I sat with Kaʿb bin 'Ujra and asked him about the Fidya. He replied, "This revelation was revealed concerning my case especially, but it is also for you in general. I was carried to Messenger of Allah ﷺ and the lice were falling in great number on my face. The Prophet ﷺ said, "I have never thought that your ailment (or struggle) has reached to such an extent as I see. Can you afford a sheep?" I replied in the negative. He then said, "Fast for three days, or feed six poor persons each with half a Sa of food." (1 Sa = 3 Kilograms approx.)  

نَزَلَتْ فِيَّ خَاصَّةً وَهْىَ لَكُمْ عَامَّةً حُمِلْتُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَالْقَمْلُ يَتَنَاثَرُ عَلَى وَجْهِي فَقَالَ مَا كُنْتُ أُرَى الْوَجَعَ بَلَغَ بِكَ مَا أَرَى أَوْ مَا كُنْتُ أُرَى الْجَهْدَ بَلَغَ بِكَ مَا أَرَى تَجِدُ شَاةً فَقُلْتُ لاَ فَقَالَ فَصُمْ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ أَوْ أَطْعِمْ سِتَّةَ مَسَاكِينَ لِكُلِّ مِسْكِينٍ نِصْفَ صَاعٍ  

I sat with Kaʿb bin Ujra in this mosque, i.e. Kufa Mosque, and asked him about the meaning of: "Pay a ransom (i.e. Fidya) of either fasting or . . . . (2.196)" He said, "I was taken to the Prophet ﷺ while lice were falling on my face. The Prophet ﷺ said, 'I did not think that your trouble reached to such an extent. Can you afford to slaughter a sheep (as a ransom for shaving your head)?' I said, 'No.' He said, 'Then fast for three days, or feed six poor persons by giving half a Sa of food for each and shave your head.' So the above Verse was revealed especially for me and generally for all of you."  

حُمِلْتُ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ وَالْقَمْلُ يَتَنَاثَرُ عَلَى وَجْهِي فَقَالَ مَا كُنْتُ أُرَى أَنَّ الْجَهْدَ قَدْ بَلَغَ بِكَ هَذَا أَمَا تَجِدُ شَاةً قُلْتُ لاَ قَالَ صُمْ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ أَوْ أَطْعِمْ سِتَّةَ مَسَاكِينَ لِكُلِّ مِسْكِينٍ نِصْفُ صَاعٍ مِنْ طَعَامٍ وَاحْلِقْ رَأْسَكَ 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.’”  

عَنْ هَذِهِ الآيَةِ {فَفِدْيَةٌ مِنْ صِيَامٍ أَوْ صَدَقَةٍ أَوْ نُسُكٍ} قَالَ كَعْبٌ فِيَّ أُنْزِلَتْ كَانَ بِي أَذًى مِنْ رَأْسِي فَحُمِلْتُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَالْقَمْلُ يَتَنَاثَرُ عَلَى وَجْهِي فَقَالَ مَا كُنْتُ أُرَى الْجُهْدَ بَلَغَ مِنْكَ مَا أَرَى أَتَجِدُ شَاةً قُلْتُ لاَ قَالَ فَنَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ {فَفِدْيَةٌ مِنْ صِيَامٍ أَوْ صَدَقَةٍ أَوْ نُسُكٍ} قَالَ فَالصَّوْمُ ثَلاَثَةُ أَيَّامٍ وَالصَّدَقَةُ عَلَى سِتَّةِ مَسَاكِينَ لِكُلِّ مِسْكِينٍ نِصْفُ صَاعٍ مِنْ طَعَامٍ وَالنُّسُكُ شَاةٌ  

