Fidya
If you’re unable to fast during Ramadan due to health or age, pay your Fidya now and help feed those in need.
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What is Fidya?
Fidya (fidyah) is a charitable compensation paid when someone cannot fast during Ramadan for valid reasons and cannot make up the missed fast later. It literally means “redemption”; through this donation, a person compensates for missing obligatory fasts due to chronic illness, old age, or other long-term hardships. Rather than fasting, they give a set amount to help feed a person in need for each day they miss fasting.
Scholar Approved
02/10/26
Fidya Calculator
Each missed fast costs £5 in Fidya. Use our calculator to work out what you owe this Ramadan.
Guidance
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Who should pay Fidya?
Only those who are genuinely unable to fast now or in the future should pay Fidya. This includes people with chronic health conditions, the elderly, and others for whom fasting would be very harmful or impossible, for example,
an ill person who won’t recover or a frail senior falls into this category. If you have a temporary condition (like an illness or pregnancy) but can make up the fasts later, Fidya does not apply; you should fast later instead.
How much is Fidya?
Fidya is typically the cost of feeding one poor person two meals for each day of fasting missed. Islamic authorities set a standard amount per day based on local food prices (often similar to the price of Fitrana, around £5 per day in the UK).
For instance, if you miss all 30 days of Ramadan and cannot make them up, you would donate approximately 30 × the daily Fidya rate. This ensures a person in need is fed for each fast you could not keep.
When do I give Fidya?
You can give Fidya during Ramadan as you miss fasts, or pay it all at once when the month ends. Some people donate day by day, while others prefer one lump sum. The key is to give Fidya promptly
so the support reaches those in need without delay. Whether you pay gradually or in advance, ensuring the needy receive your Fidya promptly upholds the spirit of care behind this act.
Why is Fidya important?
Fidya embodies Islam’s compassion and justice. It allows those who cannot fast to still participate in the spirit of Ramadan by helping the less fortunate. Your Fidya donation feeds hungry individuals, so even when you cannot fast, someone in need is fed.
This upholds the values of Ramadan, caring for others and showing gratitude for your blessings. By giving Fidya, you seek Allah’s pardon for missed fasts and ensure hardship turns into mercy for someone in need.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Who needs to give Fidya?Fidya is only required when fasting in Ramadan is impossible and the missed days cannot be made up later. This usually refers to a permanent condition that prevents fasting. If you’re temporarily unable to fast but can make up the days later, then you do not pay Fidya—you simply fast the missed days when you can.
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How much is Fidya per day?Fidya is generally the cost of feeding one person for one day (two simple meals). The exact amount may vary by location and year. In the UK, it’s about £5 per day in recent years. Check the current recommended Fidya rate in your area and give at least that amount per day for each missed fast.
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How do I give Fidya in practice?The most straightforward way is to donate the required amount to a trustworthy charity and specify it’s for Fidya. For example, if you missed 10 fasts and the Fidya rate is £5 per day, you would donate £50. The charity will then feed a person in need for each of those days on your behalf.
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Do pregnant or breastfeeding women pay Fidya for missed fasts?No. If a pregnant or breastfeeding woman misses fasts for health reasons, she should make up those fasts later rather than pay Fidya. Fidya is only considered if she will never be able to make up those fasts. Otherwise, she should plan to do Qada (make-up fasts) when she is able, and not use Fidya.
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I missed fasts due to travelling or a short illness. Should I give Fidya?No. If you missed fasts for a temporary reason (such as travel or a short illness) and you can fast later, you should not give Fidya. Instead, you must fast the missed days when you can. Fidya applies only when someone cannot make up the fasts.
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What’s the difference between Fidya and Kaffarah?Fidya applies when someone misses a fast for valid reasons and cannot make it up, such as due to chronic illness. Kaffarah is a stricter penalty for deliberately breaking a fast without excuse. It requires fasting for 60 consecutive days or feeding 60 poor people. Kaffarah addresses intentional violations; Fidya does not.
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