What is the ruling on someone who had quit masturbation but then relapsed, committing the act twice during the daytime in Ramadan while watching pornographic videos? He now feels shame and regret, and fears he may not be able to complete the required expiatory fasting due to academic obligations. According to the Maliki school, which is followed in Tunisia, he is required to fast 120 days as expiation. What should he do?

"Watching pornographic movies, invalidating the fast, and masturbation are forbidden, and immediate repentance is obligatory. Masturbation during the day in Ramadan is a greater sin. Whoever masturbates and ejaculates, his fast is invalidated and he must make it up. According to the Maliki school of thought, an expiation (kaffarah) is obligatory for each time semen is ejaculated intentionally through masturbation, but if it occurs twice in one day, then one expiation is sufficient, and if it is on two different days, then two expiations are obligatory. The expiation is a matter of choice: feeding sixty poor people (which is preferable), or fasting for two consecutive months, or freeing a believing slave. Regret over the sin is evidence of repentance. It is not obligatory to follow the Maliki school of thought, and it is permissible to follow those who do not obligate expiation for the one who masturbates, for the common Muslim is permitted to follow whomever he wishes from the recognized schools of scholarly opinion.

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