Fidya Kaffarah Calculator
Calculate fidya and kaffarah amounts for missed fasts based on local food costs. Enter values for instant results with step-by-step formulas.
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Fidya requires feeding one poor person per missed fast day. Kaffarah requires feeding 60 poor people per deliberately broken fast day, or fasting 60 consecutive days per offense. The meal cost should reflect the price of an average meal for a poor person in your locality.
Last reviewed: December 2025
Worked Examples
Example 1: Elderly Person: 30 Days Fidya
Example 2: Kaffarah: 3 Deliberately Broken Fasts
Background & Theory
The Fidya Kaffarah Calculator applies the following established principles and formulas. Islamic financial and religious calculations operate within a framework that integrates theological principles with precise mathematical methodology. Zakat, one of the five pillars of Islam, requires payment of 2.5% of qualifying wealth held above the nisab threshold for a complete lunar year. The nisab is pegged to the value of 85 grams of gold or 595 grams of silver, whichever provides the lower threshold, and must be recalculated against current market prices. Qualifying wealth includes cash, savings, business inventory, and investment assets, but excludes primary residence, personal-use items, and tools of trade. Hijri calendar conversion is essential for determining Ramadan dates, Zakat anniversaries, and contract terms expressed in lunar months. The Hijri calendar contains 12 lunar months totalling approximately 354.37 days, making it roughly 11 days shorter than the Gregorian year. Converting between calendars requires accounting for the accumulated drift: since the Hijri epoch of 622 CE (the Prophet's migration from Mecca to Medina), the difference compounds annually. Qibla direction calculation employs spherical trigonometry to determine the great-circle bearing from any point on Earth toward the Kaaba in Mecca (coordinates 21.4225°N, 39.8262°E). The formula accounts for the curvature of the Earth, meaning the bearing from New York to Mecca is approximately northeast rather than the intuitive eastward direction seen on flat maps. Prayer times are determined by solar angles: Fajr begins when the sun is 15-18 degrees below the horizon before dawn; Dhuhr at solar noon; Asr when shadow length equals object height plus its shadow at noon; Maghrib at sunset; and Isha when twilight disappears. These calculations vary by latitude and season, requiring location-specific algorithms. Islamic finance prohibits riba (interest), requiring profit-sharing structures such as Mudarabah (capital provider and entrepreneur share profits at a pre-agreed ratio) and Musharakah (joint venture with proportional profit and loss sharing).
History
The history behind the Fidya Kaffarah Calculator traces back through the following developments. Islamic civilisation made foundational contributions to mathematics and astronomy that underpin many of the calculation methods still used today. Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi, working at the House of Wisdom in Baghdad in the 9th century, authored Al-Kitab al-mukhtasar fi hisab al-jabr wal-muqabala, the work from whose title the word algebra derives. His systematic approach to equation solving provided tools directly applicable to financial and calendar calculations. Al-Biruni in the 11th century developed sophisticated methods for calculating geographic coordinates and direction, including early formulations of what became the qibla calculation. The Hijri calendar was formally established by Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab in 638 CE, fixing the Prophet Muhammad's migration (Hijra) from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE as the epoch. This calendar standardised religious observances across the expanding Muslim world. Islamic inheritance law (Faraid) was codified from Quranic verses and Hadith during the early Islamic period, establishing precise fractional shares for defined classes of heirs. The complexity of multi-heir scenarios drove development of sophisticated fraction arithmetic among early Islamic jurists and mathematicians. The Ottoman Empire administered Zakat as a state function for centuries, integrating it with broader fiscal policy until the empire's dissolution after World War I. The 20th century saw Islamic finance principles largely dormant in formal banking until the resurgence of Islamic banking in Egypt (Mit Ghamr Savings Bank, 1963) and the Gulf states following the 1973 oil boom provided capital for institution-building. The Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI), established in Bahrain in 1991, and the Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB), established in Kuala Lumpur in 2002, created the standards infrastructure for modern Islamic finance. The global Islamic finance industry has grown to approximately three trillion US dollars in assets, spanning banking, takaful insurance, sukuk bonds, and Islamic funds across over 80 countries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources & References
Formula
Fidya = Missed Days x Meal Cost; Kaffarah = Missed Days x 60 x Meal Cost
Fidya requires feeding one poor person per missed fast day. Kaffarah requires feeding 60 poor people per deliberately broken fast day, or fasting 60 consecutive days per offense. The meal cost should reflect the price of an average meal for a poor person in your locality.
Worked Examples
Example 1: Elderly Person: 30 Days Fidya
Problem: An elderly person cannot fast any day of Ramadan (30 days). Local meal cost is $10. Calculate fidya amount.
