Shortened Question:
I broke my fast but was unaware of the need for kaffarah. Would I still be required to pay the kaffarah now that I have knowledge of it?
Question:
Some years ago I broke my fast, but I was not aware that Kaffarah was obligatory upon me. Now that I know is the Kaffarah still obligatory upon me, even though at the time I was ignorant of it? O will the punishment fall due to ignorant at the time the act was committed? I am now 22 years old.
Answer:
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
If you broke the fast of Ramadan without a valid reason you will have to make qada (repeat the fast that was broken) as well as to keep Kaffarah (compensation). Kaffarah is to keep 60 consecutive fasts. [1]
When a person becomes baaligh (adult) it is expected for him to know the fundamental duties and obligations of Shariah. Ignorance of the Laws of Shariah is no excuse.
You are young and Alhamdulillah you are becoming more conscious of the Laws of Shariah. Muster the courage and keep the 61 days fast, 1 qada fast and 60 kaffarah fasts.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mufti Saeed Ahmed Golaub
Islamic Solutions
Jamaica
[1]:ومن أكل أو شرب عامداً في نهار رمضان فعليه القضاء والكفارة كالمجامع عامداً. الهداية الى بلوغ النهاية (1 / 607)