In Islam, not fasting any of the days during Ramadan means you’ll need to pay a charitable form of compensation. You must pay Fidya (Fidyah) if you missed any fasts for a valid reason and cannot make them up later on.
This is the donation that someone who cannot fast in Ramadan (for a legitimate reason) pays to make up for their missed Ramadan fast.
The payment is compulsory for those who cannot make up their missed fasting after the holy month. If you are healthy enough to fast outside of Ramadan, then it is better to do so. Likewise, once you have made up your missed days by fasting, you will not have to make the (fidyah) donation.
The amount for Fidya is equal to the price of a meal for the needy, times the number of fasting days missed during Ramadan.
Fidya (Fidyah) is a religious donation to help those in need. It is only paid when someone is unable to fast during Ramadan for a valid reason. This includes medical conditions or a prolonged illness that prevents them from making up the fast.
To make up for missing fasts Ramadan is a commandment from Allah.
Fasting is for a fixed number of days, and if one of you be sick, or if one of you be on a journey, you will fast the same number of other days later on. For those who are capable of fasting (but still do not fast) there is a redemption: feeding a needy man for each day missed. Whoever voluntarily does more good than is required, will find it better for him; and that you should fast is better for you, if you only know.
Qur’an 2:184
Note: Fidya is primarily for Muslims who are suffering from long-term conditions that make it hard for them to fast, especially outside of Ramadan. The condition can be an ongoing illness or health conditions that come with old age.
The payment for Fidya should provide one person with one meal per missed fast. For 2025, ANIC announced Fidya (expiation) is around $20 AUD, which fits with the price provided at Islamic Relief Australia: $18 AUD.
Fidyah is paid for deliberately missing a fast with a valid reason to do so. However, if you break a fast without a valid reason, Kaffarah is paid. The amount paid in Fidyah for each missed fast is equivalent to feeding one person. However, when paying Kaffarah, the payment is the equivalent of feeding 60 people.
You are eligible to pay Fidyah if you have missed or are exempt from fasting due to illness, old age or any other reason that prevents you from making the fasts up later.
You’re supposed to pay it before you miss a fast, or before Ramadan if you know you can’t participate for the whole month.
Fasting during Ramadan is an obligation on all able Muslims and is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Muslims must pay Kaffarah or Fidyah when missing this fundamental aspect of Islam, with a valid reason or not. Charity, as well as compulsory payments like these, emphasise just what an important aspect of Islam the holy month of Ramadan is.
Fidyah is a donation that must be paid to feed the poor for not making up fasts missed in Ramadan on time. You can also make the payment online.
Fidyah is given only to the poor and needy, not to everyone. Scholars consider Fidyah to be like Zakat. Therefore, those entitled to receive Fidyah are regarded as being among those who are entitled to Zakat.
