Kaffarah

Kaffarah is an Islamic term meaning expiation or atonement for certain offenses against religious duties. Derived from the Arabic root kafara, it denotes a penance intended to purify the offender, restore balance in the relationship with God, and sometimes benefit the needy. The concept is discussed in the Qur’an and hadith and is elaborated in fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) across different Sunni and Shia schools, with some differences in details.

The most common forms of kaffarah relate to ritual acts of worship. One well-known form is the expiation for deliberately breaking a fast during the month of Ramadan. The standard duty is to fast for sixty consecutive days after repenting. If fasting for sixty days is not possible due to illness, old age, or other valid impediments, alternative forms are sometimes permitted, such as providing meals to sixty poor people or paying equivalent compensation, depending on the school of thought.

Another well-established kaffarah is for breaking an oath (yamin). The prescribed expiation is to feed ten poor people, clothe them, or free a slave; if one cannot perform these acts, one may fast for three days. These options emphasize both personal atonement and social welfare.

Kaffarah can also apply to other specific violations, often tied to vows or solemn commitments, and the exact method of compensation or the sequence of options may vary among jurisprudential schools. In all cases, kaffarah is distinct from punitive penalties; its aim is spiritual cleansing and, where possible, charitable support for those in need.