فدية
Fidyah
Pronounced: fid-YAH
Fidyah is a compensatory payment made when a Muslim cannot fast and cannot make up the fast later, or when qada fasts are delayed beyond the next Ramadan without a valid excuse. It typically involves feeding one poor person for each missed day of fasting. Fidyah is distinct from kaffara, which is a penalty for deliberately breaking a fast without a valid reason.
Why it matters for your worship
Fidyah comes into play in two common scenarios for women. First, if you have qada fasts from last Ramadan that you did not make up before this Ramadan, most scholars (outside the Hanafi school) require fidyah in addition to the make-up fast. Second, if a woman is chronically ill or elderly and permanently unable to fast, fidyah replaces the obligation entirely. Knowing the fidyah amount and when it applies prevents a woman from carrying unresolved debt she did not know she had.
How the four madhabs differ
| Madhab | Ruling |
|---|---|
| Hanafi | Fidyah is only for those permanently unable to fast (elderly, chronic illness). No fidyah for delaying qada fasts. Amount: feeding one poor person per day (approximately one meal or its monetary equivalent). |
| Shafi'i | Fidyah required for delaying qada past the next Ramadan without excuse. Amount: one mudd of food (approximately 750g of staple food like rice or wheat) per day. |
| Maliki | Fidyah required for delaying qada past the next Ramadan without excuse. Amount: one mudd of the predominant staple food of the area per day. |
| Hanbali | Fidyah required for delaying qada past the next Ramadan without excuse. Amount: feeding one poor person per missed day. The fidyah accumulates if multiple Ramadans pass. |
Common questions
How much is fidyah for missed fasts?
The amount varies by madhab and location. The general principle is feeding one poor person for each day of missed fasting. In practice, this is often calculated as the cost of one average meal in your area per missed day. Some scholars specify it as one mudd (roughly 750g) of staple food like wheat or rice. Local Islamic organizations often publish annual fidyah amounts for your region.
Is fidyah the same as kaffara?
No. Fidyah is compensation for being unable to fast or for delaying make-up fasts. Kaffara is a penalty for deliberately breaking a fast during Ramadan without a valid reason, and it is much more severe: fasting 60 consecutive days or feeding 60 poor people. Women dealing with hayd and qada are dealing with fidyah, not kaffara, since their missed fasts were not deliberate.
Do I still need to make up the fast if I pay fidyah?
It depends on why you are paying fidyah. If you are paying because you delayed your qada fasts, then yes, you still owe the fast in addition to the fidyah. If you are paying because you are permanently unable to fast (chronic illness, old age), then the fidyah replaces the fast entirely. The fidyah for delay is a penalty on top of the obligation; the fidyah for inability is a substitute for it.
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