Both Kaffarah and Fidya are integral parts of the holy month of Ramadan and serve as a way to make up for any missed fasts, whether that be unintentionally or intentionally. They are both charitable obligations that should be paid by any Muslim who is either unable to fast or who simply doesn’t observe the fast throughout Ramadan. They act as a way to seek forgiveness from Allah (SWT) and fulfil your religious obligation. Fasting, known as Sawm, is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and is a highly powerful act of worship. This is why fasting during daylight hours is a huge focus in the month of Ramadan in order for Muslims to connect closer to Allah (SWT) and strengthen their faith. If a believer can’t do this, they need another way to carry out their duty because it is their responsibility to do so, which is exactly what Kaffarah and Fidya do.
If a Muslim cannot fast for an acceptable reason during Ramadan, including illness, travel or because of medication, then they must either make up for their missed days of fast at another time in the year or pay Fidya. While if a Muslim misses a fast during Ramadan on purpose, they need to make up for this with a continuous 60-day fast or by feeding 60 poor and needy people, which is Kaffarah. Not every reason for missing a day’s fast is considered to be valid, and if this is the case, you will be expected to pay Kaffarah.
Both Fidya and Kaffarah are compulsory payments for all Muslims who are eligible to take part in fasting during Ramadan:
Kaffarah and Fidya aren’t just a payment to be made during Ramadan for missing fasts. They can also be a donation that you have to pay when you don’t fulfil specific oaths that you have vowed to do. Discover what is Kaffarah in Islam and what Fidya is, and make your Kaffarah and Fidya 2026 donations to fulfil your obligation for when you miss a fast.
Fidya in Islam dictates that those who cannot observe the Sawm for a good reason should pay a fee, which is the determined value of feeding one hungry person two meals or feeding two people in poverty a one-time meal. Anyone exempt from fasting, such as a pregnant, breastfeeding, or menstruating woman, someone who is considered too old and/or frail, someone travelling, or anyone disqualified on medical grounds, is expected to make this payment. Muslims who fit into these requirements have the choice to either make up the days of missed fasts later on in the year or to pay Fidya. This type of donation is for those who cannot make up their missed fasts at a later date, for example, those with long-term illnesses.
This contribution is a set price for per day of missed fasts. However, it is based on the cost of staple food items to provide two meals to a needy person for each day of missed fasts. Due to this, the price of Fidya per day can vary every year. In 2025, Fidya was around £6 per missed fast to pay. If you did not observe any of the days of fasting (for an acceptable reason), you would be expected to pay Fidya for all 30 days of Ramadan. So, in 2025, Fidya was set at around £6; therefore, the full month’s Fidya due was around £180. It is best to check the cost of Fidya in 2026, closer to Ramadan with your local mosque.
Kaffarah in Islam dictates that payment must be made by any Muslim eligible to observe Sawm who knowingly carries out a break of fasting in Ramadan without a good reason. This could be if a Muslim eats or drinks knowingly during daylight hours or involves themselves in any other prohibited act purposely, like sexual activity or backbiting, during the month. This means they must pay Kaffarah to seek forgiveness from Allah (SWT) and make amends for their bad choices. Kaffarah requires a believer to either fast for two months straight (60 days consecutively) or to feed 60 people in need if they are unable to fast for two months due to their physical health.
So, how much is Kaffarah? As with Fidya, there is a set price to pay per day of intentionally missed fasts because it is determined by the Fidya value that will be confirmed closer to the time of Ramadan. It is based on feeding 60 people staple food items for each day of fasting a Muslim has missed during the month. Again, the cost of these staple items fluctuates every year, so the price you pay for Kaffarah can be different from previous years. However, whatever the price of Fidya 2026 is, Kaffarah will be the same, but multiplied by 60 (to feed 60 hungry people. So, in 2025, Fidya was around £6, so a single day’s Kaffarah payment was £360. It is best to check the cost of Fidya and Kaffarah closer to the time of Ramadan to ensure you accurately fulfil your duty.
