and conditions:
Fidya: Paid when someone cannot fast due to valid reasons (e.g., illness, old age, pregnancy). It also involves feeding one poor person per missed day.
Kaffarah: Paid as a penalty for breaking an obligation intentionally (e.g., intentionally skipping a fast without a valid reason) and involves fasting 60 days consecutively, feeding 60 poor people, or other prescribed penalties.
How to Pay Kaffarah
The method of paying Kaffarah depends on the violation committed. Below are common scenarios and their required Kaffarah:
1. Kaffarah for Intentionally Breaking a Fast During Ramadan
If a Muslim deliberately skips or breaks their fast without a valid reason, they must:
- Free a Muslim slave (if applicable in their time and region), or
- Fast for 60 consecutive days, or
- Feed 60 poor people (1.5 kg of staple food per person or its cash equivalent).
For another option the amount of food you have to give is around 1.5 kg per person. It can be converted into cash, which is equal to RM15 for example.
You can also do so by donating your money to our campaigns, such as:
- Rezeki Ummat (Ummah Welfare)
- Hunger in Syria
We will distribute your money in the form of food to as many poor people as you need. All you have to do is calculate the kaffarah amount.
| Type of Kaffarah | Calculation | Total (RM) |
| Intercourse During the Day in Ramadan | RM4 x 60 people | 240 |
| Kaffarah for Oaths and Vows | RM4 x 10 people | 40 |
| Kaffarah for Zihar | RM4 x 60 people | 240 |
| Kaffarah for Ila | RM4 x 10 people | 40 |
2. Kaffarah for Unintentional Murder
Unintentional murder refers to incidents that someone causes which results in someone else’s death. To ask for forgiveness from Allah, one should:
- Release a slave or
- Fast for two consecutive months
In addition to either of these options, the perpetrator must offer Diya (blood money) to the deceased’s family, which is equal to the value of 100 camels.
The perpetrator will be free of this obligation only if the family doesn’t want the compensation.
3. Kaffarah for Breaking an Oath
In Islamic law, an oath is a promise that you make in which you mention Allah. For example, you say:
“I swear by Allah that I will donate RM500 to a charity by the end of the month.”
If you break this oath, you must complete one of these types of Kaffarah:
- Feed 10 poor people
- Give clothing to 10 poor people
- Free a bondservant from slavery
- Fast for 3 days (consecutively or separately)
Note that Kaffarah doesn’t apply to promises that don’t mention Allah.
3. Kaffarah for Zihar
Zihar is an act of a husband who unlawfully divorces his wife by saying “You are like my mother to me” or something along those lines.
Despite so, if a male Muslim does this, he must repent by performing one of these kaffarah before they can touch each other again:
- Free a slave
- Fast for 60 days consecutively
- Feed 60 poor people
Kaffarah For Being Prevented to Complete Hajj
4. Kaffarah for Violating Ihram During Haji
It is quite common for Muslims to be unable to complete their Hajj due to reasons that they can’t control. Health condition is one of the biggest factors here.
In this case, they must pay Kaffarah to make up for the rest of the rites by:
- Sacrifice an animal
- Feed the poor with the equivalent value of the animal
- Fast for every ¾ kilogram (mudd) of animal that you would have given out to the poor (if the animal weighs 60 kg, they must fast for 80 days).
Kaffarah for Violating Ihram Restrictions in Hajj
There are several acts that can break Ihram, which is a sacred state that Muslims have to be in during Hajj.
The Kaffarah will vary depending on which violation you make, and we will list them down in detail in the following section.
– Having Sexual Intercourse During Hajj
If a married couple has sexual intercourse during Hajj, they have broken their Ihram state and made their Hajj invalid. Therefore, Kaffarah is required of them (both the husband and wife).
If the intercourse is done before they complete tawaf, jamrah, and shaving or cutting of hair, each of them must:
- Sacrifice a camel or a cow
- Distribute the same value of food ( to the poor
- Fast one day for every ¾ kilogram of meat from the animal
Since this violation invalidates their hajj, they also have to perform hajj again the following year in addition to the kaffarah above.
On the other hand, if the intercourse is done after partial release from the pilgrim sanctity (they have completed two of the three rituals mentioned above), then they must:
- Sacrifice a goat or sheep
- Distribute a similar value of food to the poor
In this case, the pilgrim’s hajj is still valid so they only have to pay the kaffarah and don’t have to return for Hajj the following next year.
– Non-sexual Violations in Hajj
There are various non-sexual actions that can violate the Ihram restrictions, such as:
- Wearing perfume
- Using sewn or stitched clothing (for men only)
- Wearing footwear (including socks)
- Clipping nails
- Shaving and cutting hair
Conclusion
Kaffarah is the embodiment of Allah’s mercy to Muslims as it allows us to expiate our sins by doing or paying a predetermined penalty.
Kaffarah does not only provide a proper way for Muslims to ask Allah for forgiveness but also teaches us to be more compassionate for others.
We hope that you can learn a lot from this article. If you’d like to perform Kaffarah, you can do so by donating to MyFundAction charity programs, where we will distribute your kaffarah compensation.
