Fidya and Kaffarah Rates 2027: How Much to Pay for Missed Fasts

Muslim Aid expects that the UK Fidya rate for 2027 will be £5 per missed fast. The Kaffarah rate is expected to be £300 per broken fast, the cost of feeding 60 people at £5 each, for those unable to fast 60 consecutive days. Both rates may change slightly closer to Ramadan.

Ramadan is one of the most sacred times in the Islamic calendar, a month for strengthening a believer’s connection to Allah (SWT) through worship.

It is dedicated to prayer, reflection and generosity, along with fasting from dawn to sunset.

Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam, but Allah (SWT) has made allowances for those who cannot fast: “Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship” (Quran 2:185).

Travellers, the temporarily ill, and women who are menstruating, pregnant or breastfeeding may miss fasts and make them up later (qada). Those who can never make up their fasts, and those who break a fast deliberately, have different obligations.

These obligations are known as Fidya and Kaffarah. Knowing which applies to you, and how much to pay, ensures you fulfil your religious duties this Ramadan.

What is Fidya?

Fidya is a charitable payment for Muslims who cannot fast and cannot make up the missed fasts at a later date. This usually applies because of old age or a chronic illness with no expected recovery. The Quran describes it as “a ransom: the feeding of a poor person” (Quran 2:184).

If you expect to recover, you should not pay Fidya. Instead, make up your missed fasts before the next Ramadan.

For each missed fast, Fidya is to feed one person in need for a day, the equivalent of two meals. Family members can also pay Fidya on behalf of elderly or unwell relatives.

What is Kaffarah?

Kaffarah is an act of atonement for deliberately breaking a Ramadan fast without a valid reason. It does not apply if you forgot you were fasting or ate or drank by mistake.

Kaffarah is based on the hadith of a man who broke his fast in Ramadan. The Prophet ﷺ instructed him to fast two consecutive months, or if he could not, to feed sixty poor people (Sahih al-Bukhari 1936).

This means the first obligation is to fast 60 consecutive days. Only those genuinely unable to do so should feed 60 people in need instead. In both cases, the broken fast must also be made up.

Scholars differ on some details. Hanafi scholars apply Kaffarah to deliberate eating, drinking or intercourse, while Shafi’i and Hanbali scholars apply it only to intercourse. If you are unsure, consult a qualified scholar.

The Difference Between Fidya and Kaffarah

Fidya is compensation for fasts that cannot be kept or made up for reasons beyond a person’s control. It feeds one person for each missed fast.

Kaffarah is atonement for knowingly breaking a fast during daylight hours without a valid reason. It requires 60 consecutive days of fasting or, if that isn’t possible, feeding 60 people, plus making up the broken fast.

How Much is Fidya in the UK in 2027?

At Muslim Aid, the Fidya rate for 2027 is expected to be £5 per missed fast, or £150 for the full month of Ramadan. To calculate yours, multiply the number of missed fasts by £5.

The rate is based on the cost of feeding a person for a day, so it may change slightly as staple food prices shift. We will confirm the final rate closer to Ramadan.

How Much is Kaffarah for Breaking a Fast?

Kaffarah is paid at the same daily rate as Fidya, multiplied by 60, because it feeds 60 people in need for each broken fast. At the expected 2027 rate of £5, this comes to £300 for each fast broken deliberately.

The payment applies only to those genuinely unable to fast 60 consecutive days, which is the first obligation of Kaffarah. In both cases, the broken fast must also be made up.

Who Pays Fidya and Who Pays Kaffarah?

Fidya and Kaffarah are separate obligations for different circumstances, so it’s important not to confuse them:

• Fidya for each missed fast: for those who cannot fast and are not expected to recover enough to make the fasts up later, such as the elderly or chronically ill.

• Make up the missed fasts later (qada): for those who miss fasts for a temporary reason, such as travel, short-term illness, menstruation, pregnancy or breastfeeding. Fasts should be made up before the next Ramadan.

• No action needed: for those who eat or drink by mistake. This does not break the fast, so simply continue fasting.

• Kaffarah for each broken fast: for those who deliberately break their fast without a valid reason. Kaffarah means fasting 60 consecutive days, or feeding 60 people if unable to, plus making up the broken fast.

Pay Your Fidya and Kaffarah with Muslim Aid

Paying Fidya fulfils your religious obligation when you cannot fast. Muslim Aid uses your Fidya donations to provide nutritious meals to families facing hunger, conflict and disaster globally.

Kaffarah, alongside sincere repentance, atones for deliberately breaking a fast. Your Kaffarah donation feeds 60 people in need for every broken fast, bringing relief to struggling communities worldwide.

Give your Fidya or Kaffarah this Ramadan 2027 to fulfil your obligations and provide desperate families with the food they need to survive.

Fidya and Kaffarah for Breaking Fast FAQs

What is Fidya?

Fidya is a charitable payment for Muslims who cannot fast in Ramadan and cannot make up the fasts later, usually because of old age or a chronic illness. It feeds one person in need for each missed fast.

What is Kaffarah?

Kaffarah is atonement for deliberately breaking a Ramadan fast without a valid reason. It requires fasting 60 consecutive days or, if that isn’t possible, feeding 60 people in need. The broken fast must also be made up.

How Much is Fidya?

Fidya is expected to be £5 per missed fast in 2027, or £150 if the whole month is missed. Each payment feeds one person in need for a day.

How Much is Kaffarah for Breaking Fast?

Kaffarah is expected to be £300 per broken fast in 2027. This is the Fidya rate of £5 multiplied by 60, enough to feed 60 people in need.

Can I pay Fidya on behalf of someone else?

Yes. Family members can pay Fidya for elderly or unwell relatives who cannot fast.