Have unpaid kaffārah from last Ramadan? Learn the practical timeline, the three types of kaffārah, and the recommended amounts so you can settle responsibly — without panic.
Kaffārah for fasting is to compensate for fasts that were broken either intentionally or because of a legitimate religious excuse. There are different types of kaffārah, and depending on a person’s situation, one must pay accordingly.
As the blessed month of Ramadan approaches, some people owe kaffārah from the previous year. According to enquiries from the marāji‘ (religious authorities), one should not be negligent in settling kaffārah, but it is not necessary to perform the payment instantly.
The amount for unintentional-break kaffārah is 16,000 tomans, and the kaffārah for intentionally breaking the fast is 960,000 tomans (Eid al-Fitr of Ramadan 1403). It is also emphasised that kaffārah amounts must be distributed among the poor.
Kaffārah for deliberate breaking of the fast (if someone intentionally breaks the Ramadan fast):
If someone deliberately breaks their fast in Ramadan, they must do one of the following three things:
Free a slave (historical category),
Fast for two consecutive months (i.e., sixty days in a row),
Feed sixty poor people (give each poor person one mud of food — approximately 750 grams of wheat or barley or flour or rice or dates or raisins).
Kaffārah for qada’ (making up a missed fast):
If a person could not fast due to a legitimate excuse — such as illness, travel, or pregnancy — they must later perform the qada’ (make up) of that fast. If the qada’ is delayed beyond the next Ramadan, in addition to making up the fast, the person must give one mud of food to a poor person for each day missed.
Kaffārah for delay:
If a person, without a valid excuse, delays making up their missed fasts until the following Ramadan, they must, in addition to making up the fasts, give one mud of food to a poor person for each day delayed.
It is preferable to pay kaffārah as soon as possible.
Delay kaffārah may be paid after Ramadan and before the next Ramadan.
Payment of kaffārah to charity has a specific timing. Kaffārah, which is paid by those who cannot fast during Ramadan because of illness, old age, or pregnancy, should be paid before the end of the blessed month of Ramadan. The kaffārah amount should be paid by the next Ramadan.
The feeding kaffārah amount equals one mud of food for each missed day.
Kaffārah may be paid in cash or in kind.
If someone is unable to pay kaffārah, they should seek God’s forgiveness.
Kaffārah is paid by those who are unable to fast during Ramadan due to illness, old age, or pregnancy.
