The Meaning Behind Fidya

Every Ramadan brings with it light, mercy, and the chance to renew our faith. Yet not everyone can fast. Some are elderly, ill, or too frail. In Islam, Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala, in His mercy, offers a path for them to fulfil their duty: Fidya.

Fidya literally means ransom or compensation. It allows a Muslim who cannot fast due to permanent illness, old age, or similar hardship to feed the poor instead. It is both an act of obedience and compassion — ensuring that even when the body cannot fast, the heart still partakes in the blessings of Ramadan.

A Widow from Neelum Valley

High in the mountains of Neelum Valley, 70-year-old Ameena Bibi rises before dawn to warm a kettle over a small stove. Her hands tremble as she pours tea. Fasting is no longer possible; years of illness have left her weak.

Last Ramadan, she feared she would miss the blessings of the month. Then a volunteer from Kashmir Welfare Foundation arrived with a food pack labelled Fidya Distribution – Ramadan 2025. Inside were rice, lentils, flour, oil, and tea — enough to feed her for weeks.

“When I received the food, I cried,” she said. “I couldn’t fast, but Allah still allowed me to share in Ramadan’s mercy.”

That single Fidya donation came from a UK donor who gave just £5 per day, equivalent to the cost of feeding one needy person. For 30 days, Ameena Bibi ate with dignity and prayed for the one who had given.

Fidya: Mercy in Action

Fidya is not a mere transaction. It is the continuation of the spirit of Ramadan — mercy, community, and compassion.

Allah says in the Qur’an:

“And for those who are unable to fast, they may give a ransom, feeding a poor person for every day.” (Qur’an 2:184)

Through Fidya, a believer redeems a missed fast by feeding someone hungry. In Kashmir, that means real meals for families like Ameena Bibi’s — widows, orphans, and the chronically ill.

When and Why Fidya Is Given

You are required to pay Fidya if you are permanently unable to fast due to:

Chronic illness such as diabetes or kidney disease
Old age or frailty where fasting could harm health
Pregnancy or breastfeeding when fasting risks the mother or child
Long-term severe illness making recovery uncertain

Fidya ensures that no one is left outside Ramadan’s blessings. It is not a loophole — it is Allah’s compassion made tangible.

How Much Fidya to Pay

For 2025, Fidya is £5 per day — the cost of two meals for one needy person. Missing all 30 days of Ramadan equals £150.

Kashmir Welfare Foundation uses this Fidya to distribute food packs across districts including Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Poonch, and Neelum, where hunger remains a daily challenge.

🌙 Donate your Fidya today
💧 Give Sadaqah – Acts of Ongoing Reward
🤝 Start Regular Giving – Sustain Hope Every Month

The Human Need in Numbers

According to AJK At a Glance 2024:

Population of Azad Jammu and Kashmir: 4.46 million
Literacy rate: 77.5 %, yet rural poverty still persistent
303 persons per sq km – one of the densest mountainous populations
1 doctor per 3,886 people, meaning many illnesses go untreated

In such conditions, Fidya does more than feed — it preserves life. Each food pack distributed through Kashmir Welfare Foundation sustains a household for up to a month.

Fidya in Action – Ramadan 2025

Impact Measure	Result Achieved
Families supported through Fidya	2,500 + across AJK
Meals distributed	75,000 + individual meals
Average cost per person	£5 /day
Districts reached	Neelum, Kotli, Poonch, Muzaffarabad, Bagh
UK donor participation	620 donors through online platform + regular giving

Faith and Intention

Every act in Islam is judged by intention. Giving Fidya is not merely charity — it is worship. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said:

“Allah does not look at your appearance or your wealth, but at your hearts and deeds.” (Sahih Muslim)

When you pay Fidya, you acknowledge Allah’s mercy and share it with those most in need.

