Message #17343

[Ruhi_Rose]

No, not really.  Both terms carry much the same meaning in the practical sense as we use them in connection with charity.   The word "fidyah" as you mentioned is contained in Verse 2:184.   Following is the word by word reading.

Ayyāmāan Ma`dūdātin  = (Fasting for) days numbered. 

Faman' Kāna Minkum Marīđāan  = So whosoever among you is sick

Aw `Alá Safarin  = or on a journey

Fa`iddatun Min 'Ayyāmin  'Ukhara = then a prescribed number of days other.

Wa `Alá  Alladhīna  Yuţīqūnahu Fidyatun Ţa`āmu Miskīnin  = and on those who can afford it, a ransom (of) feeding a poor.

The literal meaning of the Arabic term Kaffarah ( كَفّارَة   ) is erasing or wiping off.   It refers to atonement or penitence as a manifestation of repentance for one's transgression or mistake.   This word occurs in Verse 8:29, Surah Al-Anfal.   Following is the word by word reading.

yāayyuhā =  O you

alladhīna = who

āmanū   =  believe

en = if

tattaqū  = you fear

l-laha  = Allah,

yajʿal  = He will grant

lakum = you

fur'qānan =  criterion

wayukaffir  = and will remove

ankum =  from you

sayyiātikum =  your evil deeds

wayaghfir  =  and forgive

lakum =  you.


In the Quran,  "Fidyatun" or "ransom" refers to charity in the form of food given to the poor during Ramadan by someone who is not fasting.   But nowadays fidyah is commonly referred to charity either as food or money given for the same purpose.   I've heard many people refer to this as "kaffarah" as well, which is also charity in the form of money or food given to the needy in Ramadan by those not fasting.   But some jurists have unnecessarily brought in a difference between fidyah and kaffarah.  They view fidyah as charity by a person unable to fast because of old age or chronic/terminal illness from which the person will likely never recover;  they view kaffarah as charity given by a healthy person who missed a fast or fasts for some reason.  However, the Quran does not elucidate on such lines.  The Quran says in V. 2:184 that if someone is travelling or is sick (that is, sick for a while and then recovers) must make up for missed fasts later on.  If they can afford, they can feed a poor person for their missed fasts.   The fact that chronic or terminally people cannot fast is accepted, and if they can afford to pay fidyah, then that would be good for their souls.