Fidya vs Kaffarah: The Difference Explained

Key Differences at a Glance

Here's a quick summary comparing Kaffarah and Fidya before we go into detail on each below:

Fidya (Compensation)

Fidya is a compensation for a missed fast. If you missed a fast in a previous Ramadan with a valid reason (such as sickness, travel, or pregnancy) then you must make up for these fasts — either by fasting at a later date, or, if you're not able to make up this fast, by donating Fidya for each day missed.

Human Appeal distributes Fidya donations as iftar to fasting people every Ramadan. So even if you've not been able to fast, the blessing of Fidya is that you're still helping a vulnerable person to fast this Ramadan, knowing that they have a filling meal to nourish them at Maghrib.

Kaffarah (Atonement)

Kaffarah means expiation — or making up for — sins. In the context of Ramadan, we use it to refer to when you missed or broke a fast that you had no legitimate reason to. If you weren't sick, pregnant, travelling, or unwell, you must fast 60 consecutive days. If you miss a day, you must start again from the beginning. If you can't do this, you must pay Kaffarah requires you to feed 60 poor people.

Kaffarah applies to every single day — if you broke your fast twice without a legitimate reason then you must fast a total of 120 days (in blocks of 60 consecutive days), or feed 120 people. Fasting 60 consecutive days and feeding 60 people are the only two ways to fulfil Kaffarah — there's no third option, so if fasting isn't possible for you, feeding is the way to go.

What is a legitimate reason to break my fast?

Legitimate reasons to skip a fast, or break it, include:

• Pregnancy

• Breastfeeding

• Travelling

• Sickness

• Chronic illness — scholars agree this includes eating disorders if fasting can trigger your illness. It also includes anyone who can't fast because they must take medication during the fasting hours, and people who are too old to be able to fast without damaging their health.

How can I make up for missed fasts?

[Fast a] prescribed number of days. But whoever of you is ill or on a journey, then let them fast an equal number of days [after Ramadan]. For those who can only fast with extreme difficulty, compensation can be made by feeding a needy person [for every day not fasted]. But whoever volunteers to give more, it is better for them. And to fast is better for you, if only you knew. (The Holy Quran 2:184)

It is preferable for you to fast to compensate for missed fasts:

• 1 missed fast with a valid reason = 1 makeup fast

• 1 missed fast without a valid reason = 60 consecutive makeup fasts

Worked examples: how to calculate Fidya and Kaffarah

If you missed 3 fasts with a valid reason and can't make them up, you owe 3 x Fidya — 3 meals, or £15 via Human Appeal.

If you missed 2 fasts without a valid reason, you owe either 120 consecutive makeup fasts (60 for each broken fast), or 2 x Kaffarah — feeding 120 people, or £600 via Human Appeal.

You can mix and match per day too — for example, if one missed fast had a valid reason and another didn't, you'd owe one Fidya and one full Kaffarah, calculated separately.

How can I pay for missed fasts?

You can donate your Fidya and Kaffarah anytime, but each year, we distribute these donations as hot meals to fasting people who struggle for food.

Currently, it costs £5 to pay Fidya — for one missed fast with a valid reason — feeding one person a nourishing meal.

Donate your Fidya here.

It costs £300 to pay Kaffarah — for one missed fast without a valid reason — feeding 60 people nourishing meals.

Donate your Kaffarah here.

I missed the entire month. How can I pay?

You can pay for an entire missed Ramadan — with a valid reason — through Human Appeal here. If you need to pay for an entire month that you missed without a valid reason, simply select 29 or 30 days (depending on the length of the Ramadan you missed) in the Quantity box.

I missed a fast years ago. What should I pay?

Regardless of how much time has passed, you still owe Fidya if you had a valid reason, or Kaffarah if you had no valid reason. It's preferable for you to make up the fast(s) if you can, but you can still pay to feed a person instead.

So if your missed fasts were years ago due to a valid health reason, you have a choice: you can still make up the fast(s) now with no time limit, or pay Fidya instead if fasting still isn't possible for you. Either is valid — you don't need to do both, and there's no extra penalty for the delay itself.

What else can I do to ensure my fasts are accepted?

Make sure you pay Zakat al-Fitr each year. This is a small donation offered in the hope that it will make up for any flaws in our fasting. You can pay it here and it must be done before Eid al-Fitr prayer.