Please explain the rules regarding the 60 day Kaffaarah fast for having broken a fast without valid reason.

Answer

(1) Qadha has to be made for each fast of Ramadhaan which is missed. For one fast missed, one Qadha has to be kept, not 60 days.

(2) If one breaks a Ramadhaan fast without valid reason, then the Kaffaarah penalty applies. 60 consecutive days have to be fasted for breaking one or more fasts during a single Ramadhaan without valid reason. If one had broken even a few fasts in this manner during one Ramadhaan,

AWAKE RAMADHAAN 1447/ MARCH – APRIL 2026 - 9 -

only one 60 day Kaffaarah applies plus the number of days broken. If the fasts were broken in two Ramadhaans, then two 60 day penalties will apply. This does not mean 120 consecutive days. After completion of the one 60 day kaffaarah, the next one may be initiated at any other time.

(3) If one's health or old age simply does not allow one to keep the sixty day Kaffaarah, then sixty poor Muslims should be given the Sadqah Fitr amount. For each one this amount should be given. It may be given to only one faqeer, but not on one or a couple days. It should be given to him over sixty days. Every day one Sadqah Fitr amount should be given to him. The Sadqah amount is the price of 2 kilograms of flour. Or the full amount may be given on one day to sixty Fuqara, each one to be given the Sadqah Fitr amount.

(4) Whatever the price of 2 kilogram of flour is in the U.S., use it to calculate your kaffaarah. But remember that monetary kaffaarah is valid only if you are unable to fast.