Ruling on a person who committed premarital intercourse during the daytime in Ramadan

Q: What is the ruling on Zina (sexual intercourse outside marriage) in Ramadan? A man committed this sin when he was ignorant and he asks Allah (Exalted be He) for forgiveness. It is noted that he is now married and has children. He asked about that and he was told that he has to fast two successive months. But, if he does so, his wife and family will ask why, which will surely cause damage to his character in front of his family, and Allah (Exalted be He) has veiled him. Thus, is it permissible for him to feed the poor or to free a Muslim slave in order to preserve his dignity and protect his family, which may be disunited because of the mistake he committed before marriage?

A: It is obligatory on the man in question to repent to Allah (Exalted be He) and observe the Kaffarah (expiation) which is to free a Muslim slave; and if this is not possible, then he should fast two consecutive months. If he cannot do that, he should feed sixty poor people. He is also required to make up for the day on which he broke his fast and to do the expiation of delaying making up for that day - that is, to give a poor person 1.5 kg of wheat or the staple food of the country. The excuse you mentioned in the question is not valid to overlook the obligation of fasting (Part No. 9; Page No. 256) and feed the needy instead.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.