Question: 

We fed 10 people as kaffarah for an oath. However, from amongst the 10 a few were nabaaligh

We were told that na baaligh is fine if not breast fed. However, subsequently we were told that na baaligh is not fine

Whats the way forward now for the discharged kaffarah? 

Answer: 

The ruling/s applicable to the recipients of Kaffarah is based on Zakaat. Zakaat is normally given to Baaligh Muslims hence it would be preferable that the recipients of Kaffarah also meet the same requirement.

جزء من المال يجب اخراجه للمساكين فلا يجوز للكافر اصله الزكوة )احكام القراٰن لابن العربي ص 653 ج 2 )

If on the other hand, the Kafaarah was given to Na-Baaligh children (as stated in your query, then the ruling is regards to giving Zakaat to a Na-baaligh child is as follows:-

If the father of the Na-Baaligh child is poor and eligible for Zakaat then his Na-Baaligh child may be assisted with Zakaat funds on condition that the child is of understanding age. Based on this Mas’ala, we conclude that if a Na-Baaligh child that is of understanding age (whose father is poor) was fed in fulfilling one’s Kaffarah then the feeding in Kaffarah will be valid.

If you are in doubt as to whether the Na-Baaligh children that were fed were of an understanding age or not, or in the event that they were of an understanding age, you have a doubt as to whether their fathers were eligible for Zakaat or not, then we recommend that as a precaution, in place of the Na-Baaligh children that were fed, you now feed that amount of Kaffarah to Baaligh Muslims in order to remove any doubt that you may have.

And Allah Ta’aala knows best!

ANSWERED BY: Mufti Mohammed Desai 

CHECKED AND APPROVED BY: Mufti Muhammed Saeed Motara Saheb D.B 

Date: 15 Dhul Hijjah 1441 

English Date: 06 August 2020