Short answer
In the Hanafi school, someone who will never be able to fast may pay fidya day by day, at the end of Ramadan, or for the whole month at its start. It should not be paid before Ramadan begins. If they later recover enough to fast, they must make up the fasts, and the fidya counts as charity.
Fidya, half a sa' of wheat or its value per day, is owed by the very elderly and the incurably ill. It may be given at the start of Ramadan for the whole month, during it or after it. If the person regains the ability to fast, the fidya becomes voluntary charity and the fasts must be made up.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- Fidya for a day may be paid on that day or after it, but paying it in advance for later days is not valid.
Explanation
Fidya is for those who cannot fast and have no realistic hope of making the days up, such as the very old or someone with a permanent illness. Allah says those who can fast only with great hardship may give a ransom, the feeding of a poor person. For who qualifies and how much it is, see what is fidya.
When to pay:
- At the start of Ramadan for all 29 or 30 days: allowed in the Hanafi school. If the month is 29 days, the extra day becomes charity.
- Each day during Ramadan.
- After Ramadan, in one go. It remains owed until paid.
- Before Ramadan: wait until the month has begun.
Other points in the Hanafi school:
- You may pay in money, at the value of sadaqat al-fitr per day.
- The whole month's fidya may go to one poor person, or be spread out.
- It goes to people eligible for zakat, not to your own parents, children or spouse.
- If you cannot afford it, it is not a debt you sin over: make istighfar, and pay if you become able.
- If your health improves and you can fast, make up the days you missed. The fidya you gave was not wasted; it becomes sadaqah.
Temporary illness, pregnancy and travel are not fidya cases: those days are made up. Use the fidya calculator for this year's amount.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:184
أَيَّامًۭا مَّعْدُودَٰتٍۢ ۚ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍۢ فَعِدَّةٌۭ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۚ وَعَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُۥ فِدْيَةٌۭ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍۢ ۖ فَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًۭا فَهُوَ خَيْرٌۭ لَّهُۥ ۚ وَأَن تَصُومُوا۟ خَيْرٌۭ لَّكُمْ ۖ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿١٨٤﴾
[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.
Fidya is feeding a poor person for each day that cannot be fasted.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Durr al-Mukhtar, Kitab al-Sawm, chapter on what requires qada, section on the elderly. The very old man gives fidya for each day, and it may be given at the start or end of the month.
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Sawm, section on fidya. If the one who gave fidya becomes able to fast, he must make up the fasts.
- al-Majmu' (Nawawi), Kitab al-Siyam, section on the elderly. The Shafi'i rule against paying fidya in advance for later days.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.