Volunteers packing food parcels for emergency distribution to families

Fidya for Palestine

Compensate for missed fasts and feed a hungry family in Gaza with your fidya.

Fidya is the compensation given when a person is genuinely unable to fast during Ramadan and cannot make those fasts up later — for example, due to chronic illness or old age. Instead of fasting, the individual feeds a needy person for each day missed.

By giving your fidya through Fight for Palestine, that compensation becomes a warm meal for a family in Gaza who does not know where their next meal is coming from. Your obligation is fulfilled, and a hungry person is fed — the very purpose fidya was designed to serve.

Below we explain how fidya works, how it is calculated and how your contribution is used. This is general guidance to help you give with confidence, not a religious ruling — please consult a qualified scholar for your specific situation.

What is fidya?

Fidya is a form of compensation in Islam for fasts that a person is unable to keep and unable to make up later. It applies to those with a permanent or long-term reason preventing them from fasting, such as the elderly or those living with a chronic illness that will not allow fasting.

The principle behind fidya is that no one is left burdened beyond their capacity, while the spirit of the fast — compassion for the hungry — is still honoured. For each day of fasting missed, a needy person is fed.

How is fidya calculated?

Fidya is due for each fast missed. For every missed day, the equivalent of feeding one needy person is given — traditionally understood as providing two meals, or a set measure of staple food, for one person.

One day missed = feeding one needy person for that day
A whole month of missed fasts = feeding one person for each of those days
The amount is based on the cost of an average meal in your area
Your local scholar can confirm the exact measure for your circumstances

How your fidya helps Gaza

When you give fidya through us, we direct it to our food programme, where it funds cooked meals and staple food parcels for families facing severe food insecurity in Gaza. Your compensation literally feeds the hungry, exactly as fidya is intended to.

We prioritise the most vulnerable — young children, pregnant and nursing mothers, and the elderly — and buy locally wherever possible so your gift also supports Palestinian farmers and bakers.

A note on religious guidance

We take the accuracy of Islamic giving seriously and consult knowledgeable scholars in structuring how fidya and other obligations are handled. Even so, the guidance on this page is general in nature and not a fatwa. For rulings specific to your health, circumstances or school of thought, please consult a qualified scholar you trust.

Frequently asked questions

Who needs to pay fidya?

Fidya is for those genuinely unable to fast and unable to make the fasts up later — typically the elderly or people with a long-term illness. Someone who misses fasts for a temporary reason and can make them up later generally does not pay fidya but fasts the missed days instead. Consult a scholar if you are unsure.

How much is fidya per missed fast?

Fidya equals the cost of feeding one needy person for each day missed — usually reckoned as two meals or a set measure of staple food. The monetary amount depends on local food costs, so we suggest an amount but you can give what reflects your circumstances.

Can I pay fidya for a family member?

Yes. Many people pay fidya on behalf of an elderly or unwell relative who cannot fast. You can give the compensation for their missed days through this appeal, and we will direct it to feeding families in need.