Use this fidya calculator to work out how much fidya you owe for Ramadan fasts you can’t keep or make up. Multiply the number of missed fasts by the daily fidya rate. In the U.S., the recommended rate for 2026 is $15 per day, or $450 for a full month.
🧮 Fidya Calculator (USA)
$15 is the Fiqh Council of North America’s 2026 recommendation. Change it to match your scholar or organization.
Your fidya: $450
That’s 30 days of food for a person in need.
How fidya is calculated
The Qur’an describes fidya as feeding a poor person for each day you can’t fast (2:184). It doesn’t name a dollar amount, so scholars translate “a day’s food for one person” into a local price. The formula is simple:
Number of fasts you can’t make up × daily fidya rate = your total fidya
Not sure fidya applies to you? Read what is fidya first. Many missed fasts are made up later instead of paid for.
How much is fidya per day in 2026?
The Fiqh Council of North America (FCNA) sets its recommendation from the average cost of a reasonable day’s food in the U.S. For 2026, its data came to $13.78, which it rounded up to $15 per day.
| Source | Per missed fast | Full month (30 days) |
|---|---|---|
| Fiqh Council of North America (2026) | $15 | $450 |
| Islamic Relief USA | $15 | $450 |
| ICNA Relief (follows FCNA) | $15 | $450 |
Prices change, so these amounts are usually reviewed each year before Ramadan. Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin around February 8, 2027. Check for an updated figure as it gets closer, and adjust the rate in the calculator.
How much is fidya in the Hanafi school?
Hanafi scholars traditionally measure fidya as about 1.75 kg (3.85 lb) of wheat, or 3.5 kg (7.72 lb) of barley, or the cash value of either, per missed fast. Feeding one poor person two full meals for each missed fast is also accepted. The Maliki and Shafi’i schools use a smaller measure, one mudd (about 0.75 liters) of staple food per day.
In practice, most American Muslims pay the cash equivalent, and FCNA notes the Hanafi two-meals approach is also fine. If you follow a specific school or scholar, use their figure in the calculator.
Fidya calculation examples
| Situation | Calculation | Total at $15/day |
|---|---|---|
| Can’t fast any of a 30-day Ramadan | 30 × $15 | $450 |
| Can’t fast any of a 29-day Ramadan | 29 × $15 | $435 |
| Fast on good days, miss 12 on bad days | 12 × $15 | $180 |
| Elderly parent, 3 past Ramadans unpaid (about 89 days) | 89 × $15 | $1,335 |
Ramadan lasts 29 or 30 days depending on the moon, so count the actual number of days you missed. For past years, many scholars advise paying at today’s rate. Ask your scholar if you’re unsure.
Which days count toward fidya?
Only count fasts you can’t keep and won’t realistically be able to make up. That usually means:
- A chronic illness that makes fasting harmful (see chronic illness and fidya)
- Old age when fasting causes real harm (see elderly Muslims and fasting)
- A condition your doctor says isn’t expected to improve
Don’t count days missed for temporary reasons like travel, a short illness, menstruation or postpartum bleeding. Those are made up later (qada), not paid as fidya. Pregnancy and nursing depend on your school of thought. See pregnancy and fidya.
Fidya vs. kaffarah amounts
Don’t mix these up. Fidya is one day’s food for one person, per fast you can’t keep. Kaffarah is for deliberately breaking a Ramadan fast without a valid reason: fasting 60 consecutive days, or, if that’s impossible, feeding 60 people. At $15 per person, Islamic Relief USA estimates kaffarah at $900 for each broken fast. Full comparison: kaffarah vs. fidya.
When and where to pay
Most scholars hold that fidya can’t be paid before Ramadan begins. Once Ramadan starts, the Hanafi school allows paying for the whole month at once, while the Shafi’i school has you pay for each day as it comes or in one sum at the end. Paying at the end of Ramadan, or afterward, is accepted across the schools.
Fidya must go to people in need. For who can receive it, including whether it can go to a food bank, see who can receive fidya?
Common questions
What if I can’t afford the full amount?
Islam doesn’t burden a soul beyond what it can bear. Pay what you can now and the rest when you’re able. Never skip food, medicine or care to make a payment.
Can someone else pay my fidya?
Yes, with your knowledge and consent. Adult children often pay for elderly parents. See can I pay fidya for someone else?
Do I have to pay fidya every year?
Yes. If your condition continues, fidya is owed for each Ramadan you can’t fast.
Where Meals N Feelz fits in
We’re building a way to connect fidya with the community food programs already feeding people near you, with full transparency about where it goes. We aren’t collecting fidya or donations yet. Right now, we’re gathering the people who want this to exist.
This calculator gives an estimate for general education. For a ruling on your own situation, please consult a qualified scholar.
[…] Council of North America recommended $15 per missed day for 2026, or $450 for a full month. Use our fidya calculator for your total. On timing, most scholars hold that fidya can’t be paid before Ramadan begins. […]