How fidyah differs from qada and kaffarah, who owes it, and how the daily amount is worked out.
Published September 1, 2026 · Reviewed by the Ihsabha Editorial Team
Fidyah (فدية) is a feeding payment made in place of fasting, for people who are not able to fast and are not expected to regain that ability. It's easy to confuse with qada (making up missed days later) or kaffarah (expiation for a deliberate violation) — but each applies in a different situation.
Fidyah generally applies to:
This is different from someone who is only temporarily unable to fast — due to short-term illness or travel, for example — who instead makes up the missed days later through qada once able.
The standard amount is the cost of feeding one poor person a moderate, filling meal — commonly estimated as roughly 0.75–1 kg of a staple food, or its cash equivalent based on current local prices — for each day of fasting missed. Some scholars specify two meals per day rather than one; local guidance can vary, so many people default to the more cautious estimate.
Suppose someone missed 20 days of Ramadan due to a long-term illness with no expected recovery, and the local cost of a moderate meal is $5. Fidyah due: 20 days × $5 = $100, payable at once or spread across the days, commonly given to those in need before or during the missed days, or after Ramadan.
Get your exact total in seconds. Ihsabha's Fidyah Calculator multiplies your missed days by a current local meal-cost estimate, so you know exactly what to pay.
Fidyah is generally owed by those who cannot fast and are not expected to regain the ability later, such as the elderly or the chronically/terminally ill. Some scholars also extend it to pregnant or breastfeeding women who fear for their health or their child's, depending on the school of thought.
Typically the cost of feeding one poor person a moderate meal (or its cash equivalent) for each day of fasting missed, based on local food prices.
Qada is making up a missed fast day by fasting it later, once able. Fidyah is a feeding payment used instead of qada, for those who are not expected to become able to fast again.
Eligibility for fidyah — particularly for pregnancy and breastfeeding — varies between schools of thought. This guide covers the general, widely-followed approach. For your specific medical or personal circumstances, confirm with a qualified local scholar.