If you or a loved one has missed fasts during Ramadan due to chronic illness, old age, or another valid Shariah excuse, you may be wondering how to fulfill your religious obligation correctly. This guide answers the most common question Muslims search for: what is Fidya, who has to pay it, and how can it be paid properly in Makkah Al-Mukarramah?
This article is the central guide in our Fidya content series. Throughout, you'll find links to more detailed guides on specific aspects of Fidya — including how it differs from Kaffara, how to calculate the amount you owe, who exactly is obligated to pay, and how MakkahZabiha distributes your Fidya on the ground in Makkah.
What Is Fidya in Islam?
Fidya (also spelled Fidyah) is an Islamic act of expiation required when a person is permanently or chronically unable to fast — due to old age, a long-term illness, or a similar valid Shariah reason — and is not expected to make up the missed fast at a later date. Instead of fasting, the individual is obligated to feed a poor or needy person for each day of fasting missed.
This is different from a person who misses a fast temporarily (for example, due to travel or short-term illness) and is expected to make up ("qada") the fast once they are able. Fidya applies specifically when there is no reasonable expectation of ever being able to fast again for that missed day.
In short: Fidya = feeding the needy in place of a missed fast, for those permanently excused from fasting.
Where Does Fidya Come From in the Quran?
The basis for Fidya comes directly from the Quran, in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:184), where Allah describes fasting as prescribed for believers, and then makes an allowance for those who find fasting genuinely difficult due to illness or another valid hardship: they may instead feed a poor person for each day missed. This verse is the scriptural foundation scholars draw on when discussing who qualifies for Fidya and how it should be discharged. It reflects a broader principle in Islamic law: worship is meant to be sustainable, and where a specific act of worship becomes genuinely unsustainable for someone, an alternative is provided rather than the person being left without a way to fulfill their obligation.
Who Is Required to Pay Fidya?
According to Islamic scholarship, Fidya is generally owed by:
- The elderly, who are too frail or weak to fast safely
- The chronically ill, whose condition is not expected to improve
- Some scholars also extend it to pregnant or nursing women who fear harm to themselves or their child and are unable to make up the fasts later
Each of these categories has nuances depending on individual circumstances and school of thought. We cover this in full detail in our dedicated guide: Who Must Pay Fidya? A Complete Breakdown.
How Much Is Fidya Per Missed Fast?
The traditional ruling is that Fidya requires feeding one poor person per missed fast, with the value typically calculated as one average meal (or its cash equivalent) per person, per day missed. In practice, most Islamic charities — including MakkahZabiha — calculate this as one person fed per missed day of fasting.
If you're unsure how many fasts you've missed or how to translate that into a Fidya amount, our step-by-step guide walks you through it: How to Calculate Your Fidya Payment.
Fidya vs. Kaffara: Not the Same Thing
Many people confuse Fidya with Kaffara, but they apply to very different situations:
| Fidya | Kaffara | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it applies to | Those permanently unable to fast (age, chronic illness) | Those who deliberately broke a fast without valid excuse |
| What's required | Feed 1 poor person per missed fast | Fast 60 consecutive days, or feed 60 people |
| Severity | Lighter | Heavier |
If you're not sure which one applies to your situation, read our full comparison: Fidya vs Kaffara: What's the Difference?
How MakkahZabiha Fulfills Your Fidya
MakkahZabiha has been overseeing Qurbani, Zabiha, and charitable sacrifice on behalf of Muslims worldwide in Makkah Al-Mukarramah since 2009. Our Fidya Al-Adha package allows you to fulfill your obligation for $60 USD, which covers feeding 6 poor and needy people in Makkah on your behalf.
Here's how the process works:
- You place your order for the Fidya package on our website, specifying how many people's worth of Fidya you need covered.
- Our team in Makkah identifies and feeds poor and needy individuals in and around the Haram, in a Shariah-compliant manner.
- You receive confirmation by WhatsApp and email once your Fidya has been discharged, so you have peace of mind that your religious obligation has been fulfilled.
For a closer look at exactly how this distribution happens on the ground, see: How Your Fidya Is Distributed in Makkah.
Why Pay Fidya in Makkah Specifically?
While Fidya can technically be paid anywhere the needy are found, many Muslims choose to have it fulfilled in Makkah Al-Mukarramah because of the city's unmatched spiritual significance. Feeding the poor near the Haram — where pilgrims and residents alike may be in need — is seen by many as carrying additional virtue and blessing (barakah).
MakkahZabiha's founder, Saleh, has lived in the region and personally overseen this work since 2009, ensuring every act of Fidya, Qurbani, and Sadaqah is performed correctly and reaches those who genuinely need it.
What Happens If You Delay Paying Fidya?
Scholars generally recommend discharging Fidya as soon as the obligation is confirmed, rather than delaying indefinitely, since the underlying purpose is to ensure the needy are fed without unnecessary delay. That said, if payment is delayed for a genuine reason — such as not having the means at the time — the obligation does not expire; it simply remains outstanding until it can be fulfilled. Many people choose to settle any accumulated Fidya before the next Ramadan begins, so that each year's obligation is discharged on its own rather than compounding into a large, difficult-to-estimate backlog.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fidya
Is Fidya obligatory or optional?
For those who meet the conditions (chronic illness, old age, or permanent inability to fast), Fidya is an obligatory (wajib) act of expiation, not a voluntary one.
Can I pay Fidya for someone else, such as an elderly parent?
Yes. Family members commonly arrange Fidya on behalf of elderly or ill relatives who are unable to do so themselves.
How do I know my Fidya was actually completed?
MakkahZabiha sends confirmation via WhatsApp and email once the feeding has taken place in Makkah, so you have documented proof your obligation has been fulfilled.
Can Fidya be paid outside of Ramadan?
Yes. While Fidya relates to missed Ramadan fasts, it can be paid at any time of year — it does not need to wait until the next Ramadan.
What's the difference between Fidya and Sadaqah?
Sadaqah is general voluntary charity, while Fidya is a specific, obligatory form of expiation tied to missed fasting. However, both result in feeding the poor and needy.
What's the difference between Fidya and Zakat?
Zakat is an annual obligatory charity calculated on a person's wealth above a certain threshold, paid regardless of fasting. Fidya is tied specifically to missed fasts and is owed per day missed, not calculated from overall wealth.
Fulfill Your Fidya Today
If you or a family member owes Fidya for missed fasts, you can fulfill this obligation quickly, correctly, and with full confirmation through MakkahZabiha's Fidya Al-Adha — Feed 6 People package, performed on your behalf in Makkah Al-Mukarramah.
Explore our related guides to understand every aspect of your obligation:
- Fidya vs Kaffara: What's the Difference?
- How to Calculate Your Fidya Payment
- Who Must Pay Fidya?
- How Your Fidya Is Distributed in Makkah
May Allah accept this act of worship from all of us. Ameen.