Fidya and Kaffarah
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What is Fidya and Kaffarah?
Fidya: Fidya is a form of compensation paid by those who are unable to fulfill certain religious obligations, such as fasting during Ramadan, due to reasons like illness, pregnancy, or old age. It involves giving food or money to those in need as a substitute for the missed act of worship. Fidya is meant to ensure that those who cannot perform the obligation can still contribute to the community’s well-being.
Kaffara: Kaffara, on the other hand, is a gentle, restorative concept in Islam, focusing on making amends and seeking forgiveness for certain mistakes or lapses in religious duties. It’s about healing and reconciliation, where one might engage in charitable deeds, observe additional fasts, or undertake other nurturing acts of repentance as guided by Islamic teachings, depending on the nature of the oversight. Kaffarah embodies the compassionate aspect of accountability, offering a path to restore harmony and balance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is Kaffarah for breaking fast?
Is Kaffarah compulsory?
Fasting during Ramadan is an obligation on all able Muslims and is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Muslims must pay kaffarah or fidya when missing this fundamental aspects of Islam, with a valid reason or not. Charity, as well as compulsory payments like these, emphasize just what an important aspect of Islam the holy month of Ramadan is.
How to pay Kaffarah?How to pay Kaffarah?
Kaffarah is a donation that must be paid to feed the poor for not making up fasts missed in Ramadan on time. $600 should be paid for each deliberately missed fast.
How much is Kaffarah for Ramadan 2024?
To atone for the missed/intentionally broken fast, you must fast continuously for 60 days. If you are unable to do that, then you have to feed 60 poor people at a rate of $10 per person (the cost of an average meal in Canada and United States). Therefore, this amounts to $600 for each missed/intentionally broken fast.
Kaffarah Calculator
The amount required to be paid for one missed fast is $600 (60 x $10). Therefore to calculate how much you need to pay, multiply $600 by the number of fasts you have missed or broken intentionally.
Kaffarah for breaking a promise in Islam
Paying a Kaffarah is necessary for breaking a promise/oath. Therefore, for the redemption of a broken oath, you must ask Allah SWT for forgiveness and pay the amount equivalent to feeding 10 people at a rate of $10 per person (the cost of an average meal in Canada). Therefore, the amount to be paid for a broken promise amounts to $100.
What is the difference between Kaffarah and Kaffarah for oath?
If you deliberately break a fast without a valid reason, during the month of Ramadan or for breaking a promise/oath, you must pay Kaffarah. Both require a penalty to be paid.
The amount paid for each missed fast is the equivalent of feeding 60 people. Therefore, for each missed/intentionally broken fast, you must pay $600.
The amount paid in Kaffarah for oath for each broken promise/oath is the equivalent of feeding 10 people. As a result, this amounts to $100 for each broken promise.
What is the difference between Kaffarah and Fidya?
f you deliberately break a fast without a valid reason, you must pay Kaffarah. However, Fidya (Fidyah) is only paid if you miss a fast but have a valid reason to do so and cannot make up the fast at any other time in the future. The amount paid for each missed fast is the equivalent of feeding 60 people. However, when paying fidya, the payment for each missed fast is equivalent to feeding one person.
What is Kaffarah in Islam?
It must be paid for fasts deliberately missed in Ramadan, however if there is a valid reason, then fidya must be paid. Therefore, this penalty is much higher than that of fidya and should be avoided where possible.
When to pay Kaffarah?
It can be paid at any time throughout the year. You must pay if you have knowingly broken any fasts during the holy month of Ramadan unnecessarily.
Why Fulfill Fidya and Kaffarah via Truman Foundation?
- Fidya is a form of compensation paid by individuals unable to fulfill certain religious obligations, such as fasting during Ramadan, due to reasons like illness, pregnancy, or old age.
- Fidya ensures that those who cannot perform the obligation can still contribute to the community's well-being and fulfill their religious duties.
- The amount of fidya varies depending on factors such as the type of obligation missed and the economic status of the individual.
- Kaffara is a form of atonement or expiation for specific sins or transgressions in Islam.
- Kaffara can involve acts of charity, fasting for a specified number of days, or other forms of repentance as prescribed by Islamic law.
- Kaffara emphasizes the importance of seeking forgiveness, repenting for one's mistakes, and striving to uphold religious principles within the Islamic faith.