Getting up in a state of Janabah due to lack of water and breaking fast assuming that it is impermissible to fast in this state

391

Q: I got married more than 30 years ago. I am Bedouin and illiterate and I have no religious knowledge. Moreover, there are no knowledgeable people around and we are in complete ignorance of the matters of our religion. However, I had sexual intercourse with my wife in Ramadan after Fajr (Dawn) Prayer and she was willing. We broke our fast together that day and it was our first Ramadan (i.e. in marriage). We were young and we did so thinking that being Junub (person in a state of major ritual impurity) because I slept with her during night and there was no water, it was impermissible to fast without Ghusl (full ritual bath following major ritual impurity). Therefore, I copulated with her after Fajr Prayer and we were ignorant of the related rulings.

A: It is obligatory on you to repent to Allah (Exalted be He) and not do so again. Then, you have to do the required Kaffarah (expiation), which is to emancipate a believing slave for each (Part No. 9; Page No. 234) one of you. If this is not possible, each of you has to fast two successive months. If this is also impossible, then each of you has to feed sixty poor persons, giving everyone half a Sa` (1 Sa`=3 kg. Approx.) from the staple foodstuff of the country. Also, both of you are required to make up for the day on which you had sexual intercourse. If you delayed making up for it until another Ramadan came, you should give additional half a Sa` of the staple food of the country to a needy person for the day in which you broke your fast.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.