Ramadhaan Fidyah Rules

by Asma bint Shameem

Fasting is fardh on all adult, sane Muslims.

But if a person is too old or too sick with no hopes of recovery, then Alhamdulillaah our Deen is easy and he does not have to fast.

Rather, he or she should give fidyah (expiation) for it and feed one poor person for each day of fasting he misses.

🍃 Allaah says:

“and [Allaah] has not laid upon you in religion any hardship” (al-Hajj 22:78)

🍃 And Allaah says:

“O you who believe! Observing As-Sawm (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqoon (the pious).

184. [Observing Sawm (fasts)] for a fixed number of days, but if any of you is ill or on a journey, the same number (should be made up) from other days.

And as for those who can fast with difficulty, (e.g. an old man), they have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a Miskeen (poor person) (for every day). But whoever does good of his own accord, it is better for him. And that you fast is better for you if only you know”

(Surah al-Baqarah 2:183-184)

🍃 Ibn ‘Abbaas Radhi Allaahu anhumaa said:

“It refers to old men and old women who are not able to fast, so they should feed a poor person for each day.” (al-Bukhaari 4505)

🔹Fidyah is only given in compensation if someone cannot fast due to chronic sickness or old age or weakness.

It cannot be given to make up your missed fasts due to menses or travel or temporary sickness.

🔹Fidyah is given as FOOD.

Wherever Allaah specifically mentions giving food, then it must be food.

🍃Allaah says:

“And as for those who can fast with difficulty, (e.g. an old man), they have (a choice either to fast or) to FEED a Miskeen (poor person) (for every day).

But whoever does good of his own accord, it is better for him.

And that you fast is better for you if only you know”

[al-Baqarah 2:184]

That’s the basic principle.

🔹You should feed one poor Muslim for each day you missed of fasting.

🔹You can either feed one person for thirty days or you can feed 30 people for one day, or feed 3 people for 10 days, etc.

Also you can give them the raw material to cook, or you can cook yourself and give them the food.

🔺How much to give as fidyah?

The majority of the scholars are of the opinion that the fidyah is one “mudd” of foodstuff, i.e., one quarter of a saa‘.

But others said it is half a saa’. That is equivalent to 1 and 1/2 kilograms of the local staple food.

So you can feed either lunch OR dinner.

That’s what Anas Radhi Allaahu anhu did

“After Anas Radhi Allaahu anhu grew old, he gave food for one year or two years, feeding one poor person for each day, giving him bread and meat, and he did not fast.” (al-Bukhaari)

🍃 The scholars of the Standing Committee said:

“If the doctors determine that there is no hope of recovery from this sickness from which you are suffering, and because of which you are not able to fast, then you must feed one poor person for each day, giving half a saa‘ of the local staple food, such as dates and the like, for past and future months. If you give dinner OR lunch to a poor person for the number of days that you owe, that will suffice.”

(Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa’imah 10/198)

🍃 Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen said:

“With regard to the manner of feeding, one has the choice between giving each poor person half a saa’ of food such as rice and the like (i.e., approximately one and a half kilograms) or making food and inviting the poor to eat.”

(Fataawa al-Siyaam p.111)

🍃 And Shaikh ibn Baaz said about an old woman:

“She should feed one poor person for each day, giving half a saa’ of the local staple food, such as dates, rice, etc, which is equivalent to approximately one and a half kilograms. This was stated by a number of the companions of the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam such as Ibn ‘Abbaas Radhi Allaahu anhumaa.”

If she is poor and is unable to feed a poor person, then she does not have to do anything.” (Majmoo’ Fataawa Ibn Baaz 15/203).

🔹The purpose of fidyah is to FEED the poor.

So as long as you’re feeding one poor person per each day you missed, then you’ve fulfilled your obligation.

But in case you don’t know anyone that’s poor or it’s difficult to give fidyah as food to someone, then the scholars say that you can give some person or some organization ‘money’ so that they can buy the food and deliver it to the poor on your behalf.

🔹If you have to give fidyah in the form of money, it should be according to where YOU live.

So in the US or Canada it’s around $15 per day for each day of fasting you missed.

🔹When to pay fidyah?

There’s no specific time to pay the fidyah. You can pay it in the beginning or middle or end of Ramadhaan.

But according to ibn Taimiyyah, it is better to pay it as soon as possible because it is good to hasten with good deeds.

🍃 Shaykh Abd ar-Rahmaan al-Barraak said:

“It is permissible to delay the fidyah until after Ramadhaan, but to be on the safe side it may be done at the end of the month.”

🔹 Can we pay fidyah ahead of time?

🍃 Shaykh Ibn Baaz said:

“This expiation (fidyah) may be given to one person or more than one, at the beginning of the month or in the middle or at the end.” (Majmoo‘ Fataawa Ibn Baaz 15/203).

🍃 And Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan said:

“It is permissible to give charity (fidyah) for days in Ramadhaan on which a person did not fast because of chronic illness or old age.

It is permissible to offer expiation for the entire month in advance, at the beginning of the month; and it is permissible to delay doing so until the end of the month; and it is permissible to pay the fidyah in the middle of the month.

It is permissible to give it all in one go and it is also permissible to give it piecemeal.”

And Allaah knows best