Two oath expiations are due on me and I would like to give them as food. What kind of food should I give? I know that it should be from the average of what we eat in the house, but I do not understand how to do so. Is it permissible to give the food to one family? Is it permissible to give uncooked food so that they might cook it? Are young children counted among the needy? Finally, I will give the food from the house of my father where I live; is it necessary to tell him?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

The way of feeding is to give ten needy persons, each a prepared amount of food that is sufficient for both his morning and evening meals since it is not sufficient for freeing one of liability to give only one meal because only one of them does not avail without the other. It is valid to give the food of expiation to one family if it consists of ten needy persons be they young or old since what counts is their being needy, regardless of their age. It makes no difference whether or not the food is prepared. If you give each needy person a Mudd (nearly 625 gram) of the average of your foodstuff, it will be sufficient for freeing you of liability.  It does not matter whether you give the food in separate meals or in bulk or prepared or not prepared. It does not matter either whether the needy people are young or old. It is impermissible for you to give the expiation from any property other than yours unless you take the leave of its owner, be he your father or mother.

Allaah Knows best.