Fidya and kaffarah: the difference
Fidya is compensation for an act of worship a person cannot do, such as fasting for someone too old or ill ever to fast. Kaffarah is an expiation for a sin, such as deliberately breaking a Ramadan fast or breaking a sworn oath. Both are measured in the same unit: one fitrana, which is half a sa' (about 1.75 kg) of wheat or its value.
The four cases
- Fidya for fasts: one unit for each fast, for someone who cannot fast now and has no real hope of making the fasts up later. Temporary illness or travel does not qualify; those fasts are made up later.
- Kaffarah for breaking a Ramadan fast: due when someone fasting in Ramadan deliberately eats, drinks or has intercourse without a valid excuse. The kaffarah is to fast 60 days in a row. Only someone truly unable to do that may feed 60 poor people two meals each, or give 60 units. The broken fast is also made up with one fast.
- Kaffarah for a broken oath: feed or clothe 10 poor people, or give 10 units. Someone who cannot afford this fasts 3 days in a row instead.
- Fidya for salah: one unit for each missed prayer, six a day including Witr. It is paid by the heirs from up to one third of the estate when the deceased asked for it in their will. A living person must make up their prayers, not pay for them.
Who receives it
The poor and needy who can receive zakat. Fidya for several days may be given to one poor person. The 60 units of a Ramadan kaffarah must reach 60 poor people, or one poor person on 60 separate days.
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