It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) that a man broke his fast during Ramadan, so the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered him to free a slave, or to fast for two months consecutively, or to feed sixty needy people. So he said: None of these is possible for me. Meanwhile, a basket of dates was brought to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), so he gave it to the man and said: "Give this as charity." The man said: O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)! There is no one more needy than me. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) laughed so much that his molar teeth became visible, then he said: "Then you eat it yourself."

It is narrated from Sa'id bin al-Musayyib, may Allah have mercy on him, that a Bedouin came to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, beating his chest and pulling his hair, and saying: "Destroyed is the person who is far from good deeds." So the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: "What happened?" He replied: "I had intercourse with my wife while fasting in Ramadan." So the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: "Can you free a slave?" He said: "No." The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Can you offer a camel or a cow as a sacrifice?" He said: "No." The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Sit down." Meanwhile, a basket of dates was brought to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. He said: "Take this and give it as charity." The man said: "There is no one more needy than me, O Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him!" The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Eat it, and fast one day in place of the day on which you did this act."

Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, said: Ata said: I asked Said bin al-Musayyib: How many dates will be in this basket? He replied: From fifteen sa’ to twenty sa’.

Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, said: I heard from the people of knowledge, they used to say: Whoever breaks a fast of Ramadan that he is making up, whether by intercourse or by any other matter, then there is no expiation upon him, rather he must make up that day.

Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, said: And this saying is very pleasing to me.