How Kashmir Welfare Foundation Distributes Fidya

Assessment: Identifying families in dire need through local project leads like Zafer Iqbal (Kotli) and Tahir Zia (Neelum).
Procurement: Buying rice, flour, lentils, oil, and essentials from local markets to support the regional economy.
Distribution: Volunteers deliver food packs to widows, orphans, and patients unable to fast.
Monitoring: Murtaza Ali’s research team tracks outcomes — meals served, families reached, and community impact.

Transparency is key. Every £5 donated is accounted for, turning trust into tangible relief.

Why Give Fidya Through Kashmir Welfare Foundation

Because every donation stays within Kashmir, feeding real families in real villages. Unlike global charities that outsource, Kashmir Welfare Foundation operates directly through local teams, ensuring:

Zero-waste logistics
Immediate Ramadan delivery
Accountability reports to donors

Your Fidya doesn’t vanish into administration costs — it becomes food, water, and hope.

A Message from Abdul Basit, Trustee

“When a UK donor pays Fidya, they are not just fulfilling a religious duty. They are feeding someone’s mother, someone’s child. It’s mercy across continents.”

How Fidya Strengthens the Ummah

Ramadan is not only personal worship; it’s collective compassion. Fidya binds the global Ummah together — linking a British-Kashmiri donor in Birmingham to a hungry widow in Neelum.

This is the beauty of Islam: your mercy reaches where your hands cannot.

Why Give Now

Tonight, hundreds of families across Kashmir will sleep hungry. Your £5 Fidya can provide two meals and restore dignity. The earlier you give, the faster aid reaches them before Eid.

👉 Donate your Fidya today and feed a family: 🌙 Donate your Fidya today

UK Gift Aid Reminder

If you’re a UK taxpayer, remember to tick Gift Aid. It adds 25 percent extra to your donation — at no cost to you — feeding even more families in Kashmir. Your mercy multiplies with a single tick.

Continuing the Blessings Beyond Ramadan

Even after Ramadan, Fidya inspires ongoing kindness. Many donors choose to continue through Sadaqah Jariya or Regular Giving, ensuring aid beyond the holy month.

💧 Give Sadaqah – Acts of Ongoing Reward
🤝 Start Regular Giving – Sustain Hope Every Month

Building Resilient Communities

Fidya distribution is part of a wider humanitarian network. According to AJK data, over 9.6 percent of the labour force remains unemployed, and rural families rely heavily on seasonal agriculture. Food insecurity spikes during Ramadan.

By supporting Fidya, you feed people now while supporting long-term empowerment through Kashmir Welfare Foundation’s Empower Lives Campaign — turning dependence into self-reliance.

The Ripple Effect of a Single Meal

A single meal may seem small, but in the valleys of Kashmir, it can mean:

A child going to school instead of searching for food.
An elderly man breaking his fast with dignity.
A widow offering du’a for her unknown donor in the UK.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Fidya in Islam?
Fidya is a donation given to feed the poor for each day a Muslim cannot fast due to valid reasons such as illness or old age. It allows you to fulfil your Ramadan obligation through charity.

How much is Fidya in 2025 UK?
For 2025, Fidya is set at £5 per day. If you miss all 30 days of Ramadan, the total is £150. Kashmir Welfare Foundation uses this to feed families across Azad Kashmir.

Who should pay Fidya?
Muslims who are chronically ill, elderly, or permanently unable to fast should pay Fidya. It’s not required for those who can make up their fasts later.

Can I pay Fidya online from the UK?
Yes. You can securely pay Fidya online using the links below using debit or credit card. Your donation feeds the needy in Kashmir immediately.

🌙 Donate your Fidya today

Does Fidya replace missed fasts completely?
Fidya is for those permanently unable to fast. If you’re temporarily ill, you should make up your fasts later. Fidya compensates only when fasting is not possible.

This Ramadan, give your Fidya through Kashmir Welfare Foundation and feed hungry hearts across Azad Kashmir.

Zakat Sadaqah Regular Giving

💷 Gift Aid adds 25% extra at no cost to you.