Question 1722) - You have mentioned that if the man can not free a slave as Kaffarah of Zhihar he may fast two months consecutively. Is his Kaffarah valid if he fasts Sha'ban and Ramadan?

A: It is not valid. The fast of Ramadan is Fard upon him due him being a Muslim, not because of the Zhihar. Thus the fast of Ramadan cannot be included in the Kaffarah.

~ al-Quduri ~