Ask an Alim

question for Fasting Kaffara distribution

Q:

We have funds for Fidya and Roza Kaffara. I have some questions regarding kaffara distribution.

Ayatullah Sistani’s Risala, Ruling 1630 refers to “… give each one of them a mudd – which is approximately 750 grams – of food, i.e. wheat, barley, bread, or suchlike”

Ruling 1655 later states “…give a poor person (faqir) one mudd for each of the poor person’s family members even if they are minors (saghir)..”

Questions are:

1. Where Kaffara is distributed, must we give to all 60 people at one time for each kaffara?

2. The reference is to a faqir. Who is faqir in our context?

3. Must the recipient be a Shia faqir? Can we give to other Muslims? Non-Muslims living with our people?

3. The reference is to a mudd – approx 750 grams of food.
The food is defined as wheat, barley, bread or suchlike.

i. What else can come under the definition of “suchlike”?

ii. Bread is not a raw grain. It is cooked or ready food made from grain.
Does a loaf of bread or several loaves or other kinds of bread (naan, tandoor)
weighing 750 grams or more suffice as food?

We have always been told it must be 750gm of grain or a cooked meal.

iii. When supplying cooked food instead of a mudd of raw grain, must it be a cooked meal or one part
of a meal would suffice – e.g. rice or bread or ugali or pasta or cooked meat or vegetables alone would suffice?

iv. When supplying cooked food, must it be by weight – minimum 750 gm. or must it be a filling meal
or some other measure?

This would become important if the answer earlier is that cooked bread weighing 750 gm would suffice.
750 gm of bread might be a lot loaves but 750 gm of cooked food made from rice, wheat or vegetables etc.
may not properly feed an adult for one meal.

4. Please note that the kaffara amount we have been charging is based on the approximate value of 750 gm.
of a staple e.g. wheat or maize flour or rice etc. – based on our understanding that kaffara must be a staple food item.
Depending on the response to the above questions, how should we vary the charging system in order to properly
comply with the spirit of the ruling?

5. How different are the rules for Fidya from those for Kaffara distribution?

I hope the questions are clear. Clear responses would help us greatly in determining the distribution of kaffara funds
to the needy.

A: