Answered by Shaykh Yusuf Weltch
Question
What is the reasoning behind the Hanafi ruling that one must expiate if he breaks his fast through intentionally eating or drinking, but masturbation only necessitates make-up (qadha) but does not necessitate expiation?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.
The legal reasoning behind the expiation regarding the fast of Ramadan is what is known as – complete fulfillment of the desires that one is required to abstain from during the fast. [Maydani, al-Lubab fi Sharh al-Kitab]
Intercourse, eating actual food, and drinking are in direct contrast to the specific rulings of fasting. However, masturbation, accidental eating or drinking, and the like are a sort of gray area: the full fulfillment of that particular desire is not achieved (i.e., masturbation is not the same as intercourse regarding the fulfillment of sexual desire). [Ibid.]
Thus, a lesser violation requires a lesser penalty; beyond that, there remains a gray area in Arabic (shubha). Like capital punishments (hudud), expiations are averted at the presence of even the least doubt. [Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]
Allah knows best.
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani