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  

[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 «