What Is Fidyah? In Which Situations Does It Become Necessary?

What is fidyah? In which situations does it become necessary?

Fidyah (lit. ransom) is a price paid to save a person from the difficult situation he fell into. As a religious term, it expresses the monetary compensation paid for not performing Ramadan fasts or making up for the faults done while performing Hajj.

It is stated in the Holy Qur’an: “For those who can do it (With hardship), is a ransom, the feeding of one that is indigent.” (Baqarah, 2/184). In this regard, those who are not able to fast because of elderliness or a sickness without the possibility to recover pay fidyah for each unobserved fasting day if it is unlikely for them to perform qada later. (Sarakhsi, al-Mabsud, III, 100; Ibn Qudamah, al-Mughni, IV, 395-397).

On the other hand, according to Shafi’is, if a person does not perform qada fastings without a valid excuse until the next Ramadan, then one needs to both perform qada and pay fidyah (Nawawi, al-Majmu, VI, 364; Shirbini, Mughni al-Muhtaj, I, 645).

According to Shafi’i school, one of the reasons for paying fidyah is regarding pregnant and breastfeeding women. Pregnant and breastfeeding women who have worries about the health of their babies need to perform qada for unobserved days and pay fidyah. However if they have worries about their own health only, then only qada is required (Nawawi, al-Majmu, VI, 267).

The financial penalties applied for some faults done during hajj and umrah falls into scope of fidyah as well (Baqarah, 2/196).

Fidyah is to feed a person for a day, or give money of the same value. It is the same amount as the sadaqah al-Fitr. This is the minimum amount required to give. It is better to pay more for people who can afford it. (Baqarah2/184; Marghinani, al-Hidayah, II, 270).

Source: Presidency Of Religious Affairs The Turkey, High Board of Religious Affairs FATWAS