Fidya and Kaffarah: When to Pay and How Much in 2026

What Is the Difference Between Fidya and Kaffarah?

Fidya compensates for fasts you cannot make up due to permanent inability; Kaffarah is an expiation for deliberately breaking a valid fast. Fidya costs approximately $12-15 per missed day (feeding one person), while Kaffarah requires fasting 60 consecutive days or feeding 60 people (~$750+). They serve different purposes and apply to different situations.

Who Pays Fidya and How Much?

Fidya is paid by Muslims who permanently cannot fast and have no prospect of making up the days later:

• Elderly who are too frail to fast safely
• Chronically ill with conditions that make fasting medically dangerous
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women (if they cannot make up fasts later, per some scholars)

The amount is one meal’s cost per day missed — approximately $12-15 per day in the US for 2026. For all 30 days, this totals $360-450. You can pay it all at once at the beginning of Ramadan or day by day. Use our Zakat calculator for current local amounts.

Important: If your inability to fast is temporary (surgery recovery, pregnancy, travel), you must make up the missed fasts after Ramadan rather than pay Fidya.

When Is Kaffarah Required?

Kaffarah is required when someone deliberately breaks a Ramadan fast through sexual intercourse during fasting hours. This is based on the hadith where a man came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) saying he had relations with his wife while fasting (Bukhari & Muslim).

The Kaffarah, in order of priority:

1. Free a slave (no longer applicable)
2. Fast 60 consecutive days — if you break the chain, you restart
3. Feed 60 poor people — approximately $750-900 at current prices

For intentionally eating or drinking, most scholars require only making up the day (qada) without Kaffarah. The Maliki and Hanafi schools, however, also require Kaffarah for deliberate eating/drinking. Consult your local imam for guidance specific to your madhab.

What If I Accidentally Broke My Fast?

If you ate or drank by mistake (genuinely forgetting you were fasting), your fast remains valid and no Fidya or Kaffarah is required. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever forgets that he is fasting and eats or drinks, let him complete his fast, for it is Allah who has fed him and given him drink” (Bukhari & Muslim). Check any scenario with our fasting checker tool.

How Do I Pay Fidya or Kaffarah?

Most Islamic relief organizations accept Fidya and Kaffarah payments online and distribute food to the poor in eligible countries. You can also pay through your local mosque. Ensure the payment goes to feeding the needy — not general charity funds.

Related Guides

• Does This Break My Fast? — Check if an action invalidates your fast
• Fasting Guide — Complete rules for fasting in Ramadan
• Zakat Calculator — Calculate your Zakat obligations
• Ramadan 2026 FAQ — All Ramadan questions answered

Last updated: February 10, 2026