If you are unable to fast during Ramadan for a valid reason, you can make up the days of missed fasts at a later date during the year. However, if you can’t make up for missed fasts during the year, then you should pay Fidya in 2026 instead to fulfil your obligation and help the poor. If you feel like you can’t fast, but it isn’t classed as a valid reason, then you must pay Kaffarah or fast for 2 months continuously. It is best to check the rules of Ramadan to see if you qualify to miss a fast for an acceptable reason before you intentionally break your fast and need to seek forgiveness.
If you are sick and have been advised against fasting by a medical professional, missing your fast can be repaid in the form of Fidya payments per missed day. On the other hand, if you are sick but still capable of fasting safely and choose not to, you will have to pay Kaffarah by completing 60 days of continuous fasting or donating funds to feed 60 people in need per missed fast.
You can begin your continuous 60 days of fasting at any point in the Islamic year, so long as Eid does not fall within those days, as it is not permissible for any Muslim to fast during the festival. If you begin your Kaffarah on the first day of the Islamic month, then fasting continuously for two full Islamic months will suffice for the Kaffarah. This applies even if the total number of days in the two months equals 58 days (in the case of 29-day months).
The only exceptions for Kaffarah are valid medical reasons, such as medical conditions, pregnancy, breastfeeding or travelling. Any woman who deliberately misses a fast and chooses a continuous 60-day fast to make it up is allowed to postpone fasting days for menstruation; however, this is the only interruption allowed.
Now, Kaffarah is not only limited to Ramadan and breaking a fast during the month. There is also Kaffarah for breaking an oath alongside the compensation for breaking a fast during the holy month. But what’s the difference? Well, Kaffarah for breaking fast is a charitable compensation for when a Muslim purposely breaks their fast at any point during the holy month. It is the price to pay when a believer stops their fast without a valid reason. This is different to Kaffarah for breaking an oath because this can be at any time in the Islamic year, not just Ramadan. This type of compensation is a penalty for a Muslim who breaks an oath they have made to Allah (SWT).
So, what is the cost of Kaffarah for breaking an oath? It is still a charitable contribution that must be made when a Muslim breaks an oath they have made. It is not as much to donate as the Kaffarah for breaking fast, but it is still based on the cost of staple food items in your region. Due to this, it’s best to check the amount for staple food items to ensure you donate correctly. This price needs to be multiplied by 10 because when an oath is broken, it requires a donation to feed 10 people in need.
The cost of Kaffarah for breaking fast is also based on the price of staple food items in your area, so it’s best to check the amount for Fidya closer to Ramadan. This will determine the cost of Kaffarah during Ramadan. This cost needs to be multiplied by 60 because the penalty for breaking a fast knowingly is to feed 60 poor people. The cost also includes each intentionally missed or broken fast, so if you miss two days intentionally, you need to feed 120 people in need.
Any Muslims who do not observe Sawm during Ramadan, involuntarily or otherwise, must pay either Fidya or Kaffarah, as this is an important part of the Islamic faith. Sawm makes up one of the Five Pillars of Islam and observing the fast helps to bring us closer to Allah (SWT). Demonstrating such a level of self-discipline allows for great spiritual reflection, which is not possible without the annual fast, which pleases Allah (SWT).
The cost of Fidya is calculated based on the cost of feeding a person two meals per day made of wheat, rice, or other local staple crops where the donor resides. Each meal consists of one ‘mudd’ (1/4 sa’) – this is measured to be the amount of crop which one person can hold in two hands cupped together (approximately 0.75 of a litre).
Based on the method for calculating this donation, Fidya in the UK will vary in price. This is because it’s all dependent on the cost of staple food items. Last year, the price was around £5 per person. To know the exact rate for Fidya 2026, it is best to check back closer to the start of Ramadan or ask your local mosque for guidance.
This year,
Copyright © 2026 UKIM All Rights Reserved.
UK Registered Charity Since 1962
Charity Registration No. 250275
