that one should refer to customary usage (1), so that each community feeds others from what (2)(3) they themselves provide for their own households. Thus, when Kaʿb ibn ʿUjrah and those like him lived chiefly on dates, the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—commanded him (4) to give a farq of dates to six needy people (5). A farq is sixteen Baghdad ratls.
With this expiation it is permissible to discharge it whenever one needs to perform the prohibited act, whether before or after it. [It is likewise permissible to slaughter the sacrificial offering] (6) before reaching Mecca.
He may fast the three days consecutively if he wishes, or separately (7) if he prefers. If he has a valid excuse he may defer them; otherwise he should hasten to carry them out (8).
(1) In manuscript D the phrase reads: “annahu” (that he).
(2) The authoritative Hanbali view is that the food to be given for a fidya or other expiations is precisely defined: one mudd of wheat, or half a sa of dates, barley, raisins, or dried curd (aqit). See Sharh al-Muntaha, 3/167.
(3) In manuscript B the reading is: “ma”.
(4) Manuscripts A and B read: “amrahum” (He commanded them).
(5) Reported by Muslim (1201) from the hadith of Kaʿb b. ʿUjrah: “Shave your head, then sacrifice a sheep, or fast three days, or feed six needy persons with three sa of dates.” Abu Dawud (1856) transmits it with the wording: “or feed six needy persons with three sa of dates,” and another version has: “and feed a faraq among six needy persons.” The original wording is also in al-Bukhari (1816).
(6) The material enclosed in square brackets is omitted in manuscript B.
(7) Manuscript C adds: “wa mutafarriqa” (“and separately”).
(8) The phrase “otherwise he should hasten to perform it” is absent from manuscripts A and B.