Fidya Calculator (Missed Fasts)
By the Editorial Team · reviewed against our sources · updated September 2026 · guidance, not a fatwa
Fidya is due only from those who genuinely cannot fast or make up missed fasts (e.g. the frail elderly or chronically ill). For each missed day, one poor person is fed roughly one day's meals. Anyone able to make up fasts must do so instead. Guidance only, not a fatwa.
Quick answer: Fidya is a compensation paid by someone who genuinely cannot fast and cannot make the fasts up later, such as the frail elderly or the chronically ill. For each missed day you feed one needy person, roughly the amount of a normal day's staple food, or its cash value set locally each year.
Key takeaways
- Fidya applies when a person cannot fast and cannot realistically make up the fasts later.
- It is paid per missed day, feeding one needy person for each day.
- The measure is often estimated as one mudd (about 0.75 kg) of staple food, or its cash value.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding are treated differently across the schools: some require qadha, some fidya, some both.
- Fidya differs from qadha (making up fasts) and from kaffarah (a heavier expiation).
- Cash value varies each year by region and is usually set by local scholars or charities.
What fidya is
Fidya is a form of compensation in Ramadan for a person who is unable to fast and has no realistic prospect of making the missed fasts up afterwards. Rather than fasting or making up the days later, they feed a needy person for each day missed. The purpose is to ensure that the spirit of the obligation, caring for the poor and remembering the duty, is preserved even when the physical act of fasting is no longer possible. Fidya is not a way to buy out of fasting for the able-bodied; it is a concession for those genuinely excused.
Who pays fidya
Fidya is due from those whose inability to fast is expected to be permanent or long-term. Typical cases include the frail elderly for whom fasting is no longer feasible, and people with a chronic or terminal illness who cannot fast now and are not expected to recover enough to make the fasts up. A person with a temporary illness or who is travelling does not pay fidya; instead they simply make up the missed days later (qadha) once able.
How much fidya is
The amount is measured by feeding one needy person for each missed fast. Classically this is described as roughly a mudd, about three-quarters of a kilogram, of the staple food of the region such as wheat, rice, barley or dates; some scholars link it instead to the half-sa' measure used for Zakat al-Fitr. In practice most people pay the cash equivalent, which local scholars and reputable charities publish each year based on the cost of a simple meal. Because prices change, no fixed figure is given here; use the calculator above with your local rate.
| Situation | What is owed |
|---|---|
| 1 missed day | Feed 1 needy person (one day's staple food or its value) |
| Whole month missed (e.g. 30 days) | Feed 1 person for 30 days, or 30 people for one day, or the total cash value |
| Several past years unfasted through inability | Fidya for each day of each year, calculated together |
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
This is an area of genuine scholarly difference, so it should be handled with a trusted local scholar. Broadly: many scholars hold that a pregnant or breastfeeding woman who fears only for herself makes up the fasts later (qadha) with no fidya, like any temporary excuse. If she fears specifically for the child, views diverge: some schools require qadha only, some require fidya in addition, and some accept fidya alone in certain cases. Because the rulings differ meaningfully, a woman in this situation should confirm which position her scholar follows rather than assume.
Fidya versus qadha versus kaffarah
These three terms are often confused. Qadha is simply making up a missed fast by fasting another day, the default for anyone with a temporary excuse. Fidya is the feeding compensation for those who cannot fast and cannot make up the days. Kaffarah is a much heavier expiation for deliberately breaking a Ramadan fast without a valid excuse.
| Term | When it applies | What is required |
|---|---|---|
| Qadha | Temporary excuse (illness, travel, menstruation) | Fast the same number of days later |
| Fidya | Permanent inability to fast or make up | Feed one needy person per missed day |
| Kaffarah | Deliberately breaking a fast without excuse | Fast 60 consecutive days, or feed 60 needy people, per day |
See our Kaffarah calculator for the heavier expiation and how it differs.
When to pay fidya
Fidya can be paid during Ramadan, day by day as fasts are missed, or gathered and paid together at the end of the month. Some scholars allow it to be paid in advance for the whole month once inability is established. If a person delayed making up fasts from previous years and then lost the ability to fast, fidya may be owed for those days too. There is flexibility in timing, but it should not be indefinitely delayed once due. If someone dies still owing fasts, their heirs may pay fidya from the estate on their behalf.
How the calculator works
The calculator above multiplies the number of missed days by your chosen per-day rate, which you set to reflect the current local cost of feeding one needy person. Enter the total days you could not fast, confirm your local meal rate, and it returns the total fidya due. Because the underlying rate is set locally and changes yearly, always verify the current figure with a reputable local source before paying.
Worked examples
Example 1 — elderly parent. An elderly man can no longer fast safely and this will not change. He missed all 30 days of Ramadan. He owes fidya for 30 days: he may feed one needy person for 30 days, feed 30 people once, or pay the equivalent cash value.
Example 2 — chronic illness across two years. A woman with a long-term condition could not fast for two Ramadans and cannot make them up. She calculates fidya for roughly 60 days in total and pays it together.
Example 3 — temporary illness (no fidya). A man missed 6 days due to a short illness and has since recovered. He owes qadha, not fidya, so he simply fasts 6 days later when able.
To place fidya within the wider picture of Islamic giving, compare it with obligatory Zakat, voluntary Sadaqah and the pre-Eid Zakat al-Fitr, or return to the homepage calculators.
This page is general guidance only, not a fatwa; rulings vary by madhhab; consult a qualified scholar for your situation.
Frequently asked questions
What is fidya?
Fidya is a compensation paid in Ramadan by someone who genuinely cannot fast and cannot make the fasts up later. For each missed day they feed one needy person, or pay its cash value.
Who has to pay fidya?
Those with a permanent or long-term inability to fast, such as the frail elderly and the chronically or terminally ill. People with a temporary excuse make up the fasts later instead and do not pay fidya.
How much is fidya per missed day?
It equals feeding one needy person, classically about a mudd (roughly 0.75 kg) of staple food or its cash value. The exact figure is set locally each year, so confirm the current rate before paying.
What is fidya for pregnancy or breastfeeding?
Scholars differ. Many hold a woman fearing only for herself makes up the fasts later with no fidya; if she fears for the child, some require qadha only, some add fidya, and some accept fidya alone. Confirm with your scholar.
What is the difference between fidya, qadha and kaffarah?
Qadha is making up a missed fast by fasting later. Fidya is feeding the needy when you cannot fast or make up. Kaffarah is a heavier expiation for deliberately breaking a fast without excuse.
When should fidya be paid?
It can be paid during Ramadan day by day, gathered at the end of the month, or in some views in advance once inability is established. It should not be delayed indefinitely once due.
Can fidya be paid as money instead of food?
Many scholars, especially in the Hanafi school, allow paying the cash value of the food. Others prefer actual food. Follow the position of your local scholar or charity.
What happens if someone dies still owing fasts?
Their heirs may pay fidya from the estate on their behalf for the days they were unable to make up, so the obligation is not left unsettled.