The difference between making up a fast, giving fidya and paying kaffarah, and where the schools differ.
Three different terms are often mixed up. They apply in different situations.
Qada: making up the days
Someone who misses days with an excuse, such as illness or travel, makes up an equal number of days (2:184). Aisha reported that she sometimes missed days of Ramadan and could only fast them in Sha‘ban (Sahih al-Bukhari 1950), which shows that making them up later in the year is allowed. The missed days are made up one for one.
Fidya: feeding a poor person
Fidya is feeding a poor person for each missed day. It applies to those who cannot fast and cannot be expected to make it up, such as an elderly person (2:184), and, according to some schools, in other cases.
Kaffarah: expiation for a deliberate breach
Abu Hurayrah reported that a man came to the Prophet ﷺ and said he had been ruined, because he had intercourse with his wife while fasting in Ramadan. The Prophet ﷺ asked whether he could free a slave, then whether he could fast two consecutive months, then whether he could feed sixty poor people (Sahih al-Bukhari 1936). Scholars derive from this the kaffarah for this act. Today it is generally understood as fasting two consecutive months, or feeding sixty poor people if that is not possible. The missed day is still made up.
Key points
- Qada is making up missed days of Ramadan later, day for day.
- Fidya is feeding a poor person for each day missed, for those who cannot make it up.
- Kaffarah is a heavier expiation, reported for deliberately breaking a Ramadan fast through intercourse.
- Schools differ on delay beyond the next Ramadan, on the amount of fidya, and on whether kaffarah applies to deliberate eating.
Qur’an
“[Fasting for] a limited number of days. So whoever among you is ill or on a journey [during them] - then an equal number of days [are to be made up]. And upon those who are able [to fast, but with hardship] - a ransom [as substitute] of feeding a poor person [each day]. And whoever volunteers excess - it is better for him. But to fast is best for you, if you only knew.”
Surah Al-Baqarah (2) — 2:184
Hadith
Narrated `Aisha:Sometimes I missed some days of Ramadan, but could not fast in lieu of them except in the month of Sha'ban." Said Yahya, a sub-narrator, "She used to be busy serving the Prophet (ﷺ)
Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 1950 .
Narrated Abu Huraira:While we were sitting with the Prophet (ﷺ) a man came and said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! I have been ruined." Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) asked what was the matter with him. He replied "I had sexual intercourse with my wife while I was fasting." Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) asked him, "Can you afford to manumit a slave?" He replied in the negative. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) asked him, "Can you fast for two successive months?" He replied in the negative. The Prophet (ﷺ) asked him, "Can you afford to feed sixty poor persons?" He replied in the negative. The Prophet (ﷺ) kept silent and while we were in that state, a big basket full of dates was brought to the Prophet (ﷺ) . He asked, "Where is the questioner?" He replied, "I (am here)." The Prophet (ﷺ) said (to him), "Take this (basket of dates) and give it in charity." The man said, "Should I give it to a person poorer than I? By Allah; there is no family between its (i.e. Medina's) two mountains who are poorer than I." The Prophet (ﷺ) smiled till his premolar teeth became visible and then said, 'Feed your family with it.
Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 1936 .
Hadith text and grading above are shown as supplied by their source. HikmahBridge does not grade Hadith itself. See Sources & Methodology.
Scholarly notes
Delay: the Hanafi school holds that a missed fast can be made up at any time, while the Maliki, Shafi‘i and Hanbali schools hold that delaying it beyond the next Ramadan without excuse requires feeding a poor person for each day in addition to making it up. Fidya: the amount and whether its cash value may be given differ; the Hanafi school allows giving the value, while others require giving food. Kaffarah: the Shafi‘i and Hanbali schools apply it only to intercourse during the fasting hours; the Hanafi and Maliki schools apply it also to deliberate eating and drinking. Follow your school or a trusted teacher.
FAQ
I missed days years ago. What should I do?
Make them up as soon as you can and seek forgiveness for the delay. If you are unsure how to count, ask a knowledgeable teacher.
Does kaffarah replace making up the day?
No. Kaffarah is an expiation for the act itself; the fasting day is still made up.
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