Fidyah Calculator – Calculate Payment for Missed Fasts
Calculate Fidyah compensation for missed Ramadan fasts that cannot be made up due to valid reasons
Missed Fasts Details
Enter total number of fasts you cannot make up
Default: $10 per person (2 meals)
What is Fidyah?
Fidyah is a religious compensation paid when someone cannot fast in Ramadan due to valid, permanent reasons and is unable to make up the missed fasts.
When is Fidyah Required?
- Chronic illness preventing fasting permanently
- Elderly person unable to fast
- Terminal illness with no hope of recovery
- Pregnancy/breastfeeding with medical risks (some opinions)
- Any condition making fasting impossible permanently
Fidyah vs Kaffarah:
- Fidyah: For those unable to fast due to valid permanent reasons
- Kaffarah: For intentionally breaking fast without valid reason (different calculation)
Fidyah Amount Per Day:
- Cash Method: Cost to feed one poor person (2 meals)
- Food Method: 1.5-2 kg of wheat, rice, or staple food
- Amount varies by location and local costs
How to Pay Fidyah:
- Option 1: Give cash to poor persons or charity organizations
- Option 2: Provide food directly to poor persons
- Option 3: Pay to trusted Islamic charity that distributes Fidyah
- Can pay all at once or throughout the year
- Must be given to poor/needy Muslims
Important Guidelines:
- One Fidyah = Feed one poor person per missed fast
- Cannot give all Fidyah to one person (distribute among different people)
- Fidyah should provide adequate meals (breakfast + dinner or lunch + dinner)
- Use average meal cost in your locality
- Quality should be similar to what you eat yourself
Who Cannot Pay Fidyah:
- Healthy person who can fast later (must make up fasts)
- Temporary illness (must make up when healthy)
- Traveling (must make up later)
- Those who intentionally broke fast (must pay Kaffarah instead)
Example Scenarios:
- 85-year-old unable to fast: Pay Fidyah for all missed fasts
- Person with diabetes unable to fast safely: Pay Fidyah
- Terminal cancer patient: Pay Fidyah
- Pregnant woman with complications (consult scholar)
Calculation Method:
This calculator uses average values. For cash method, it estimates the cost to provide 2 adequate meals to a poor person per missed fast. For food method, it uses 1.5 kg of wheat/rice per day (some scholars use 2 kg). Adjust based on your local costs and scholar's guidance.
Disclaimer: Fidyah is only for those with permanent inability to fast. If you can make up fasts later (even if difficult), you must fast instead of paying Fidyah. Consult a qualified Islamic scholar for your specific situation.
Islam encourages mercy, balance, and fairness — even in matters of worship. Fasting in Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, yet Allah has allowed flexibility for those unable to fast due to legitimate reasons.
If you cannot fast during Ramadan because of illness, old age, or permanent health conditions, you are not required to make up those fasts — but you must offer Fidyah (compensation).
At Digital Calculator, we make it simple to calculate your Fidyah for missed fasts accurately and according to Islamic guidelines.
What Is Fidyah?
Fidyah is a charitable compensation given when a Muslim cannot fast in Ramadan and cannot make up the missed fasts later due to permanent or ongoing reasons.
The word Fidyah comes from the Arabic “فدية,” meaning ransom or compensation. It represents a way to honor the obligation of fasting by helping those in need.
Qur’anic Reference
Allah (SWT) says in the Qur’an:
“And as for those who can fast only with extreme difficulty, they have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a poor person (for every day missed).”
— Surah Al-Baqarah 2:184
Who Must Pay Fidyah?
Fidyah applies only to those who are unable to fast permanently. This includes:
Elderly people who cannot endure fasting
Chronically ill individuals with no hope of recovery
Pregnant or nursing women who cannot fast and cannot make up later due to health reasons
People with permanent disabilities or medical conditions
If your condition is temporary (such as short-term illness, travel, or pregnancy where fasting can be made up later), you do not pay Fidyah — instead, you must make up the missed fasts (Qada) after Ramadan.
The Amount of Fidyah (Per Missed Fast)
The standard Fidyah rate is equivalent to feeding one poor person two meals for each missed fast.
