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What is the expiation for intentionally breaking the fast in Ramadan, whether by ordinary breaking of the fast or by sexual intercourse, in cases of doubt regarding the number of days, along with the question about the type of expiation (making up the fast or feeding the poor) and the possibility of repentance being accepted?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

You are obligated to make up for the days you missed in previous Ramadans because they are a debt upon you. You should make up what you believe will absolve you, and it is safer to make up days until you are certain of your absolution.

You are also obligated to make up the seven days during which intercourse occurred. If the breaking of the fast was initially due to intercourse, then you owe a severe expiation for each day (freeing a slave; if you cannot find one, then fasting for two consecutive months; if you cannot, then feeding sixty needy persons). However, if the breaking of the fast was due to something other than intercourse, and then intercourse occurred, there is a difference of opinion among jurists as to whether expiation is obligatory or not.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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