LAST UPDATED: October 2026
What is Fidya (Fidyah)?
Fidya (Fidyah) is a religious donation to help those in need. It is paid when someone is unable to fast during Ramadan for a valid reason, such as a medical condition, pregnancy or a prolonged illness, and will not be able to make up the fast.
When someone cannot fast in Ramadan and can’t make up the lost days afterwards (for example, because of chronic ill health), they should pay Fidya for someone else to be fed.
Fidya is primarily for those who are suffering from long-term illness or are unable to fast due to old age (many scholars also include pregnancy in this category), and are not able to make up the fasts after Ramadan.
For any fasts missed unnecessarily, you’ll need to pay Kaffarah.
Calculate your Fidya
The Fidya for one missed fast that cannot be made up afterwards is $15, enough to provide one person with one meal. Multiply $15 by the number of fasts you have missed out of necessity.
When and how to pay
Pay your Fidya before you miss a fast, or before Ramadan if you know you can’t fast for the whole month. You can give your Fidya online: $15 for each missed fast.
Fidya or Kaffarah?
Both are paid for fasts that are missed, but they apply in different situations.
A fast missed with a valid reason
You are eligible to pay Fidya if you have missed, or are exempt from, fasting because of:
- Pregnancy
- Illness
- Old age
- Any other reason that prevents you from making the fasts up later
A fast broken without a valid reason
To atone for an intentionally broken fast in Ramadan, Kaffarah means:
- Fasting continuously for 60 days
- If you are unable to, feeding 60 poor people
- At a rate of $15 per person, the cost of an average meal in Canada
- Can be paid at any time throughout the year
Why is Fidya important in Islam?
Fasting during Ramadan is an obligation on all able Muslims and one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Making up for missed fasts is a commandment from Allah (SWT).
Who receives your Fidya?
Fidya is given only to the poor and needy. Scholars consider Fidya to be like Zakat, so those entitled to receive Fidya are among those who are entitled to Zakat.
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