Al Fidiah (Compensatory Charity for Missed Fasting)

The Meaning of Fidiah (Compensatory Charity for Missed Fasting) What is the ruling regarding fidiah for a person who is unable to fast during the month of Ramadan and is also unable to make up the missed days later? Firstly, it must be emphasised that all Muslims should be familiar with the Islamic legal rulings concerning days of fasting missed during Ramadan. Secondly, whoever reaches Ramadan but is unable to fast due to advanced age or a chronic illness from which no recovery is expected is not obliged to fast. Such a person is required to offer fidiah by feeding one needy person for each day missed. Allah the Almighty says: “Believers, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may become mindful of God. Fast for a fixed number of days. If any of you are ill or on a journey, then make up the missed days later. For those who can fast only with difficulty, there is a compensatory payment: feeding one poor person. Whoever volunteers additional good will be better rewarded, but fasting is better for you, if only you knew.” (Qur’an 2:183–184).Al‑Bukhārī relates in his explanation of this verse that the Companion Ibn ʿAbbās (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “This refers to an elderly man and an elderly woman who are unable to fast.” Are there people whom Allah exempts from fasting during Ramadan? There are two categories of people who have legitimate religious excuses for missing fasting days in Ramadan.I. The first category This group includes those who miss fasting days for temporary and valid reasons, such as illness, travel, pregnancy, or breastfeeding. Those who fall into this category must make up the missed days after Ramadan once they are able to do so. They are not required to pay fidiah, as their obligation is limited to making up the missed fasts. This is supported by the Qur’anic verse: “If any of you are ill or on a journey, then fast an equal number of other days” (Qur’an 2:183–184).Pregnancy and breastfeeding are also included in this category, as the hardship involved is comparable to that of illness. It is reported that Ibn ʿAbbās (may Allah be pleased with him) said to his wife when she was pregnant or breastfeeding: “You are among those who cannot endure fasting in Ramadan.” (Qur’an 2:184). It has also been reported that the learned Companion Ibn ʿAbbās (may Allah be pleased with him) said to his wife when she was pregnant or breastfeeding: “You are among those who are unable to endure fasting in Ramadan.” This is in accordance with the words of the Qur’an: “For those who can fast only with difficulty, there is a compensatory payment,” (Qur’an 2:184).II. The second category This category includes those who miss fasting in Ramadan for permanent and valid reasons, such as old age or a chronic illness that prevents fasting. Such individuals are required to pay fidiah for each missed day and are not required to make up the fasts. The evidence for this ruling is the Qur’anic verse: “For those who can fast only with difficulty, there is a compensatory payment: feeding a poor person” (Qur’an 2:184).The amount of fidiah The Prophet ﷺ specified the fidiah for each missed day of fasting according to the Islamic measure known as the ṣāʿ. A ṣāʿ is a traditional unit of volume equivalent to four handfuls with both hands of an average adult. The fidiah amounts to half a ṣāʿ of food commonly consumed in the locality of the person who is unable to fast. It should be noted that the ṣāʿ is a measure of volume rather than weight; for example, one ṣāʿ of wheat weighs approximately 2176 grams, while other foods may vary in weight.Who receives fidiah? Fidiah is given to those in need. For each missed fasting day, one needy person is fed half a ṣāʿ of food. If all 30 days of Ramadan are missed, a total of 15 ṣāʿ must be distributed among 30 needy individuals. The calculation is as follows: half a ṣāʿ multiplied by the number of missed days equals the total fidiah.Can fidiah be paid in money? As with Zakāt al‑Fiṭr, the majority of contemporary scholars permit fidiah to be paid in monetary form. This is often more beneficial for the poor and more practical in the modern context, as distributing food requires transport and logistics. Decision of the Council of ImamsThe Council of Imams of the Muslim League in the Republic of Poland has set the fidiah amount starting from 25 PLN per missed day. Fidiah may be given to the local mosque imam or transferred to the Muslim Cultural Development Association, which distributes it to those in need. Muzułmańskie Stowarzyszenie Kształtowania Kulturalnego ul. Mieczysława Romanowskiego 40 20-707 Lublin Bank account number: 26 1240 1154 1111 0011 6454 6346 Bank PEKAO S A Swift PKOPPLPW PL Tytuł przelewu: Fidjah