The Kaffārah (expiation) for a broken fast

Can one pay kaffara and feed the poor as oppose to keeping 60 fasts consecutively for breaking one fast? If so, how many people need to be fed for just the one fast? 

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuhu

If a Muslim deliberately breaks his fast during Ramadan with no justifiable reason in Sharī῾āh, then he has to compensate by paying Kaffārah (expiation) for the sin.

The Kaffārah (expiation) for a broken fast, which is in addition to making up the fast for the missed day is sixty consecutive days. If the sixty days is interrupted without a legitimate Shar῾ī reason, then one has to recommence the sixty days.

One will be required to pay Fidyah if one cannot fast due to old age or chronic illness. One cannot pay Fidyah if one has the ability to fast. Moreover if one recovered from one’s illness such that one can fast again during/after Ramadhaan, then one should make up all the previous fasts. Paying Fidyah in such a condition will not suffice. However if one is unable to make up for the missed fasts due to old age or chronic illness then only Fidyah can be paid.

The fidya of each fast is half a Saa (1.75kg to 2.32 kg / 3.86 lb to 5.11 lb) of wheat (or its monetary equivalent) which is equivalent to the amount of Sadaqatul Fitr in your country.[1]

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Ismail Desai,

Darul Iftaa

Checked and Approved,

Mufti Ebrahim Desai.