Missed or Broken a Fast? Here’s How Fidya & Kaffarah Can Help

Islam is a faith of mercy and compassion. A faith that encourages the spirit of giving and sharing with those who need it the most, either out of love for Allah (SWT), with the intentions to serve His creations or to compensate for one’s inability or mistake. 

During these blessed days of Ramadan, we are doing just that. We’ve changed our routines by waking up in the night, praying with sincerity and happily abstaining from food and water, from dawn till dusk. But as they say, we all make mistakes. We might accidentally end up eating or drinking something or do something that invalidates the fast. 

That feeling of guilt we experience is similar to what we feel when we disappoint someone we love. We often look for way in which to make amends.

That is the beauty of Kaffarah, an obligatory religious donation that a Muslim must pay if they intentionally break a fast without a valid reason. To set things right after having committed this intentional mistake, a Muslim must either fast continuously for 60 days or pay Kaffarah, which is basically is the cost of feeding 60 people.

It’s not just about fulfilling a duty, it’s about healing your soul, repairing your relationship with Allah (SWT), and showing gratitude for the mercy He bestows upon us. 

The Quran says: 

"But if any of you is ill or on a journey, the same number (should be made up) from other days. And as for those who can fast with difficulty, they have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a poor person (for every day missed). But whoever does good of his own accord, it is better for him. And that you fast is better for you, if only you knew." (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:184) 

But what if you missed a fast due to reasons beyond your control, such as illness, pregnancy, old age, or any other valid hardship that prevents you from making up the fast? This is where Fidya comes in. 

Fidya is a form of compensation for those who are unable to fast due to legitimate reasons and are unable to make up for them later. Instead of fasting, they must provide meals to those in need, so that even when they are unable to do good, they continue to engage in acts of kindness and charity. 

The Quran states: 

"And as for those who can fast with difficulty, they have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a poor person (for every day missed)." (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:184) 

By giving Fidya, you are not only fulfilling an obligation but also experiencing the mercy and generosity that our faith teaches us. It is one of those comforting reminders where even in moments of weakness, we are given the opportunity to help others, to turn what may seem like a shortcoming into a source of goodness, reward and experience gratitude as well. 

When you give Fidya or Kaffarah, know that it will not only cleanse your heart and make you even more humble, but it will also help change someone’s life. Your act of compensating for an act of mistake could become the reason a struggling mother can feed her child, or an orphan to receive a warm, comforting meal. Imagine being the answer to someone’s dua just because you made up for a mistake.

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 
"He is not a believer whose stomach is filled while the neighbour to his side goes hungry." (Sahih Bukhari) 

By paying Fidya & Kaffarah through feeding the poor, you become a part of something greater—you become a vessel of Allah’s (SWT) mercy. 

At Penny Appeal, we make it easy for you to fulfil your Fidya or Kaffarah by making sure that your contribution isn’t just a way to fulfil an obligation, it’s a chance to spread love, hope, and kindness. 

Let’s turn our mistakes into mercy. Give your Fidya or Kaffarah today and feed those who need it most.