Fasting is for a fixed number of days, and if one of you be sick, or if one of you be on a journey, you will fast the same number of other days later on. For those who are capable of fasting (but still do not fast) there is a redemption: feeding a needy man for each day missed. Whoever voluntarily does more good than is required, will find it better for him; and that you should fast is better for you, if you only know. Qur’an | 2:184

Why is Fidya important in Islam?

To make up for missing fasts Ramadan is a commandment from Allah.

Who should pay fidya? 

In the Hanafi school, fidya is only paid by a person who is not able to fast in Ramadan, cannot make up for the missed fasts at any other time and is not expected to ever regain the ability to make up the missed fasts. All three conditions must be fulfilled, otherwise one does not pay fidya but has to make up the missed fasts. There is no time limit for making up missed fasts in the Hanafi school so fidya is only valid if a person has no hope of being able to make up the missed fasts in their lifetime. This means that the following do not qualify to pay fidya:

• One who misses out on a few days of fasting due to a temporary illness
• One who accidentally or deliberately broke their fast
• One who is unable to fast this year due to surgery or the like, but is expected to be able to fast next year

If one pays fidya thinking they will not have the health to make up missed fasts but then regains their health later in life, their fidya will be considered as charity and they must then make up the missed fasts. Therefore, in the Hanafi school there is no fidya to be paid by a pregnant or nursing woman who misses fasts in Ramadan as she will be able to make up the fasts later. According to the Shafi’is and Hanbalis, fidya is also required for those who cannot fast in their lifetime due to illness or age. However, the amount of fidya differs from the Hanafis (please consult a local scholar or you may follow Hanafi guidelines on this matter). The Malikis view paying fidya as recommended for those who are no longer able to fast, but not as mandatory. The majority of scholars among the Malikis, Shafi’is, and Hanbalis hold the view that fidya is compulsory for individuals who have missed a fast (such as a pregnant woman or someone who was traveling, etc.) and, despite having the ability to make up for it, did not do so before the arrival of the next Ramadan. In this case, they are required to pay fidya in addition to making up the missed fasts (qadah).

How much do you need to pay?

For every day of missed fasting one has to pay the value of approximately 2kg of wheat. Please consult a local scholar on what the exact amount is in your area. In the UK this is £5 for each missed fast. This should provide one person with two meals or two people with one meal. If someone misses all the fasts of Ramadan 2026, they would need to pay £150. There is some difference of opinion in the Islamic schools of jurisprudence on how much needs to be paid in fidya. Consult a scholar if you are unsure how much to pay.

Is Fidya compulsory? 

Fasting during Ramadan is an obligation on all able Muslims and is 1 of the 5 Pillars of Islam. Muslims must pay kaffarah or fidya when missing this fundamental aspects of Islam, with a valid reason or not. Charity, as well as compulsory payments like these, emphasise just what an important aspect of Islam the holy month of Ramadan is.

Why is Fidya important in Islam? 

As well as being compulsory for those who are unable to fast during Ramadan, paying fidya enable eligible Muslims to serve those in need, for whom going hungry for long periods of time is not a choice. Tragically, 828 million people go hungry each and every day in some of the world’s poorest communities. Food is a basic necessity for survival and also the key to a healthy life. Without regular healthy meals children struggle to go to school, carers struggle to work, and communities are left battling to survive. However, you can help alleviate this terrible burden and give struggling families a month of relief during Ramadan by donating your fidya with Islamic Relief.

What are the conditions of giving Fidya before Ramadan begins? 

Scholars have differing views on the timing of fidya payment. One perspective is that it should be paid daily after breaking each fast or in one payment at the end of Ramadan. The Hanafis, on the other hand, suggest that the payment can be made either at the start of the Ramadan month (but not earlier) or at its conclusion. If someone misses all the fasts of Ramadan 2026, they would need to pay £150.