Can I choose to feed 60 people instead of fasting 2 months?

Only if you're genuinely unable to fast 2 consecutive months — the feeding option is a fallback in the prescribed order, not a free first choice.

What is the classical first option for Kaffarah, and why isn't it in this calculator?

The classically first-listed option is freeing a slave (manumission) — not applicable in the modern world since slavery has been abolished, so today the obligation begins at fasting two consecutive months, with feeding 60 people as the fallback this calculator computes.

What happens if I break the two-month fast partway through?

If the consecutive fasting is interrupted without a valid excuse, most scholars hold the count must restart from the beginning — part of why feeding 60 people exists as the more accessible fallback.

Is Kaffarah owed once per broken fast, or once total?

Generally, Kaffarah is owed separately for each day a fast was deliberately broken without a valid excuse — breaking multiple days can mean multiple Kaffarah obligations, though scholars discuss whether repeated violations within the same Ramadan may be treated differently.

Why is the per-person feeding weight adjustable here?

Because, like Fidya, the exact weight (commonly cited around 0.75kg, or 1 mudd) is disputed across schools and fatwa councils — this calculator defaults to the most commonly cited figure but lets you enter your local council's published amount.

Can I pay the cash equivalent instead of physically providing food?

Many contemporary fatwa councils permit paying the cash value of the food instead of distributing it directly, which is what this calculator computes (weight × price per kg) — check your local council's guidance if unsure.

Does Kaffarah apply to missing prayers or other acts, not just fasting?

Kaffarah exists in Islamic law for several different violations (e.g. certain oaths, or specific Hajj violations), each with its own separate rules — this calculator covers only the fasting-related Kaffarah for deliberately breaking a Ramadan fast.

What if I can't afford to feed 60 people either?

Classical fiqh treats this as a genuinely difficult case with differing scholarly discussions — some hold the obligation remains a debt until one is able, others discuss further concessions. Consult a knowledgeable scholar for guidance specific to your situation.

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Islamic Tools

Kaffarah Calculator

Cost of feeding 60 poor people — the expiation for deliberately breaking a fast.

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Last reviewed 2026-09-06

About the Kaffarah Calculator

Computes the cost of feeding 60 poor people — the fallback expiation (Kaffarah) for deliberately breaking a Ramadan fast without a valid excuse.

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How to use it

Enter the staple food weight per person (adjustable).
Enter the staple food's price per kg.
Read the total cost of feeding 60 people.

Formula

Total = 60 people × staple food weight per person (kg) × price per kg.

Worked example

At 0.75kg per person (1 mudd) and $3/kg: $135 to feed 60 people.

Kaffarah expiation order (deliberately broken fast)

Kaffarah expiation order (deliberately broken fast)
Option	Requirement	When it applies
1. Free a slave	Manumission of a slave	Classical first option — obsolete in practice today
2. Fast two consecutive months	60 consecutive days of fasting	Default requirement if physically able
3. Feed 60 poor people	60 people fed (this calculator)	Fallback only if genuinely unable to fast two consecutive months

Interpreting your result

Kaffarah follows a strict order: fast 2 consecutive months first, and only if genuinely unable, feed 60 poor people instead (this tool covers the feeding option only) — freeing a slave, the classical first option, no longer applies. It applies only to deliberately breaking a fast without a valid excuse, not to a fast missed for a genuine reason (illness, travel, menstruation), which requires only qada (making up the day later).

Recommendations

• The exact per-person weight is genuinely disputed across schools/councils — check your local fatwa council's published figure rather than assuming the default shown here is universal.

Frequently asked questions

No — Kaffarah applies only to deliberately breaking a fast without a valid excuse. A fast missed for a genuine reason only requires qada (making it up later), a much lighter obligation.