Bismillah.
Prophet Muhammad (s): And when it is night of Qadr, Allah, Most High and Mighty, commands Jibrā’īll to descend to earth, with a group of angels, carrying a green standard. He fixes it at the rear of al-Ka‘bah. And he has six hundred wings, two of which he never spreads except on the night of Qadr. He spreads those two wings on that night, till they go beyond the East and the West. Then Jibrā’īl disperses the angels in that night, so they greet everyone who is standing, sitting, praying and chanting (remembering Allah). They shake hands with them, and say Amin to their prayers, till the day breaks.
And when the day breaks, Jibrā’īl, peace be upon him, proclaims: ‘O group of angels, it is time to depart.’ They say: ‘O Jibrā’īl, how has Allah responded to the supplications of the believers in the Ummah of Muhammad?’ Jibrā’īl says: ‘Allah has looked upon them in this night and has forgiven them all except four.’ He said that then the Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, said: ‘These four are: persistent boozers of alcoholic drinks, and the one who has incurred displeasure of his parents, and the one who has severed relations with his blood kith and kin, and the one whose heart is filled with rancour and bitter hatred.’ (Al-Mufīd, Al-Āmālī, 27th Assembly, H 3)
وَعَلَى الَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍ فَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّهُ وَأَن تَصُومُوا خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
And those who find it straining shall be liable to atonement by feeding a needy person. Should anyone do good of his own accord, that is better for him, and to fast is better for you, should you know.
(Sūrat al-Baqarah No. 2, Āyat 184)
The verse above is the second of three discussing the obligation of fasting in the holy month of Ramadan. This specific portion of Q 2:184 addresses the Islamic obligation of fidyah—a compensatory payment required in specific cases where a person is unable to fast. A superficial reading of the verse might suggest that some individuals have a choice between fasting and paying fidyah, but this is not the case. The word yutīqūnahū is derived from itāqah, which means to exert oneself to the utmost and endure something with great difficulty, as opposed to tāqah, which simply denotes strength or ability. Therefore, the verse refers to elderly individuals who find fasting excessively burdensome, obligating them to pay fidyah instead. The phrase ‘alāl-ladhīna (it is upon those who) makes it clear that this is a duty, not an option.
The remainder of the verse contains two phrases, both related to the general obligation of fasting mentioned in the preceding verse. The first states: Whoever does good of his own accord, it is better for him. Here, the word tatawwa‘a does not refer to mustahabb (supererogatory) fasting, but rather retains its pre-Islamic linguistic meaning of voluntary action done willingly and with pleasure. Although Islam later used this term for recommended deeds, in this verse, that interpretation would not be appropriate.
The verse concludes: And to fast is better for you. Like the previous phrase, this statement emphasizes the general obligation of fasting. It serves as an encouragement, urging believers to embrace fasting wholeheartedly, recognizing its benefits. This statement is not related to the discussion of fidyah but is directed at those who are required to fast, reinforcing the virtue and value of doing so.
In Islamic law, the term fidyah refers to specific payments made as compensation for an act or in exchange for something. It sometimes overlaps with kaffārah, which is a penalty imposed for a wrongdoing. Examples of fidyah include:
· The payment taken by Muslims in exchange for freeing an enemy prisoner.
· The compensation a wife gives her husband for a specific type of divorce known as khulʿ.
· The payment required from certain individuals who are unable to fast.
A key distinction between fidyah and kaffārah is that fidyah always involves a monetary payment, whereas kaffārah can sometimes be fulfilled through actions, such as fasting. In certain cases, such as penalties for violating restrictions during Hajj, both terms may be used interchangeably.
There are four groups of believers who are exempt from fasting but are required to pay fidyah, which consists of one mudd (750 grams) of food given to a poor believer. While fidyah should be given in the form of food, it is permissible to donate its monetary equivalent to an organization that can act as a wakīl (representative) and distribute the food on one’s behalf.
The four groups required to give fidyah are:
1. Elderly individuals who find fasting intolerable.
2. Those with a medical condition that causes persistent thirst.
3. Expectant mothers in the later stages of pregnancy.
4. Breastfeeding mothers with a low milk supply.
For the third and fourth categories, fasting is excused if there is a risk of harm to themselves or their child. However, they must later make up the missed fasts (qadā) in addition to giving fidyah.
Resources: ‘Allāmah Tabātabā’ī, Al-Mīzān.