C H A P . III.
Of Kafâra, or Expiation *.
A vow may
be expiated
by the emancipation
of a
Have, the
diftribution
of alms,
or falling.
T he expiation of a vow -f- is effedted by the emancipation of a flave;
and the emancipation o f fuch a flave as fuffices in Zihdr, fuffices alfo
in the cafe of a vow :— or if the fwearer chufe, let him clothe ten paupers,
giving to each one piece of cloth, or more; (the Imalleft quantity
to each is as much as is neceflary in prayer J :)— or if he pleafe,
let him diftribute victuals among ten paupers, the fame as in the expiation
of Zihdr.— All thefe modes of effecting the expiation of a vow
are authorized. in the Koran, according to the words in the text,—
“ THE EXPIATION THEREOF MAY BE EFFECTED BY FEEDING TEN
POOR PERSONS WITH SUCH FOOD AS IS USUALLY CONSUMED IN
“ YOUR FAMILIES, OR BY CLOTHING TEN POOR PERSONS, OR BY
“ the release of a s la v e .”— It is manifell, therefore, that, in
the prefent inftance, one o f thefe three modes is indilpenfable. But
if the delinquent (from his poverty, or other caufe) Ihould not be able
to effedt his expiation in any of thefe three modes, he may do it by
falling three days fucceflively.— Shafei fays that he has an option; if
he think proper, he may fall for three days fuccejflively, or for any
* The term Kafara means not only an expiatory atonement for the breach of an abfo-
lute vow, but alfo the fubftitution of an expiatory a£t for the penalty impofed by a vower
upon himfelf in the cafe of a vow fufpended upon a condition, by which he had defigned to
reftrain himfelf from the commilfion of any particular a&.
f Meaning expiation for the breach or violation of a vow^— or for any other delcriptioiv
of Tameen which admits of expiation, fuch as a 1’ameen Ligboot &c.
X Mujfulmans muft be clothed in prayer at lead from the waift doivnivards.
three
three feparate days,— becaufe the words of the Koran are, “ if he be
“ UNABLE TO DO THIS,' LET HIM FAST FOR THREE DAYS,” which
expreffion is general.— ^VheHaneefte dodtors, in fupport o f their opinion
upon this point, quote the authority of the reading of Abdoola Ibn Maf-
faood, who expounds the text to mean three days fuccejpvely; and this
accords with what occurs in the Hadees Majhhoor * .— With refpedl to
' what has been faid of the fmallefl: quantity of cloth fufficient in expiation,
it is recorded from Imdm Mohammed.— Haneefa and Aboo Toofaf
aflert that the fmallefl: quantity of cloth proper upon this occafion is as
much as may be fufficient to clothe nearly the whole body; for a mere >
Shtlwdr f is not fufficient; and this is the more authentic dodtrine;
becaufe one who is only thus clothed is regarded as naked.— That portion
of cloth, however, which may not fuffice in regard to clothing may
be fufficient in eating, according to its value; that is, i f a perfon were
to bellow, as an expiation, fuch a quantity of cloth as,, although it
may not fuffice for the proper clothing, yet is equal in value to the feeding
of ten poor men, it fuffices as a feeding expiation, whether fuch
may have been the intention or not.— Thus if the perfon to make, expiation
were to give to each poor perfon the h a lf of a proper drefs, (for-
inftance,) this would not be fufficient for an expiation by clothing;.
but if the value of the cloth thus diftributed to each be equal to the.
price of three pounds of wheat, it fuffices. as an expiation by
feeding,
If a perfon perform the expiation before the violation of his vow, it Previous «v
does not fuffice.— Shafei maintains that it fuffices, where the expiation not'fuffice'S
is effedled by means of property, and not byfajlin g, becaufe the expia-
tor makes his atonement pofterior to,the occafion o f it,, (namely, his-
vow,), and hence the cafe is the. fame as that of a pilgrim performing
* A. colle&ion of traditions fo called.,
+ Afpecies of drawers which are a fufficient clothing for prayer. ^
expiation1