What is incumbent upon a woman who was fasting in Ramadan, then intentionally broke her fast, then menstruated on that day: Is it only making up the missed day, or both expiation and making up the missed day, or nothing is incumbent upon her?

Breaking the fast in Ramadan without a valid excuse is a grave major sin. If a woman intentionally breaks her fast during a Ramadan day and then menstruates, she has sinned and must make up that day. As for expiation (kaffarah), its details are as follows:

1. If the fast was broken by intercourse, she must offer expiation (freeing a slave; if unable, then fasting for two consecutive months; if unable, then feeding sixty poor people). 2. If the fast was broken by something other than intercourse (such as eating or drinking), there is a difference of opinion regarding the obligation of expiation. The preponderant view, according to the schools of thought of Imam Shafi'i and Imam Ahmad, is that expiation is specific only to intercourse. This is also the view adopted by the Permanent Committee for Issuing Fatwas.

Even according to the Hanafi school of thought, which obligates expiation for intentional eating, the onset of menstruation on the same day after breaking the fast nullifies the expiation, provided that the onset of the excuse was not brought about by the person upon whom the expiation became obligatory.

Therefore, the woman must repent and make up the day. She is not obligated to offer expiation unless she broke her fast by intercourse. If it was by eating or drinking, there is no expiation due upon her.