Missed fasts
Fidya and kaffarah: missed fasts explained
Two different payments for two different situations. Here is which one applies to you.
In short
Fidya is paid when someone cannot fast and will not be able to make it up, at the cost of feeding one poor person for each missed day. Kaffarah applies when a fast is broken deliberately without valid excuse, and requires feeding sixty poor people or fasting sixty consecutive days for each fast.
- Fidya with UNH: 7 pounds per missed day
- Kaffarah: 60 days of feeding, or 420 pounds per fast
- Fidya applies to chronic illness and old age
- Missed fasts that can be made up should be made up instead
When fidya applies
Fidya is for people who cannot fast and have no realistic prospect of making the days up later: the elderly, and those with a long term illness that fasting would worsen. It is not for someone who is temporarily unwell or travelling, since those days can be repaid.
When kaffarah applies
Kaffarah is the expiation for deliberately breaking a Ramadan fast without a valid reason. The default is to fast sixty consecutive days. Where that is genuinely not possible, feed sixty poor people for each broken fast.
Pregnancy, nursing and menstruation
Days missed for menstruation are made up later, not paid for. Pregnant and nursing women who miss fasts usually make them up; opinions differ on whether fidya is also owed, and many follow the position of their local scholar.
Frequently asked questions
How much is fidya per day?
UNH sets fidya at 7 pounds per missed day, which covers two meals for one person in the countries where we work.
Can fidya be paid in one go?
Yes. Multiply 7 pounds by the number of days you expect to miss and give it in a single payment.
Can zakat be used to pay kaffarah?
No. They are separate obligations and must be paid separately.