What is Fidyah?

Fidyah (Arabic: فِدْيَة) linguistically refers to expiation or ransom. In Islamic terminology, it refers to a compensation for missed obligatory actions or an expiation for mistakes.

In the context of Hajj and Umrah, ‘Fidyah’ refers to the compensation offered for missing an obligatory action during the Hajj or Umrah, or committing actions prohibited in the state of Ihram.

 

When is Fidyah required?

As mentioned earlier, in the context of Hajj and Umrah, ‘Fidyah’ is required due to one of the following three matters:

1. Missing an obligatory action (وَاجِب).
   This is based on the statement of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both):

           «مَنْ نَسِيَ مِنْ ‌نُسُكِهِ ‌شَيْئًا، أَوْ تَرَكَهُ فَلْيُهْرِقْ دَمًا» [موطأ مالك: 240]
“One who forgets a rite, or leaves it out, he must offer a damm.”
– Muwatta Malik (240)

And based on this narration, all the 4 schools of Fiqh view that it is obligatory to offer a damm in the instance of leaving out an obligatory act during Umrah or Hajj.

 

Obligatory actions in Hajj include:

1. Assuming Ihram from the Miqaat.
2. Spending the 1o^th night of Dhul Hijjah in Muzdalifah.
3. Pelting stones (رَمْي) at the largest Jamrah on the 10^th
4. Shaving the head (الحَلْق) or trimming the hair (التَّقْصِيْر).
5. Spending the 11^th and 12^th nights in Mina.
6. Pelting stones (رَمْي) at all the 3 Jamrahs during the days of Tashreeq.
7. Tawaf al-Widaa

 

Obligatory actions in Umrah include:

1. Assuming Ihram from the Miqaat.
2. Shaving the head (الحَلْق) or trimming the hair (التَّقْصِيْر).

 

2. Intentionally committing one of the actions prohibited in the state of Ihram (مَحْظُورَاتُ الإِحْرَامِ).
   This is based on the ayah:\

“But if any of you is ill or has a scalp ailment ˹requiring shaving˺, then compensate either by fasting, charity, or a sacrificial offering.”

– al Baqarah 196

 

Prohibited actions in the state of Ihram include:

1. Shaving or trimming hair.
2. Trimming nails.
3. Using perfume.
4. Wearing stitched clothes, for men.
5. Wearing Niqab or gloves, for women.
6. Proposing, marrying, or performing nikaah for someone.
7. Hunting animals in the state of Ihram or while in the Haram boundaries.
8. Engaging in intimate relations with one’s spouse, or what leads to it. This is the prohibition with the severest consequences, as if done before exiting the first stage of Ihram, it would deem the Hajj invalid, and would require a camel as fidyah.

The abovementioned prohibitions of Ihram if committed intentionally, require a fidyah, for which there are three options:

1. Sacrificing a goat/sheep.
2. Feeding 6 poor people, for each person half saa’ (صَاع) – approx. 1.5 kg.
3. Fasting 3 days.

This is based on the following hadith:

عَنْ كَعْبِ بْنِ عُجْرَةَ ‏ﭬ عن رَسُولِ اَللَّهِ ﷺ قال: «لَعَلَّكَ آذَاكَ هَوَامُّكَ؟»‏‏.‏

قَالَ: نَعَمْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ‏.‏

فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «احْلِقْ رَأْسَكَ وَصُمْ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ، أَوْ أَطْعِمْ سِتَّةَ مَسَاكِينَ، أَوِ انْسُكْ بِشَاةٍ». [أخرجه البخاري (1814)]

Ka`b bin ‘Ujra said that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said to him,
“Perhaps your lice have troubled you?”
Ka`b replied, “Yes! O Messenger of Allah.”
Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Have your head shaved and then either fast three days or feed six poor persons or slaughter one sheep as a sacrifice.”

– Sahih Bukhari (1814)

 

However, if anyone commits any of the abovementioned prohibited actions forgetfully or out of ignorance, doesn’t have to offer any fidyah, nor will they be sinful. They are merely required to get rid of it as soon as they remember or learn about it.

3. Being prevented from completing your Umrah or Hajj (الإِحصَار).

If a person is prevented from completing their Umrah, due to any reason such as being stopped by security personnel, or falling sick, then they have to first offer a Hady (damm), and then cut/shave their hair to exit the Ihram. Else, they remain in the state of Ihram, and do not exit it by simply removing the Ihram clothes. This is based on the ayah:

“But if you are prevented from proceeding, then offer whatever sacrificial animals you can afford.”

– al Baqarah 196

Many people leave their Umrah incomplete due to exhaustion or crowdedness, and think that by simply removing the Ihram clothes, they have exited the Ihram. However, firstly this is not permissible until they are genuinely unable to complete the rites, even after a few days. Secondly, they must first offer Hady (damm) and then shave/trim to exit the Ihram.

 

Difference between Damm and Fidyah

Damm (دَم) linguistically means blood. In the context of Fiqh of Hajj and Umrah, it refers to a sacrifice offered as expiation.

Fidyah (Arabic: فِدْيَة), on the other hand, linguistically refers to expiation or ransom. In the context of Hajj and Umrah, ‘Fidyah’ refers to the compensation offered for missing an obligatory action during the Hajj or Umrah, or committing actions prohibited in the state of Ihram.

Damm specifically refers to sacrifice, while Fidyah is a term that can be inclusive of other ways of expiation in addition to sacrifice, such as fasting 3 days, or feeding 6 people.

 

How can we offer Fidyah or Damm online?

You can click here and follow the instructions, and our team will carry out fidyah or damm on your behalf in Makkah.

 

Rules & Regulations of Fidyah

1. The Damm or Fidyah must be offered in Makkah, within the Haram boundaries.
2. The meat obtained from the sacrifice is specific for the poor and needy of Makkah, who reside within the Haram boundaries.
3. The sacrificial animal must be of a specific age, i.e. 6 months or older for a sheep, and 1 year or older for a goat.
4. The sacrificial animal must be free of defects and faults such as blindness, lameness, illness, or severe weakness. This is based on the hadith:

“There are four types of sacrificial animals, which are not permitted:
A one-eyed animal which has obviously lost the sight of one eye, a sick animal which is obviously sick, a lame animal which obviously limps, and an old animal which has no marrow.”
– Narrated by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi, an-Nasa’ee, Ibn  Majah.

Role of DammFidyahMakkah Team in Ensuring Compliance

Our team ensures that all the abovementioned conditions are fulfilled in the process.

1. Our slaughterhouse is located well within the
   Haram boundaries.
2. The meat is distributed amongst the poor and
   needy residing within the Haram boundaries.
3. The eligibility of the animals is ensured by
   experienced individuals having past experience
   as ‘Shariah Supervisor for Slaughters’ with
   credible organizations such as the Islamic
   Development Bank.