It was narrated that ‘Abdullah bin Ma’qil said:
“I sat with Ka’b bin ‘Ujrah in the mosque and asked him about this Verse: ‘He must pay a compensation of either fasting (three days) or giving charity (feeding six poor persons) or offering sacrifice (one sheep).’ [2:196] Ka’b said: it was revealed concerning me. I had trouble with my head, so I was carried to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, with lice crawling on my face. He said: ‘I did not think that you were suffering as much as I see. Do you have a sheep?’ I said: ‘No.’ Then this Verse was revealed: “He must pay a Fidyah (ransom) of either fasting (three days) or giving Sadaqah (charity – feeding six poor persons) or offering sacrifice (one sheep).” [2:196] He said: ‘Fasting is three days, charity is to be given to six poor persons, giving each one half of a Sa’ of food, and the sacrifice is a sheep.’”

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ الأَصْبَهَانِيِّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَعْقِلٍ، قَالَ قَعَدْتُ إِلَى كَعْبِ بْنِ عُجْرَةَ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ هَذِهِ الآيَةِ، {فَفِدْيَةٌ مِنْ صِيَامٍ أَوْ صَدَقَةٍ أَوْ نُسُكٍ} . قَالَ كَعْبٌ فِيَّ أُنْزِلَتْ كَانَ بِي أَذًى مِنْ رَأْسِي فَحُمِلْتُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَالْقَمْلُ يَتَنَاثَرُ عَلَى وَجْهِي فَقَالَ " مَا كُنْتُ أُرَى الْجُهْدَ بَلَغَ مِنْكَ مَا أَرَى أَتَجِدُ شَاةً " . قُلْتُ لاَ . قَالَ فَنَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ {فَفِدْيَةٌ مِنْ صِيَامٍ أَوْ صَدَقَةٍ أَوْ نُسُكٍ} . قَالَ فَالصَّوْمُ ثَلاَثَةُ أَيَّامٍ وَالصَّدَقَةُ عَلَى سِتَّةِ مَسَاكِينَ لِكُلِّ مِسْكِينٍ نِصْفُ صَاعٍ مِنْ طَعَامٍ وَالنُّسُكُ شَاةٌ .