Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

one of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE MOST BENEFICENT,THE MOST MERCIFUL

Al-Hamdu-Lillaahi Rabbil-'Aalameen was-Salaatu was-Salaamu

'alaa Ashrafil-Anbiyaa-e-wal-Mursaleen, wa ba'd As-Salaamu 'alaykum wa-Rahmatullaahe wa-Barakaatuhu

Dear Brother Burhan,

Received this mail through dawoodi-bohras@mumineen.org.... Can you please clarify this in the light of Quran ?

Baad Afzalus Salaam,

We would like to inform mumineen that payment of Kafarat could also be made at the The Dawoodi Bohra Academic Union

135 Saifee Jubilee Street,

Mumbai 400003.

Tel: 3468087

Timings: 1000 to 1200 hours and 1500 to 1700 hours.

Rs. 18 per day is the rate for the payment of Kafarat. Please note that

Kafarat should be paid for last year's missed Rozas'.

The above is collected on behalf of Anjuman-e-Mutatavvve-een.

Other Centres collecting Kafarat on behalf of Anjuman-e-Mutatavvve-een are:

1.    Anjumane-Nullbazar Chabdi Bazar

       Saifee Jubilee Street,

       Mumbai 400003.

       Timings: 1000 to 1200 hours and 1500 to 1700 hours.

BISMILLAH MANDAP

       Husainiyah Marg,

       Next to Husaini Masjid

       Mumbai 400003.

       Timings: 1000 to 1200 hours and 1500 to 1700 hours.

May Allah Ta'ala grant a long life ta'a Qayamat with Sehat and

Aafiyat to our Bawa Shafiq Aqa Moula ( TUS ). Aameen

FOR The Dawoodi Bohra Academic Union

Abde Syedna (TUS)

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Bohra Kaffarah Pay

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 184:The Fast is to be observed for a fixed number of days. If, however, anyone of you be sick or on a journey, he should fast the same number of the other days. As for those who can fast (but do not), the expiation of this shall be the feeding of one needy person for one fast day, and whoso does more than this with a willing heart, does it for his own good. But if you understand the thing, it is better for you to observe the Fast.

Like some other Commandments of Islam, the Fast also was imposed as an obligatory duty only gradually. In the beginning the Prophet (saws) had instructed the believers to observe the fast for only three days in every month, but this was not obligatory. Then in the second year of Hijrah, the commandment about fasting in the month of Ramadan was sent down, whereby fasting was made obligatory on every adult believer and the above verse 184 was abrogated by the next verse of Surah Baqarah 185.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 185:Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was sent down. This Book is a perfect guidance for mankind and consists of clear teachings which show the Right Way and are a Criterion of the Truth and falsehood. Therefore, from now on, whosoever witnesses it, it is obligatory on him to fast the whole month. But if one be ill or on a journey, he should make up for the same number by fasting on other days. Allah desires to show leniency to you and does not desire to show any hardship. Therefore, this method is being shown to you so that you may complete the number of Fast days and glorify Allah for the guidance He has shown to you and be grateful to Him.

Thus, fasting was made obligatory on every adult believer, unless he is sick or on a journey, he is allowed to leave the fasts and make it up later.

The scholars of Islam are unanimous in their opinion that the ‘kaffarah’ or expiation of feeding one needy person for every missed fast is ONLY for those people who are too old and weak, or so ill that there is no hope of them recovering. Only in such extreme circumstances, one is allowed to give this expiation. But if a person is healthy, he must make up for the missed fasts by fasting on other days of the year; and if for some reason or another he is not able to complete his fasts in the year, he can fast it the following year. But for a normal healthy person to pay the ‘kaffarah’ and get away from keeping the fasts missed is not permitted.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan