What is the ruling on practicing masturbation due to being away from one's wife, and what is the ruling on sexual intercourse that occurred during the daytime in Ramadan without full penetration? Does it necessitate the severe expiation (kaffarah mughalladhah) or merely making up the day? Is the expiation on a sequential or elective basis, and what should someone do if they cannot find a slave to emancipate given their difficult working conditions?

Masturbation is forbidden, and your distance from your wife does not make it permissible. You have committed a grave sin by violating the sanctity of Ramadan. If you engaged in anal intercourse with your wife, the major expiation (kaffarah kubra) is incumbent upon you according to the majority of scholars, along with making up that day. This expiation is performed in order: freeing a believing slave, and if you are unable to do that, then fasting for two consecutive months, and if you are unable to fast consecutively, then feeding sixty poor people. As for your wife, if she willingly participated in the intercourse, she must make up the day and the expiation is also incumbent upon her according to the majority of scholars.