Fidyah & Kaffarah Calculator

Fidyah is a compensation for missed fasts paid by those who are permanently unable to fast, such as the elderly, chronically ill, or pregnant/nursing women (in some scholarly opinions). For each missed day, you feed one poor person a meal. The Quran mentions it: "And upon those who are able [to fast, but with hardship], a ransom of feeding a poor person" (2:184).

Kaffarah for deliberately breaking a Ramadan fast without valid reason is much more severe than fidyah. It requires either: freeing a slave (no longer applicable), fasting 60 consecutive days, or feeding 60 poor people. The feeding option costs approximately 60 × the price of a meal in your area.

Fidyah is for those permanently unable to fast (feed 1 person per day missed). Kaffarah is a penalty for deliberately breaking a fast without valid excuse (feed 60 people or fast 60 consecutive days). Fidyah is a substitute; kaffarah is an expiation for a sin. If you simply missed a fast but can make it up, you should do qada (make-up fasting) instead.

Fidyah applies to those who cannot fast and cannot make up fasts later: the elderly who are too weak, people with chronic illnesses that make fasting dangerous (confirmed by a doctor), and in some scholarly opinions, pregnant or breastfeeding women who fear for their health. If you can make up fasts later, you should do so (qada) rather than pay fidyah.