“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  

“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} فَقَالَ كَعْبٌ فِيَّ نَزَلَتْ كَانَ بِي أَذًى مِنْ رَأْسِي فَحُمِلْتُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَالْقَمْلُ يَتَنَاثَرُ عَلَى وَجْهِي فَقَالَ ﷺ «مَا كِدْتُ أَرَى الْجَهْدَ بَلَغَ مِنْكَ مَا أَرَى أَتَجِدُ شَاةً» قُلْتُ لَا قَالَ فَنَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الْآيَةُ { «فَفِدْيَةٌ مِنْ صِيَامٍ أَوْ صَدَقَةٍ أَوْ نُسُكٍ} فَالصَّوْمُ ثَلَاثَةُ أَيَّامٍ وَالصَّدَقَةُ عَلَى كُلِّ مِسْكِينٍ نِصْفُ صَاعٍ مِنْ طَعَامٍ وَالنُّسُكُ شَاةٌ»  

[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 «  

[Machine] In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. The verse "So whoever among you is ill or has harm (in his hair) from the head must ransom (the fasting) by feeding the poor or offering a sacrifice or giving charity" was revealed. I asked, "What happened to you?" He said, "We went out with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in a state of ihram, and lice infested my head, beard, and mustache, until it reached my eyebrows. This was mentioned to the Prophet ﷺ, so he said, 'I did not think that it would be difficult for you, so call the barber.' He called the barber and had his head shaved. Then he asked, 'Do you have anything to offer as ransom?' I said, 'No.' He said, 'Then fast for three days or feed six poor people, giving each poor person half a sa' of food.' This verse was revealed specifically for me, but it is general for all people."  

فِيَّ نَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الْآيَةُ {فَمَنْ كَانَ مِنْكُمْ مَرِيضًا أَوْ بِهِ أَذًى مِنْ رَأْسِهِ فَفِدْيَةٌ مِنْ صِيَامٍ أَوْ صَدَقَةٍ أَوْ نُسُكٍ} قُلْتُ كَيْفَ كَانَ شَأْنُكَ؟ قَالَ خَرَجْنَا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ وَنَحْنُ مُحْرِمُونَ فَوَقَعَ الْقَمْلُ فِي رَأْسِي وَلِحْيَتِي وَشَارِبِي حَتَّى وَقَعَ فِي حَاجِبَيَّ فَذُكِرَ ذَلِكَ لِلنَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالَ «مَا كُنْتُ أَرَى بَلَغَ بِكَ هَذَا ادْعُ الْحَلَّاقَ» فَدَعَا الْحَلَّاقَ فَحَلَقَ رَأْسَهُ فَقَالَ «هَلْ تَجِدُ نَسِيكَةً؟» قُلْتُ لَا قَالَ «فَصُمْ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ أَوْ أَطْعِمْ سِتَّةَ مَسَاكِينٍ بَيْنَ كُلِّ مِسْكِينَيْنِ صَاعٌ» فَنَزَلَتْ فِيَّ خَاصَّةً وَلِلنَّاسِ 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)   

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

“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  

[Machine] About his saying, may He be exalted, {So for people who cannot fast (the three days), he shall feed six poor persons.} [Al-Baqarah 196] He said, "I was carried to the Messenger of Allah, ﷺ , while lice were falling off my face. He said, 'I did not see you make any effort. Could you not find a sheep?' I said, 'No.' He said, 'Then fast for three days or feed six poor people, giving each half a sa' (of food), and shave your head.' Ka'b said, 'Then this verse was revealed specifically about me, but it applies to everyone else generally.'  

عَنْ قَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى {فَفِدْيَةٌ مِنْ صِيَامٍ أَوْ صَدَقَةٍ أَوْ نُسُكٍ} [البقرة 196] قَالَ حُمِلْتُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ وَالْقُمَّلُ يَتَنَاثَرُ عَلَى وَجْهِي فَقَالَ مَا كُنْتُ أَرَى الْجَهْدَ بَلَغَ مِنْكَ هَذَا أَفَتَجِدُ شَاةً؟ فَقُلْتُ لَا فَقَالَ صُمْ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ أَوْ أَطْعِمْ سِتَّةَ مَسَاكِينَ لِكُلِّ مِسْكِينٍ نِصْفُ صَاعٍ مِنْ طَعَامٍ وَاحْلِقْ رَأْسَكَ قَالَ كَعْبٌ فَنَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الْآيَةُ فِيَّ خَاصَّةً وَهِيَ لَكُمْ عَامَّةً