- The amount given to each poor person must not be less than one mudd of wheat or half a sāʿ of any other staple.
For any form of expiation to be valid, the intention is essential, in light of the Prophet’s words: “Actions are only by intentions, and each person shall have only what he intended.”
Both the purified Sunnah and the Qur’an attest to the expiation for ẓihār and to the order in which its options are taken. Khuwayla bint Mālik bint Thaʿlaba (may Allah be pleased with her) related:
“Aws ibn al-Ṣāmit declared ẓihār against me, so I went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to complain. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ kept reasoning with me, saying, ‘Fear Allah, for he is your cousin.’ He remained so until the verse was revealed: ‘Allah has surely heard the words of the woman who disputes with you concerning her husband’ (Q 58:1). He then said, ‘He must free a slave.’ I replied, ‘He cannot afford that.’ He said, ‘Then he must fast two consecutive months.’ I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, he is an old man and unable to fast.’ He said, ‘Then he must feed sixty poor people.’ I said, ‘He possesses nothing to give in charity.’ He replied, ‘I will help him with a basket of dates.’ I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, I will add another basket.’ He said, ‘You have done well. Go and feed sixty poor people with them on his behalf, then return to your cousin.’”
A single basket (ʿirq) equals sixty sāʿs. Narrated by