For Those Who Barely Can — Fidya of Feeding a Poor Person
fiqh
Level: intermediate
family
fqh-067
وَعَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُۥ فِدۡيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِسۡكِينٍ
— البقرة 184
Verse: "For those who can barely manage it — fidya of feeding a poor person." (2:184) — Fidya: feeding one poor person per day for the permanently unable — the elderly and chronically ill with no hope of recovery. Amount: one mud (~500-600g) of local food. Difference from kaffara: fidya is for the permanently unable; kaffara is for intentionally breaking the fast.
Source: Al-Qurtubi (2/285); Ibn Qudama (3/94); Sahih Al-Bukhari (4505)
Question: Who must pay fidya and who must pay kaffara?
Answer: Fidya: permanently unable (elderly and chronically ill). Kaffara: one who intentionally breaks the fast in Ramadan through intercourse. Two different situations with different amounts.