Fidya Calculator

Understanding Fidya — A Brief Scholarly Summary

Fidya is a compensatory payment owed by a Muslim who, due to a permanent or terminal condition, cannot make up missed Ramadan fasts. Unlike Kaffarah — which expiates an intentionally broken fast — Fidya addresses fasts that are physically impossible to recover. The two should not be confused: the rates, conditions, and intent are entirely different.

The standard scholarly position (held by the Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali schools, with some variation in detail) is that Fidya is calculated on a per-day basis. For each missed fast, the person must feed one poor person two meals, or equivalently pay the cash value of one average meal. Many scholars also permit paying half a sa' of the local staple grain per day, which is the classical measure.

Who is eligible to pay Fidya instead of making up fasts?

• An elderly person whose fasts would be physically harmful and who is unlikely to regain the ability to fast.
• A person with a chronic or terminal illness (e.g. advanced cancer, severe kidney failure) for whom fasting is medically unsafe.
• A pregnant or nursing woman, in some schools, when fasting harms her or the child and the condition is expected to persist.

If the condition is temporary — for example, a flu, a recoverable surgery, or a passing illness — the ruling is to make up the fasts later (qada'), not to pay Fidya. The distinction is critical: Fidya is for those who cannot reasonably expect to fast again.

Can one pay Fidya in advance for anticipated future fasts?

Classical scholars generally hold that Fidya is owed after a fast has been missed and not made up. However, an elderly person may pay Fidya in advance for Ramadan fasts they expect to be unable to keep, as a precaution. The dominant view is that the Fidya becomes an obligation only after the fast is actually missed.

Where should Fidya be distributed?

Fidya should be given to the same categories of recipients as Zakat — the poor and needy — though it is not strictly bound by Zakat's eight categories. Most scholars permit giving it to a single poor person for multiple days (consolidated), or to multiple poor persons, depending on what is most beneficial locally. It is strongly recommended to distribute it locally first, but transferring it to a region of greater need is permissible.

Important note

This calculator provides an estimate based on the cash-value method (the cost of one meal per missed fast). For personal rulings (fatwa) — especially in complex medical or financial situations — always consult a qualified scholar in your locality.