Ramadan Fidyah for Missed Fasts: Amount, Rules and How to Pay
Fidyah for missed Ramadan fasts is the compensation a Muslim pays when a lasting excuse, such as old age or a chronic illness with no expected recovery, makes fasting impossible: you feed one needy person for every day you could not fast. The standard measure is half a sa' of the local staple food per day, and you may give its cash value instead when that serves the recipient better.
This guide walks you through who owes fidyah and who does not, how much it is in food and in money, when to pay it, how it differs from kaffarah, and how to have your fidyah delivered to displaced and struggling families through Elvefa.
Table of Contents
What Is Fidyah, in Plain Terms?
Fidyah is a concession from Allah for people whose circumstances keep them from fasting on an ongoing basis. Rather than fasting the days, they feed a poor person for each one. That can mean providing a daily meal's worth of food, or handing over the price of that meal.
It is important to understand that fidyah is not a penalty. The person paying it has not done anything wrong; their health or age simply prevents them from fasting. Fidyah lets them stay connected to the blessings of Ramadan and share in its reward by easing someone else's hunger.
Who Pays Fidyah, and Who Doesn't?
The ruling depends on the kind of excuse you have. Here is a quick overview:
| Situation | What applies |
|---|---|
| An elderly person who cannot fast | Does not fast and feeds one poor person per day |
| A chronic illness that, according to medical reports, has no expected cure | Does not fast and pays fidyah |
| Pregnancy and breastfeeding | Listed among the reasons for fidyah; scholars discuss the details of this case, so ask a qualified scholar about your situation |
| A temporary illness you expect to recover from | Make up the missed days after recovery; no fidyah is due |
| A sick person in severe poverty who cannot afford to feed anyone | The fidyah is waived |
A simple rule of thumb: a permanent excuse is answered with feeding, and a temporary one is answered with making up the fasts. If you live with diabetes or a similar condition, talk to your doctor first, then read our article on fasting and expiation for diabetic patients.
How Much Is Fidyah?
Measured in food
For each missed day, you feed one poor person half a sa' of whatever staple is common where the food is given, such as rice, wheat or dates. Estimates of that amount by weight vary with the type of food and the method used: it is often given as roughly 750 grams, while others estimate it at close to 1.5 kilograms. On average, it is enough for about two meals for one day.
Some of the early Muslims gave a full, satisfying meal. Two well-known reports describe this:
Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: If an elderly person is unable to fast, he should feed one poor person for each day.
Al-Bukhari said: As for the elderly person who cannot fast, Anas fed one poor person each day with bread and meat for a year or two after he grew old, and he did not fast.
Following that example, you can cook the required amount of food and invite needy people to eat, or you can give them uncooked staples to prepare themselves.
Measured in money
Paying fidyah in cash is permissible when money is more useful to the recipient, or when providing food is difficult or impractical, although feeding remains the original form. The amount is based on the cost of an average meal in the place where the fidyah is spent, so it differs from country to country and changes over time.
That is why we don't quote a fixed figure here. The value is reviewed every year, and Elvefa announces the per-day amount for 1448 AH / 2027 at the start of Ramadan on the Fidya & Kaffarah campaign page.
A Worked Example
Say an elderly man could not fast any of Ramadan, and the month had 30 days:
- Days missed: 30.
- What he owes: one poor person fed for each day, so 30 meals (or half a sa' of food for each day).
- Paying in cash: multiply this year's announced per-day value by 30.
- Distribution: he may give the full amount to a single needy person or split it among several.
If a lasting condition began halfway through the month and he missed only 10 days, he calculates fidyah for those 10 days alone.
When Should Fidyah Be Paid?
If your excuse is permanent
- The best practice is to pay day by day once Ramadan has begun. Fidyah paid before the month starts does not count.
- You may pay it after sunset on the day you did not fast, during that night, or after dawn on that day.
- You may pay the whole month in one lump sum at the beginning of Ramadan, or gather it and pay at the end.
- Delaying it until after Ramadan is allowed if a valid reason kept you from paying on time.
If your excuse is temporary
Someone whose excuse is temporary makes up the missed days after the excuse ends and Ramadan is over. Fidyah does not replace those fasts, and you cannot split your obligation by fasting some days and paying fidyah for others.
Fidyah vs. Kaffarah: The Key Differences
These two terms are often confused, but they answer very different situations:
| Fidyah | Kaffarah | |
|---|---|---|
| Why it is due | Inability to fast because of a valid excuse such as chronic illness, old age, pregnancy or breastfeeding | Deliberately violating the fast without an excuse, such as marital relations during the daytime in Ramadan; some scholars also include intentional eating and drinking |
| What it requires | Half a sa' of staple food for each day | Freeing a believing slave; if that is not possible, fasting two consecutive months; if that is not possible, feeding sixty poor people |
| Its nature | An ease and a concession for someone with an excuse | An expiation that covers a sin and an opening for sincere repentance |
For a fuller explanation of kaffarah and its types, see our guide to expiation for breaking the Ramadan fast.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Paying before Ramadan begins. Fidyah is only valid once the month has started.
- Paying fidyah when you can make up the fasts. If recovery is expected, you owe make-up days, not fidyah.
- Treating fidyah as a substitute for kaffarah. Breaking the fast on purpose without an excuse is not settled by fidyah.
- Underestimating the amount. The measure is a meal that genuinely satisfies a person where the food is given, not the cheapest possible snack.
Paying Your Fidyah Through Elvefa
Many Muslims in the US don't personally know someone who qualifies to receive fidyah, or they want it to reach people facing the hardest conditions. Elvefa has worked since 2014 with displaced families, refugees and orphans, and can deliver your fidyah on your behalf. Here is how:
- Count the days you need to cover.
- Check the per-day value Elvefa has announced for this year on the campaign page.
- Enter your total and complete your donation; our field teams then deliver it as food or cash to eligible recipients.
Fidyah funds go straight to meeting basic needs, including iftar meals for fasting families, food baskets for households who are too proud to ask, and support for orphans and widows who lost their homes and livelihoods to war and displacement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the short difference between fidyah and kaffarah?
Kaffarah is owed by someone who deliberately violated the fast, such as through marital relations during a Ramadan day. Fidyah is for someone with a lasting valid excuse, like chronic illness, old age, pregnancy or breastfeeding.
How much fidyah is due for one day?
Feeding one poor person half a sa' of staple food such as wheat, rice or dates, or the cash value of an average meal. The cash value is announced each year at the start of Ramadan.
Can I pay fidyah after Ramadan is over?
Yes, if a valid reason prevented you from paying during the month. Paying within Ramadan is still preferable.
Can fidyah be paid in cash?
Yes. Cash is allowed to remove hardship and make things easier, as long as it covers the cost of food for both iftar and suhoor in the local staple.
Can my fidyah be spent in another country?
Yes, if you cannot find eligible Muslims where you live. In that case you can rely on a trusted charity to deliver it for you.
Bottom Line
Fidyah is a mercy for anyone whose lasting condition keeps them from fasting: one person fed for every missed day, with half a sa' of food or the value of an average meal. Work out your days, and let your fidyah this year become a meal on a displaced family's table. Elvefa is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so your gift is tax-deductible. Pay your fidyah with Elvefa today.