In modern monetary terms, this can be paid in cash or food, depending on local prices.
For example:
- If one meal costs $5, then the Fidyah for one missed fast = $10 (two meals).
For 30 missed fasts (one full Ramadan):
30 × $10 = $300
Formula for Calculating Fidyah
Here’s a simple, copy-safe formula you can use:
Fidyah = Number of Missed Fasts × Cost of Two Meals per Day
Where:
- Number of Missed Fasts = total fasts missed (usually up to 30 in Ramadan)
- Cost of Two Meals per Day = average cost of feeding one needy person twice in your area
Step-by-Step Example
Let’s walk through an example using average meal costs.
Example:
Khadijah, aged 70, could not fast any day during Ramadan due to health reasons.
The average meal cost in her area is $6.
Step 1: Find Fidyah per day:
$6 × 2 meals = $12 per day
Step 2: Multiply by the number of missed fasts:
$12 × 30 = $360
Khadijah must pay $360 in Fidyah for her 30 missed fasts.
Table: Example Fidyah Calculations
Number of Missed Fasts | Cost per Meal | Fidyah per Day (2 Meals) | Total Fidyah |
1 | $5 | $10 | $10 |
5 | $5 | $10 | $50 |
10 | $5 | $10 | $100 |
15 | $5 | $10 | $150 |
30 | $5 | $10 | $300 |
30 | $6 | $12 | $360 |
(Note: Actual rates vary by region — use our Fidyah Calculator for accurate local values.)
Fidyah vs. Kaffarah – What’s the Difference?
It’s important not to confuse Fidyah with Kaffarah. Both involve compensation for missed or broken fasts, but their circumstances differ:
Category | Fidyah | Kaffarah |
Reason | Permanent inability to fast (illness, old age) | Deliberately breaking a fast without valid reason |
Obligation | Feeding one poor person per missed fast | Fasting 60 consecutive days or feeding 60 poor people |
Duration | For as long as the person cannot fast | Once per deliberately broken fast |
Who Pays | Those unable to fast permanently | Those who intentionally invalidate a fast |
So, Fidyah is for compassion and care, while Kaffarah is for atonement.
When to Pay Fidyah
You can pay Fidyah:
- During Ramadan: As soon as you miss fasts due to permanent inability.
- After Ramadan: In a lump sum for all missed days.
Some scholars encourage paying early, especially if you know you won’t be able to fast for the entire month — this ensures that the poor receive help in Ramadan itself.
Where to Give Fidyah
Fidyah must go to the poor and needy — individuals eligible to receive Zakat.
You can:
- Give food directly to those in need.
- Pay through trusted Islamic charities or mosques.
- Use online tools to automate your donation to verified recipients.
At Digital Calculator, we recommend verifying that your Fidyah reaches legitimate beneficiaries according to Shariah rules.
Special Situations
1. Pregnant or Nursing Mothers
If fasting harms your health or your baby’s, and you cannot make up the fasts later, pay Fidyah for each missed day.
2. Chronically Ill Individuals
If illness prevents fasting indefinitely (e.g., diabetes, heart conditions), pay Fidyah every year for the missed fasts.
3. Elderly People
If age or weakness makes fasting unsafe, you pay Fidyah once per missed fast — and it’s renewed each Ramadan if fasting remains impossible.
Why Use Digital Calculator’s Fidyah Tool?
Our Fidyah Calculator at Digital Calculator ensures precision and ease:
Accurate local meal value estimates
Supports multiple currencies and regions
Instant total for any number of missed fasts
Compliant with Islamic rulings
Fast, simple, and mobile-friendly
With just two inputs — number of fasts missed and meal cost — you get your exact Fidyah amount instantly.
No complex math. No confusion. Just clarity.
Fulfill your Ramadan obligation the easy and correct way.
Use the Fidyah (Missed Fasts) Calculator on Digital Calculator today to find your accurate amount instantly and give confidently.
Whether you missed one fast or a full month, our tool ensures your Fidyah is precise, fair, and Shariah-compliant.