Fasting: Exemptions, Qada, Kaffarah and Fidyah

Hanafi fasting law distinguishes a temporary excuse allowing later qada, lasting inability for which fidyah may apply, and particular deliberate violations that can entail kaffarah. These are not interchangeable penalties; the facts of each case matter.

A person who is ill or travelling may have a valid excuse not to fast and make up the missed days later, according to Qur'an 2:185. These later fasts are called qada. Fidyah is different: it may apply, under conditions, when someone has a lasting inability to fast. Kaffarah is a further ruling linked to particular deliberate violations of fasting and should never be treated as a standard fee for any missed day. In Hanafi fiqh, the exact circumstances matter. A person with temporary illness should not casually assume that a payment replaces the later fast. Nor should a young student be asked to diagnose serious health conditions. Consider three cases: a traveller away from home, a person temporarily sick and an elderly person who is no longer able to fast. The proper legal question starts with the facts of each case, not a one-size-fits-all answer. In matters involving health, follow qualified medical advice as well as reliable religious guidance.