I sat with Ka'b (Allah be pleased with him) and he was in the mosque. I asked him about this verse:" Compensation in (the form of) fasting, or Sadaqa or sacrifice." Ka'b (Allah be pleased with him) said: It was reveal- ed In my case. There was some trouble in my head. I was taken to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and lice were creeping upon my face. Thereupon he said: I did not think that your trouble had become so unbearable as I see. Would you be able to afford (the sacrificing) of a goat? I (Ka'b) said: Then this verse was revealed:" Com- pensation (in the form of) fasting or alms or a sacrifice." He (the Holy Prophet) said: (It Implies) fasting for three days, or feeding six needy perscins, half sa' of food for every needy person. This verse was revealed particularly for me and (now) Its applica- tion is general for all of you.  

قَعَدْتُ إِلَى كَعْبٍ ؓ وَهُوَ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ هَذِهِ الآيَةِ { فَفِدْيَةٌ مِنْ صِيَامٍ أَوْ صَدَقَةٍ أَوْ نُسُكٍ} فَقَالَ كَعْبٌ ؓ نَزَلَتْ فِيَّ كَانَ بِي أَذًى مِنْ رَأْسِي فَحُمِلْتُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَالْقَمْلُ يَتَنَاثَرُ عَلَى وَجْهِي فَقَالَ مَا كُنْتُ أُرَى أَنَّ الْجَهْدَ بَلَغَ مِنْكَ مَا أَرَى أَتَجِدُ شَاةً فَقُلْتُ لاَ فَنَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ { فَفِدْيَةٌ مِنْ صِيَامٍ أَوْ صَدَقَةٍ أَوْ نُسُكٍ} قَالَ صَوْمُ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ أَوْ إِطْعَامُ سِتَّةِ مَسَاكِينَ نِصْفَ صَاعٍ طَعَامًا لِكُلِّ مِسْكِينٍ قَالَ فَنَزَلَتْ فِيَّ خَاصَّةً وَهْىَ لَكُمْ عَامَّةً  

“I sat with Ka’b bin ‘Ujrah in the mosque and asked him about this Verse: ‘He must pay a compensation of either fasting (three days) or giving charity (feeding six poor persons) or offering sacrifice (one sheep).’ [2:196] Ka’b said: it was revealed concerning me. I had trouble with my head, so I was carried to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, with lice crawling on my face. He said: ‘I did not think that you were suffering as much as I see. Do you have a sheep?’ I said: ‘No.’ Then this Verse was revealed: “He must pay a Fidyah (ransom) of either fasting (three days) or giving Sadaqah (charity – feeding six poor persons) or offering sacrifice (one sheep).” [2:196] He said: ‘Fasting is three days, charity is to be given to six poor persons, giving each one half of a Sa’ of food, and the sacrifice is a sheep.’” (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 3079)   

عَنْ هَذِهِ الْآيَةِ {فَفِدْيَةٌ مِنْ صِيَامٍ أَوْ صَدَقَةٍ أَوْ نُسُكٍ} [البقرة 196] قَالَ فَقَالَ كَعْبٌ نَزَلَتْ فِيَّ كَانَ بِي أَذًى مِنْرَأْسِي فَحُمِلْتُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ وَالْقَمْلُ يَتَنَاثَرُ عَلَى وَجْهِي فَقَالَ مَا كُنْتُ أَرَى أَنَّ الْجَهْدَ بَلَغَ بِكَ مَا أَرَى أَتَجِدُ شَاةً؟ فَقُلْتُ لَا فَنَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الْآيَةُ {فَفِدْيَةٌ مِنْ صِيَامٍ أَوْ صَدَقَةٍ أَوْ نُسُكٍ} [البقرة 196] قَالَ صَوْمُ ثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ أَوْ إِطْعَامُ سِتَّةِ مَسَاكِينَ نِصْفَ صَاعِ نِصْفَ صَاعِ طَعَامٍ لِكُلِّ مِسْكِينٍ قَالَ فَنَزَلَتْ فِيَّ خَاصَّةً وَهِيَ لَكُمْ عَامَّةً  

[Machine] According to Allah the Almighty's saying, "So a ransom (compensation) from fasting, or charity, or performing Hajj (pilgrimage)" - I (the narrator) said, "I was brought to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ while lice were scattered on my face. He said, 'I do not see that hardship has afflicted you to the extent that I see you cannot find a sheep.' I said, 'No.' He said, 'So, fast for three days, or feed six poor persons, giving each half a Sa' (of dates or barley).' It was then revealed about a specific (individual) and it was made general for you."  

عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ جَلَّ وَعَلَا {فَفِدْيَةٌ مِنْ صِيَامٍ أَوْ صَدَقَةٍ أَوْ نُسُكٍ} قَالَ حُمِلْتُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَالْقَمْلُ يَتَنَاثَرُ عَلَى وَجْهِي فَقَالَ «مَا كُنْتُ أَرَى الْجَهْدَ قَدْ بَلَغَ بِكَ مَا أَرَى أَتَجِدُ شَاةً» قُلْتُ لَا قَالَ «فَصُمْ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ أَوْ أَطْعِمْ سِتَّةَ مَسَاكِينَ لِكُلِّ مِسْكِينٍ نِصْفُ صَاعٍ» قَالَ فَنَزَلَتْ فِي خَاصَّةٍ وَهِيَ لَكُمْ عَامَّةٌ «  

“I sat with Ka’b bin ‘Ujrah in the mosque and asked him about this Verse: ‘He must pay a compensation of either fasting (three days) or giving charity (feeding six poor persons) or offering sacrifice (one sheep).’ [2:196] Ka’b said: it was revealed concerning me. I had trouble with my head, so I was carried to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, with lice crawling on my face. He said: ‘I did not think that you were suffering as much as I see. Do you have a sheep?’ I said: ‘No.’ Then this Verse was revealed: “He must pay a Fidyah (ransom) of either fasting (three days) or giving Sadaqah (charity – feeding six poor persons) or offering sacrifice (one sheep).” [2:196] He said: ‘Fasting is three days, charity is to be given to six poor persons, giving each one half of a Sa’ of food, and the sacrifice is a sheep.’” (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 3079)   

كَعْبٌ فِيَّ نَزَلَتْ وَكَانَ بِي أَذًى مِنْ رَأْسِي فَحُمِلْتُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ وَالْقَمْلُ يَتَنَاثَرُ عَلَى وَجْهِي فَقَالَ «مَا كُنْتُ أَرَى أَنَّ الْجَهْدَ يَبْلُغُ مِنْكَ مَا أَرَى أَتَجِدُ شَاةً؟» قَالَ لَا قَالَ فَنَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الْآيَةُ {فَفِدْيَةٌ مِنْ صِيَامٍ أَوْ صَدَقَةٍ أَوْ نُسُكٍ} [البقرة 196] فَالصَّوْمُ ثَلَاثَةُ أَيَّامٍ وَالصَّدَقَةُ عَلَى سِتَّةِ مَسَاكِينَ لِكُلِّ مِسْكِينٍ نِصْفُ صَاعٍ مِنَ طَعَامٍ فِي حَدِيثِ ابْنِ بَشَّارٍ وَالنُّسُكُ شَاةٌ