Solution: Fidya per day (monetary) = $10 (cost of one meal)\nTotal fidya = $10 x 30 days = $300\n\nAlternatively (Hanafi wheat-based):\nWheat per day = 2.176 kg\nTotal wheat = 2.176 x 30 = 65.28 kg\nAt $0.50/kg = $32.64\n\nShafi'i wheat-based:\nWheat per day = 0.68 kg\nTotal wheat = 0.68 x 30 = 20.40 kg\nAt $0.50/kg = $10.20
Result: Fidya total: $300 (monetary) or 65.28 kg wheat (Hanafi) or 20.40 kg wheat (Shafi'i)
Example 2: Kaffarah: 3 Deliberately Broken Fasts
Problem: A person deliberately broke 3 fasts. Local meal cost is $10. Calculate kaffarah.
Solution: Kaffarah per broken fast: Feed 60 poor people\nTotal people to feed = 60 x 3 = 180\nCost = 180 x $10 = $1,800\n\nAlternatively: Fast 60 consecutive days per broken fast\nTotal fasting days = 60 x 3 = 180 days\n(Each 60-day block must be consecutive)
Result: Kaffarah: Feed 180 people ($1,800) or fast 180 consecutive days (60 per offense)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is fidya and when is it required?
Fidya is a charitable compensation paid by Muslims who are unable to fast during Ramadan due to valid long-term or permanent reasons and cannot make up the fasts later. It applies to individuals who are chronically ill, elderly and frail, pregnant or breastfeeding women who fear for their health or their child, and those with medical conditions that make fasting dangerous. The fidya amount is typically equivalent to feeding one poor person for each missed day of fasting. According to the Hanafi school, this equals half a sa' (approximately 2.176 kg) of wheat or its monetary equivalent per day. The Shafi'i and Hanbali schools use a smaller measure of one mudd (approximately 0.68 kg). Fidya should ideally be paid during Ramadan itself.
What is kaffarah and how does it differ from fidya?
Kaffarah is a more severe penalty required when a person deliberately breaks their Ramadan fast without a valid Islamic excuse, such as intentionally eating, drinking, or engaging in intimate relations during fasting hours. Unlike fidya, which is a simple compensation, kaffarah serves as an expiation for the sin of deliberately violating the fast. The kaffarah for each deliberately broken fast day consists of three options in order: freeing a believing slave (no longer applicable), fasting for 60 consecutive days (if one breaks the chain, they must restart), or feeding 60 poor people one meal each. Kaffarah is significantly more costly than fidya because it addresses intentional violation rather than inability to fast.
How is the monetary amount for fidya calculated?
The monetary amount for fidya varies by Islamic school of thought and local conditions. The Hanafi school bases it on half a sa' of wheat, which equals approximately 2.176 kilograms per missed day. The Shafi'i and Hanbali schools use one mudd, approximately 0.68 kilograms of the staple food of the region. Many scholars allow paying the equivalent monetary value instead of providing physical food. The monetary equivalent should reflect the cost of providing an average meal to a poor person in your locality. Islamic relief organizations often publish recommended fidya amounts annually, typically ranging from $7 to $15 per day in Western countries. It is recommended to consult with local scholars or mosques for the applicable rate in your area.
Can fidya be paid in advance or all at once?
Scholars differ on the timing of fidya payment. The majority view in the Hanafi school allows paying fidya for the entire month at the beginning of Ramadan or even before it begins, which is practical for elderly individuals who know they cannot fast the entire month. The Shafi'i school generally prefers that fidya be paid day by day as each fast is missed, though paying in advance is permitted by many contemporary scholars. Fidya can be paid to the same poor person for multiple days or distributed among different recipients. Many Muslims choose to pay through established charitable organizations that distribute food on their behalf. It is important to make the intention (niyyah) that the payment is specifically for fidya when giving.
What if someone cannot afford to pay fidya or kaffarah?
Islam takes financial hardship into account in all its rulings. If a person genuinely cannot afford to pay fidya, they are excused from the payment but should make sincere supplication to Allah for forgiveness and intend to pay when their financial situation improves. For kaffarah, the three options are arranged in order of preference, and if a person cannot manage any of them, they should sincerely repent and seek forgiveness. Some scholars suggest that if one cannot pay the full amount, they should pay whatever they can afford. The principle in Islamic jurisprudence is that Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity, as stated in Surah Al-Baqarah verse 286. Consulting with a knowledgeable local imam or scholar is strongly recommended for individual circumstances.
Can I use Fidya Kaffarah Calculator on a mobile device?
Yes. All calculators on NovaCalculator are fully responsive and work on smartphones, tablets, and desktops. The layout adapts automatically to your screen size.
References
Reviewed by Daniel Agrici, Founder & Lead Developer · Editorial policy