Kaffarah

What Does Kaffarah Mean in Detail?

Kaffarah is prescribed in القرآن and السنة for specific violations. The most common types include: Kaffarah for breaking the fast intentionally during رمضان (freeing a slave, or fasting 60 consecutive days, or feeding 60 poor people — in that order of preference), kaffarah for breaking an oath (feeding 10 poor people, clothing them, or freeing a slave — if unable, then fasting 3 days), and kaffarah for dhihar (a pre-Islamic form of divorce). In the الحج context, the most serious kaffarah applies when a الحاج engages in sexual relations before the standing at عرفة, which invalidates the الحج and requires: completing the invalid الحج, performing qada الحج the next year, and sacrificing a camel (or cow or seven sheep). Kaffarah serves both as a deterrent and as a means of seeking Allah's forgiveness for the violation.